Welcome to Lagos Portal
Museum for the United Nations
ART AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
On the 30th of July 2024, the UN Live Lagos portal engaged in an interactive art therapy session in collaboration with the Nakivale portal, offering participants a unique opportunity to explore their emotions through simple yet profound art activities.
From drawing symbols that represented their feelings to immersing themselves in mental exercises, the session provided a safe space for participants to unwind, express, and heal.
The art therapy activities were designed to be both engaging and therapeutic. As the session progressed, it became clear that creativity was unlocking something deeper.
When you put your heart into creating an artwork, basic or extensive, you allow yourself to feel, which makes you enjoy the experience. This is exactly what we did here today, and it helped us unwind. Very therapeutic.”
Chidinma, one of the participants, shared.
For Xavier, an artist who uses his work to explore human emotions and conditions, the session resonated on a personal level.
“As an artist who paints about human emotions, I could relate well with how art therapy heals the mind and mental problems. It also helped me personally because I’ve been disturbed by recent experiences and bad news. I love helping people with mental health issues through my art,” he reflected.
His sentiments underscored the session’s impact on participants’ mental well-being, reinforcing the importance of art as a tool for emotional release and connection.
For a consumer, art is more therapeutic than it seems. However, we must employ empathy and take cognizance of what the artists feels before making the artwork. When you buy the artwork, you’re buying the story and not just the canvas.
Building on the momentum of the art therapy session held in July, a follow-up conversation occurred on August 26th, 2024, in connection with the UN Live Oakland portal, focused on the theme: “Art for Activism and Social Change.”
This discussion delved into how art could be a powerful force for driving communal and societal transformation. It also emphasized the need for artists to embrace communalism over individualism to further elevate the art culture and secure more external support and funding. In a world where funding for the arts can be scarce, this session advocated for collective effort as a means to grow the creative ecosystem.
The Lagos portal’s art therapy and activism sessions have led to the creation of the Lagos Creatives/Artistes Community, a growing network of artists united by their shared vision of using art for healing and social change. This community is not only a platform for collaboration but also a support system where creatives can share opportunities, build relationships, and participate in regular portal sessions.
Cross section of Lagos portal participants.
Join the UN Live Lagos Portal Creatives Community!
Are you an artist or creative looking for a space to connect, collaborate, and grow? The Lagos Portal Creatives Community invites you to be part of a movement that fosters unity through portal conversations, collaborations, and shares opportunities for collective action. Get involved in shaping the future of art in Lagos for healing and social change.
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Join us as we unravel more engaging narratives that echo the heartbeat of the Global We initiative. Together, let’s foster a community that embraces diversity, promotes equality, and encourages continuous personal and collective growth, until everyone feels heard.
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The Global We is a platform for transformative conversations by Museum for the United Nations (UN Live). Supported by the IKEA Foundation and Auaustinus Foundation, it is delivered in partnership with Shared Studios and Cortico and +20 partner institutions around the world.
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