ARTvocacy stands for “an ARTiculate Rant For A New Nigeria”  a concept brought by old grantee of Voice- Street Project Foundation. The current project aims at supporting young people to become social change influencers and content creators advocating for progressive societal change. This concept -Artistic activism is activism that doesn’t look like activism and art that doesn’t look like art. The ability of artistic activism to surprise us – to show up in unlikely places (e.g., not a gallery) or take on unfamiliar forms (e.g., not a protest march) provides an opportunity to disrupt people’s preconceived notions of art and protest, and their predetermined ideas about the messages we are trying to communicate. Whereas traditional forms of protest, like marches, need to constantly increase in size or scope, or descend into violence, to become noticed (and newsworthy), the creative innovation at the heart of artistic activism provides something uncommon, or out of place, that can attract attention and become memorable. The boundary slippage of artistic activism works equally well in repressive regimes where overt political protest is prohibited, yet artistic practices are tolerated. Slipping under the radar, artistic activism is not identified as “politics” to authorities while still being able to communicate a social message to the public.

With the support of VOICE, rightsholders will be able to grow the New Nigeria Movement to become more robust enough to influence people using various artistic forms and channels.
1. Online Community Engagement
2. Tactical Community Engagement
3. Direct Engagement with Public Servants

ONLINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We will produce two short films and a 26-episode podcast serial that will be viewed on YouTube and aired on Soundcloud respectively. The essence of producing this social media content isto galvanize an online community of youths and activate them for political participation in a compelling fashion.

TACTICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In the bid to build the New Nigeriamovement at the grassroots level, Community Theatre and Community Visual Art Creations on Billboards will be used to express the desires of the youth. It will become an avenue to rant and voice out their frustrations about their social welfare. It will also become an avenue to propose solutions to raging problems in the community.

TACTICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH PUBLIC SERVANTS
As a strategy to get the message of the youth in the faces and tables of public servants so they can engage positively with the demands of the youth, a coffee table book will be produced. The content of this book will be a compilation of Street photography and digital storytelling. This socially conscious product will give stakeholders the opportunity to feel the pulse of young people’s state of mind and influence their policies as regards youth political participation in Nigeria.

In order to get this movement going, a Strategic Youth Community Convening will be organised to herald these activities where 50 selected youths including those living with disabilities across project locations (Abuja and Enugu) will co-create and produce these contents that speak to their quest for a New Nigeria. Street Project Foundation will provide a safe space for movement building, creative thinking and problem solving through the lens of artistic activism.

We have successfully established a youth movement that is unlike anything initiated in Nigeria focused on influencing youths to use their art forms to advocate for social justice – youth political participation, disability rights, gender-based violence and youth profile to name a few. The movement is taking shape and we are most proud of the youths who are replicating the tenets of the ARTvocacy program in their communities. We are also proud of the youths ability to organize monthly community meetings and secure partnerships that have strengthened their activities both in Abuja and Enugu. It is interesting to note that the movement has become so visible that organizations call and write seeking to partner with the movement. We are also proud that we’ve created an influencing model that is replicable and as such we’ve started expanding to other cities in Nigeria, such as Lagos and in 2024 we are set to replicate the movement in Port Harcourt, Abeokuta, Benin and Jos.  

We are very pleased with the results and impact so far. In the last two years, the movement has focused on sensitizing and creating awareness among youths about the existence of the movement and its vision. This has led to partnerships with organizations such as Africado Global, Yiaga Africa, Accountability Lab, Witcon Clinic, Giving Tuesday Spark, African School Of Economics, Race Africa, Ministry Of Youths, National Orientation Agency, Eco Cyclers, Enugu Literary Society and Slang And Center. Additionally, our partnership with Hope Behind Bars Africa and Accountability Lab, saw youths in the ARTvocacy movement co-create socially conscious music with inmates in prison. The movement’s most recent partnership with PLAN has influenced this international NGO to integrate creative arts in their Equality & Arts Festival an event designed to amplify voices against gender based violence. The ARTvocacy movement in Abuja is responsible for all the creative arts engagement that will held on December 9, 2023.  

Due to the success and impact of the VOICE funded ARTvocacy movement in Abuja and Enugu, this has catalysed further strategic partnerships and attracted resources from organisations such as Karibu Foundation, Oslo Norway and Moleskine Foundation, Milan Italy where they provided a cumulative grant to the sum of $25,000 for the activation of the ARTvocacy movement in the city of Lagos, which was implemented in the first quarter of 2023. The Moleskine Foundation has also  inducted Street Project Foundation into the Creativity Pioneers Program in Italy, which opens the organization to more resource to strengthen the ARTvocacy movement. In addition, Street Project Foundation is in the final stages of grant agreement to the sum of $242,000 with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) to activate the movement in the cities of Port Harcourt, Abeokuta, Benin and Jos from 2024-2025. 

