A group, Potters Gallery Initiative, has disclosed that plans were in top gear for a virtual exhibition event, especially for physically challenged artists.
The group explained that the special art festival tagged “the Abuja Digital Arts Ability Festival” is expected in about three months, and will be the fourth in a row since inception.
Speaking in Abuja during a media round table on the event, Creative Director of the organisation, Mr. Donald Unanka said the Abuja International Arts Ability Festival, birthed in 2016 “has become a major event for people with disabilities in Nigeria, and a platform for engaging stakeholders on the need to mainstream people with disabilities in the arts and culture space”.
He however, lamented that the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic has badly affected its members. “Majority of our people lost their sources of livelihood, businesses, jobs, contracts, art events, musical shows, and festival tours”, he said, adding that some were booked to perform in a festival in Liverpool, UK, but later cancelled.
Unanka noted that because of the COVID-19, “Finding new ways of doing our business become more compelling in view of the losses which can’t be measured immediately. In the light of this, doing business in the digital space has become a new opportunity and the only way out for our talented disabled artists to showcase their skills to the world”.
According to him, the major goal of the festival was to promote artistic ambition of disabled people in all genres of the art and culture space. “The festival so far has proven that people with disabilities are endowed with talents. With the right support from stakeholders and government, we will one day produce more Cobhams Asuquo, Yinka Ayefele and the likes in Nigeria”, he added.
On the expected date of the event, Ananka said with the kind support of its sponsors, “the Abuja Digital Arts Ability Festival will take place in December, as part of activities for the international day for persons with disabilities”.
