LIMCAF and the Art of Inspiring Hope

With innovative prizes and expanded participation on offer, the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) poses a bold challenge to emerging artists to capture the zeitgeist and direct the audience’s gaze towards better times. Okechukwu  Uwaezuoke reports 

Deep within the collective consciousness, the theme of this year’s Life in My City Art Festival—“Can We Breathe?”—resonates as a haunting cry against the suffocating grip of economic injustice and systemic oppression. Few, recalling the tragic fate of Eric Garner and George Floyd, two African Americans whose earthly lives were brutally cut short by the very hands of those who swore to protect them, can fail to recognise its source of inspiration from the repository of recent memories.

A token fee of N5000 is all that is required from interested contestants, who are invited to submit works in a variety of media in response to this rallying cry. In its expanded scope, the annual youth-focused art festival—which is more often known by its acronym, LIMCAF—now welcomes foreign artists who have been residing in Nigeria for at least five years, tapping into a richer vein of creativity. Meanwhile, in addition to these changes, the upper age limit of 35 years and the May 31 deadline remain unchanged.

With over 60 million naira in prizes across various categories up for grabs, this 18th edition of the event promises aspiring young artists something to drool over. But then, it is to the festival’s organisers’ unwavering commitment to this art meet since 2007—a hallmark of their unshakeable resolve—that they owe this annual treat. Indeed, the organisers have, despite the fluctuations in sponsorship that have often threatened to derail their efforts, persevered, egged on by their passion for nurturing emerging talents and fostering a vibrant artistic community.

Nurturing artistic excellence has consistently driven LIMCAF’s mission, and this year’s festival takes a bold leap forward in that pursuit. As an eloquent affirmation of this commitment, the LIMCAF overall prize has undergone a substantial transformation, rechristened the Elder Kalu Young Artist of the Year Prize, and been significantly enhanced to the naira equivalent of USD 2,000. This generous move, sponsored by the family of the late Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, a visual arts aficionado who once chaired LIMCAF, stands as a lasting tribute to his enduring legacy, inspiring a new generation of artists to strive for excellence.

Embracing a wide range of creative expressions, the festival also offers a diverse array of category prizes for exceptional entries in various visual arts disciplines, including photography, drawing, digital art, and more. With values ranging from N500,000 to N1million, these prizes not only recognise outstanding talent but also offer opportunities for sponsorship. The Chinelo Chime Prize for Best in Photography leads the pack, boasting a value of N1 million. This is complemented by category prizes in painting, sculpture, drawing, and ceramics, each worth N500,000.

Driven by its passion for artistic innovation and inclusivity, LIMCAF’s latest edition boasts an array of new category prizes, each celebrating unique aspects of artistic expression. The Armstrong Agoreyo prize, awarded to the best artwork crafted from waste paper, exemplifies the festival’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Another notable addition is the Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo prize, which honours outstanding artwork created by individuals living with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and diversity.

Beyond these categories, LIMCAF offers bespoke prizes that enable individuals, families, and organisations to pay tribute to remarkable individuals, institutions, or achievements. Current endowments include the Justice Anthony Aniagolu Prize for Originality and the Dr. Pius Okigbo Prize for Technical Proficiency. Regional prizes, generously endowed by individuals, nurture young artistic talents in specific geographic areas, fostering a sense of community and creative growth. Examples include the Mfon Usoro Prize for Best Entry from Uyo Centre and the VinMartins Ilo Prize for Best Entry from Enugu.

Alongside its monetary awards, LIMCAF provides a nurturing environment that extends beyond financial support, offering transformative training opportunities designed to foster artistic growth. Through residencies and boot camps, young artists are empowered to navigate the national and international art landscape with confidence. These initiatives equip emerging talents with the essential tools, resources, and expertise necessary to thrive in the competitive art world, unlocking their full creative potential.

Consistent with its quest for continuous renewal, LIMCAF has welcomed distinguished new members to its Board of Trustees, bolstering its capacity for innovation and growth. The esteemed recent appointees are Barbara Kalu, Executive Vice President at Argus Media, who brings extensive expertise in global markets; Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, a multifaceted artist, curator, and award-winning filmmaker, whose diverse experience spans local and international realms; and Professor Jerry Buhari, a renowned scholar, curator, and professor of fine art at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. These strategic additions are poised to drive LIMCAF’s expansion, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures and empowers aspiring young artists.

Keeping faith with its inclusive mission, LIMCAF proudly fosters a culture of diversity, providing equal participation opportunities for emerging male and female talents nationwide. Additionally, the festival offers special prize categories exclusively for female artists, further empowering their creative voices. Extending its impact to the next generation, LIMCAF conducts workshops for primary and secondary school children, with a special focus on those living with disabilities. These initiatives have borne fruit in successful workshops held in Abuja and Enugu over the past few years.

Spurred by the looming submission deadline, intending participants are deeply engrossed in their creative quest, driven by a fervent passion to kindle a beacon of hope in these tempestuous times. Hopefully, with visions born of inspiration, aficionados can anticipate entries that will revitalise a world gasping for air beneath the ominous shadow of environmental and societal crises, a world yearning for liberation from the eerie gloom that shrouds the earth, spawning anguish and despair that imperil all.