Our rightsholders have evolved and their growth is very evident. Here’s a run down of some of the changes we’ve observed. TheGift Chikere won the 2023 Youth Hackathon in Paris, France organized by UNESCO for her visionary short film project titled ‘DISAGREE IN PEACE.’ Deborah Johnson was third runner up at the World Poetry Slam held  in Brazil and she placed second at the African Cup of Slam Poetry in Mali. David Ikani secured employment as creative director of FILM AVENUE and has even gone ahead to initiate ‘The Greatest Collective’, a community that amplifies the works of creatives in Abuja. Pelemo Nyajo has continued to grow as an ARTvocate and has secured a job with Plan International, her position in Plan catalyzed the ARTvocacy Movement’s current event in collaboration with this international NGO. Israel Nwachukwu who is an ARTvocate with special needs is now gainfully employed as a graphics designer and videographer with Cosmo and Uni a branding and marketing firm in Abuja.  

Many of the rightsholders who we call ARTvocates have also started their own initiatives and have become leaders in their local communities. Daniel Bako initiated a program designed to teach children  sustainable art using plastic and textile wastes. Favour Awalite founded an NGO called the Bloom Foundation, a community based organization focused on promoting girls’ rights to education and advocating for victims of sexual violence.Our rightsholder, Ehmi Kid who already had an initiative focused on teaching children dance refined his initiative after becoming an ARTvocate by not just teaching dance to youths from maginalized communities but how to use dance for social change. 

Rightsholders in Abuja and Enugu also receive several requests from NGOs and CSOs to perform at events. One of their most recent invitations is the close out ceremony of OXFAM’s Work-in-progress program (WiP). Their performance was well received and the message clear and thought-provoking for the audience to understand and take action.  

Our rightsholders have become more influential, inspiring creatives who were not previously involved in development work to integrate socially conscious messages into their creative work. 

A remarkable success story within our program is that of Zakari Emmanuel, who initially joined as a youth corps member serving with an NGO focused on the prison system. Zakari’s impact during the camp was undeniably – recognized as a proactive doer, resourceful, and a natural people’s person. It was no surprise when his peers elected him as the leader of our movement in Abuja. 

Over the last two years, Zakari has undergone a remarkable journey of growth, transitioning from a dedicated youth corp member to an influential and charismatic youth leader. His leadership style has evolved significantly, a transformation that became particularly evident following his selection by Street Project Foundation to participate in the VOICE Linking and Learning Exchange Program in Zanzibar, Tanzania. 

That international experience not only broadened Zakari’s global perspective but also deepened his understanding of leadership as a global changemaker. The vibrancy he brought back from Zanzibar, infused our movement with a renewed energy, shaping a leader who not only guides but actively influences positive change. 

During this time, Zakari’s strategic prowess in identifying stakeholders and building meaningful partnerships has been pivotal. His ability to articulate thoughts effectively, honed through the ARTvocacy Movement, has empowered him to express his opinions with precision in various settings. 

Moreover, his commitment to social justice advocacy has grown exponentially. Zakari’s active engagement with global policies and governance, fueled by his experiences, has positioned him to guide fellow advocates in escalating concerns to those in authority. 

Beyond leadership responsibilities, Zakari’s involvement in the community has allowed him to flourish creatively. As a poet and writer, he has not only refined his artistic expression but has become a significant influencer, shaping our community’s narrative through performances at various events. 

 

In essence, Zakari Emmanuel’s journey from a youth corps member to a dynamic youth leader exemplifies the transformative power of our program. His story underscores the impact of international exposure and the nurturing community we’ve built, creating leaders who are not only passionate advocates but also influential contributors to positive change. 

What worked well in the project: 

1. Our award-winning ‘reflection sessions’ has proven to be an effective tool for creating a safe space for young people to share their thoughts, build community, and develop a sense of belonging. This has fostered a familial bond among our ARTvocates that has contributed to the movement’s sustainability. 
2. The exposure to different genres of art has made our ARTvocates dynamic artists who are able to collaborate and learn new art forms, strengthening their core artistic skills. 
3. The availability of a curriculum and blueprint has aided the replication of the program in new cities. 
4. The program’s well-structured design and the establishment of a leadership structure before the activation ceremony helped the movement take off successfully. 
5.  The monthly community meetings have helped keep the movement going, and the collaborations and partnerships we secured have amplified our reach and engagement. 
6. Our social media visibility and our billboards especially in Enugu, attracted many phone calls that translated into more youths joining the movement. 

