The European Union (EU) is developing new projects and funding opportunities to strengthen support for cultural events and artists across Nigeria and Africa.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed this on Saturday at the maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival held at the National Theatre in Lagos.

The festival, organised by the National Theatre with EU sponsorship, was themed “Circus in Motion.”

Mignot said the need to invest more in culture and the creative sector had become more important amid the challenges facing the world.

“We need more cultural action, not less. We need more funding for culture, for the arts, for the creative economy,” he said.

The ambassador described the festival as an example of the value of international cultural partnerships, highlighting performances by artists from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire and Switzerland.

“It’s really very international, colourful, full of energy and very modern, very contemporary,” Mignot said.

He disclosed that the EU had also supported the recent Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre and was partnering with film festivals in different parts of Nigeria.

According to him, the EU will also support the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art scheduled for November.

Mignot said the EU was developing initiatives focused on empowering artists across Africa while creating stronger links between European and African creatives.

He added that more co-creation opportunities would be funded through training programmes, workshops and other forms of artistic exchange.