Is physical space still relevant in our virtual world? Why should people interact in person when there is a constant stream of information available online?
The generation of young adults have adapted to a virtual existence and have more choice than ever when it comes to their social habits and communication methods. They now rightly demand more for their environments.
Nafacity; brings together artists from across East Africa and the UK to design places for innovation in cities. With a focus on Kigali, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Addis Ababa, the artists will explore the local and global needs of space, comparing to global cities, with a particular focus on London. They will design places and revive public realm to become opportunities for collaboration, sharing and innovation by exploring what spaces in the city mean to its inhabitants, and change perceptions of the city spaces.
A travelling interactive exhibition will present two parts of the project, showcasing the wealth of ideas explored, recordings of the installation and the evolution of the project. The installations will be in the three cities in summer 2018. With each installation unique and adapted for the specific city and site, the exhibition will be curated by the artists and bring together the different cities and sites across the UK and East Africa and aims to inspire an approach to innovation and knowledge in any city.
The British Council has awarded Nafacity the new Art new Audiences grant
This project is in collaboration with Alida Bata (Nafacity Studio), Anne Kamugisha (The Pallets Furniture), Rizwan Janmohammed (Aromas of Zanzibar), Farid Mbiti, and Alzeena Bata in wider collaboration with artists from across Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dar es Salaam and London.