 What we learned in this project: 

1. Lack of allocation of funding for post-activation activities: We didn’t have funding for the movement’s activities after activation, such as spaces for community meetings and continuous content creation. This placed a burden on the ARTvocates to find creative ways to  sustain the movement. In subsequent implementation, we have factored this component into the program’s design.  
2. Not engaging with universities: We didn’t work with universities to activate the movement. We see this as a missed opportunity in expanding the movement’s reach. We have also integrated this component in subsequent activations and working with the existing movements in Abuja and Enugu to strategically develop activities that can be implemented in Universities in the bid to expand their sphere of influence. 
3. Need for continuous capacity building: We recognize that a lot of our young people are virgin to the idea of movement building, community organizing, political participation, and active citizenship in general because it wasn’t integrated in curriculum designs of schools and as such a lot of capacity building is still required for the movement to elevate its level of influence. 

We are in the final grant agreement stages with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) to replicate the ARTvocacy movement in Port Harcourt, Abeokuta, Benin City and Jos. Here are the changes we’ve made to the project design: 

1. Incorporated resources for post-activation activities for the first 6 months such as space and logistics for visitations to stakeholders in government, non-profit and for-profit organizations.  
2. Included University engagement to facilitate the mobilization of youths to join the movement.  
3. Factored in additional resource to create more content beyond what was created during the bootcamp. 

Our blueprint has facilitated our partnership with UNDEF (United Nations Democracy Fund) which will lead to the replication of the movement in four major cities across Nigeria. We are in the process of expanding because we have an existing blueprint that allows us to secure grants to expand the movement across the country. 

We have also partnered with organizations such as the Karibu Foundation Oslo, Norway, and Moleskine Foundaton, Milan, Italy which saw us activate the movement in Lagos State, and also our partnerships with local organizations like Yiaga Africa and Accountability Lab, have aided our influence and reach to more youths in the cities where we currently exist.  

The Linking and Learning events have helped us stay up to date on all the necessary tools for building community, connecting with other grantees, and amplifying our work. Yes, it helped in the success of our project. We will definitely continue our engagement with other VOICE grantees. So far, there has been a cross-pollination of strengths as we implement our projects. On many occasions, our rights holders have performed at VOICE Grantees events, and they have been involved in our projects by providing voter education and opportunities for our youths to participate in their ongoing programs. We are also exploring other collaborative initiatives that will manifest far beyond the VOICE program. 

ith the support of the VOICE coordinator in Nigeria, we secured a grant with Freedom Fund, and she has been instrumental in providing us with recommendations for other grants. 

We created 3 short films, 1 coffee table book, 26 podcast shows, Music Album and we have pictures of events and videos that can be used by VOICE. Find links below: 

ARTvocacy music album 

All the Short films 

BEDLAM  

GLITCHES  

I NO BE THIEF  

All the photo story books: 

All the Podcast series   

Photos for ARTvocacy Festivals  

We feel empowered because VOICE  strengthened our capacity to establish a project that has never been done before and has now attracted the funding and support to be replicated across the country. Street Project feels empowered because our achievements align with our overall vision, which is to raise a critical mass of transformative youth leaders who make a sustainable living doing what they love. We would also like to point out that it helped us build and also strengthen our capacity in areas like community management, documentation and the amplification of our works. Our rights holders are now empowered because many of them have started their own initiatives, have jobs, have been accelerated through fellowships and scholarships, and travel across the world using their art for social change.  

Our influencing capacity increased due to the VOICE project as we had to think of creative ways as an organization to influence our young people to be active citizens by inculcating in them the need to be socially conscious, spurring them to create short films (with a cumulative view of over 6.7 thousand views, see link), stage plays, a musical album, a coffee table book,  

and a 26-episode podcast series, all geared towards advocating for social change. We have also observed that our rights holders, due to the learning obtained from the program, have gone on to influence other young people to join the movement and become active citizens. 

 We witnessed a significant shift in our participants’ understanding of active citizenship. They moved from passive observers to active agents of change, utilizing their artistic talents to advocate for social justice and promote political participation. The project also provided valuable leadership training, empowering rights holders to take ownership of the movement and guide its direction. This led to the emergence of a new generation of young leaders committed to social change. The project fostered a strong sense of community and belonging among our participants. This network of support proved crucial in sustaining their motivation and commitment to the movement. In addition, the VOICE funded project improved our processes for financial management. 

VOICE has harvested a lot of transformational stories over the years and as such, there is a need to invest in documentaries that highlight the impact of this funding program.  

For example, an ARTvocate in Lagos by name Somkelechi Bob-Manuel was selected due to his activism and grassroots community mobilization activities and as a resulted, he was spotlighted by an international media organization based in Germany called Deutsche Welle. This documentary has garnered over 5million views on YouTube. Here’s the link and hundreds of engagement. 

The Street Project Foundation team is proud to be associated with VOICE, we’ve grown exponentially as an organization because of this partnership. From local relevance to global prominence, that’s our story because of VOICE. Thank you for such an impactful program that fosters inclusive growth.