Exploring The Market of Nigerian Art and Craft Business

Most Nigerians are still taking the art and craft business for granted even though it holds all of the potential. Like many African nations, the arts carry thousands of years of history. And it will be a shame to leave it as it is.

The potential of  Art and craft business in Nigeria

Today, any local and international tourists can visit multiple markets and art centers. However, it only scratches the surface of what the nation has. Numerous new artists are emerging every day. And it’s time for Nigerians to explore their arts and make it beyond ethnic souvenirs.

Must Visit Arts Centers

It’s hard to talk about arts without mentioning these centers. With hundreds of daily visitors as proof of how popular Nigerian arts is. Many trips will include a stop at one of these galleries to get to know more about local arts.

· Thought Pyramid

This art center is a contemporary gallery launched in 2008 in Abuja. It holds a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations. Even more so since it also holds exhibitions and workshops regularly.

· Nike Art

As the largest art gallery in West Africa, the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos is hard to miss. This 5-story building holds a vast collection of both traditional and contemporary arts.

It also has a textile museum that houses numerous historical textile arts. After all, the art gallery was founded by a Nigerian textile artist, Nike Okundaye. Anyhow, there is as much love for other crafts in the gallery.

· Terra Kulture

A collective work of art galleries, theatres, restaurants, and specialized bookshops, Terra Kulture also acts as a culture center. Numerous artists often choose this place to promote their works. The gallery itself mainly holds contemporary arts with acts as

Art as a Business

When it comes to treating art as a business, it sure is easy to go on a capitalist route. Focusing on the profit may earn a lot more and expand the business. Yet, it also diminishes the possibilities to work on the grassroots level.

Anyhow, there are several ways to approach art as a business. It’s either as the artist or the producer, as the broker, or as the investor. Several artists today still have patrons who commission their regular works.

Being an art collector is also a possibility. Yet, it requires a long-time experience on the subject and a large amount of capital. Having specialized in a single art form such as sculpture or painting also can help expand the business.

The current estimate for worldwide art and craft business is no less than USD 30 billion per year. Looking at the number alone, there is no reason to ignore the potential of the Nigerian local art scene. What do you think about making your craft go global? How plausible the plan is? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.