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Saudi Tourism Minister Begins Tour of Summer Destinations in Taif

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has kicked off a series of field tours to destinations featured in the Kingdom’s Saudi Summer program by visiting Taif governorate. The program, launched in May under the slogan “Color Your Summer,” runs until September and highlights attractions across Jeddah, the Red Sea coastline, Taif, Baha, and Asir. The initiative offers over 250 exclusive deals through partnerships with more than 200 private-sector entities. During the visit, Al-Khateeb, who also chairs the Saudi Tourism Authority, inspected major tourist landmarks in Taif, reviewed facilities, and evaluated service quality. Al-Khateeb praised Taif’s natural beauty, mild climate, and cultural heritage, noting its potential as a leading tourism hub in the Kingdom and the wider region. According to Saudi Press Agency data, Taif welcomed 3.6 million tourists in 2024, representing a 9% increase from 2023, with annual tourism spending reaching SR3.4 billion ($906 million). At the program’s launch, Al-Khateeb stated: “This year, we aim to welcome more than 41 million visitors from 18 countries and achieve SR73 billion in total tourism spending. These numbers reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a world-class destination, offering unforgettable experiences year-round.”

Woodhall, Polaris Bank, UK and Lagos Governments Launch ₦1.5bn Creative Sector Fund

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: LAGOS – July 15, 2025Nigeria’s creative industry received a major boost as Woodhall Capital, in partnership with Polaris Bank, the UK Government, and the Lagos State Government, unveiled a ₦1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund to expand access to structured financing for entrepreneurs across fashion, film, music, and digital content. The fund was announced during the launch of the Creative Currency Podcast, an initiative designed to foster collaboration between creatives, financiers, policymakers, and global stakeholders. The platform will also serve as a policy engagement forum addressing long-standing challenges such as limited financing, weak intellectual property enforcement, and lack of scalable business structures. Speaking at the launch hosted at the Ikoyi residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director at Polaris Bank, said the fund marks a deliberate shift in recognizing intellectual property as a bankable asset. “This fund represents more than capital; it reflects our belief in Nigerian creativity as a global force,” Ozomah said. “We’re not just exporting talent. We’re exporting ownership, structure, and long-term value.” Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, Founder and CEO of Woodhall Capital, emphasized the need for bespoke financial products and investor-matching services tailored for creative MSMEs. The UK Government, represented by Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s creative economy, citing the UK-Nigeria Creative Industries Partnership signed in 2024 as a milestone for trade and investment. Representing the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, highlighted ongoing policy reforms, infrastructure support, and the Lagos Creative Fund, which offers zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to creative businesses. Panelists at the event urged creatives to formalize operations, protect intellectual property, and maintain transparent financial records, while financial institutions were encouraged to rethink risk models to accommodate the unique dynamics of creative enterprises. The Creative Currency Podcast aims to build a knowledge-sharing ecosystem for creators, investors, legal experts, and cultural stakeholders, promoting professionalism, transparency, and global competitiveness in Nigeria’s creative sector. The event closed with a unified call to “invest in systems, not just stories”, stressing that a structured, well-capitalized creative economy can drive job creation, exports, and global influence for Nigeria. Polaris Bank reiterated its commitment to supporting MSMEs, noting its extensive portfolio dedicated to growing small businesses and fostering economic inclusion across the country.

Victoria Art Gallery Celebrates 125th Anniversary with Reopening of Historic Upper Gallery

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery has marked its 125th anniversary with the grand reopening of its Upper Gallery, following extensive conservation work to preserve the Grade II-listed building. The gallery, which houses Bath & North East Somerset Council’s public art collection — including works by Paul Klee and Grayson Perry — has unveiled the refreshed space as part of a broader celebration of its legacy and future. Calling it a “milestone moment,” Robert Campbell, BANES Head of Culture and Heritage, said the reopening reflects a commitment to both preservation and progress. “We are honouring its important past while investing in its future,” he noted, adding, “We’re thrilled to welcome the public back to this much-loved cultural space.” Alongside the conservation work, the gallery also launched The Modelling Room, its first dedicated learning and engagement studio, designed for schools and community use. The initiative was made possible with the help of supporters and an individual donor. Currently on view in the restored Upper Gallery is First Impressions: Printers’ Proofs of Works by Great 20th Century Artists, which runs through 6 July. Entry to the Victoria Art Gallery is free, with additional benefits for local residents holding a Discovery Card.

This Lagos Museum Is Challenging The Traditional ‘Eurocentric’ Model

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

A new museum in Lagos is rewriting the rules of art curation by moving away from the traditional Eurocentric lens that has long dominated global museums. The recently opened John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, located in the heart of Lagos Island, is leading this shift by placing African stories, voices, and aesthetics at the center of its exhibitions. Unlike many Western institutions that often showcase African artifacts in isolation or as relics of a bygone era, the John Randle Centre presents Yoruba culture as a living, evolving force. From multimedia installations to immersive storytelling, the museum blends tradition with technology to tell the Yoruba people’s history from their own perspective — vibrant, dynamic, and unapologetically local. Curators at the museum have taken a bold approach, collaborating with historians, artists, and community members to build exhibits that reflect Yoruba identity beyond colonial narratives. Items on display are not only historical artifacts but also contemporary pieces that explore themes of heritage, spirituality, fashion, and resistance. By redefining how African culture is presented, the Lagos-based museum is not only preserving history but also reclaiming it. In doing so, it challenges the global art world to reconsider whose stories are told — and how they are told — within the walls of museums.