Using Art to Build the Nigeria We Want
What if art could do more than entertain? What if it could heal old wounds, challenge harmful narratives, and help a nation rediscover itself?
That is the vision behind the Building Bridges Project for Creatives (BBPC)—a flagship initiative of Simply Poetry Foundation funded by the Ford Foundation. BBPC equips artists with the knowledge, skills, and community needed to become agents of social transformation.
Over the past 18 months, the programme has trained 60 creatives across five cohorts, bringing together 12 artists from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria in each cohort. Poets, musicians, filmmakers, actors, dancers, and visual artists learn side by side, not simply to improve their craft, but to use it intentionally to confront tribalism, ethno-religious bigotry, polarization, and the many divisions that hold Nigeria back.
The programme combines six weeks of virtual learning, a two-week physical art residency in Abuja, and a practical implementation phase where participants return to their communities to create socially conscious projects that spark dialogue and inspire change.
BBPC introduces creatives to the theory and practice of Socially Conscious Art, while exposing them to civic education, collaborative creation, mentorship from experienced facilitators, and conversations that challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives.
Its impact extends far beyond the classroom. Participants leave with new creative partnerships that cross ethnic and religious boundaries, a growing portfolio of socially conscious work, and a deeper understanding of how storytelling can influence public behaviour. Many continue collaborating long after the programme ends, proving that the strongest bridges are the ones people choose to keep building.
At Simply Poetry Foundation, we believe that when artists begin telling better stories about one another, society slowly begins to live those stories too.