The Enchanting Plateau Art Exhibition has officially opened its call for entries for the 2026 edition, challenging artists and creatives to use their works to celebrate Plateau State’s 50-year journey while imagining what the state could become over the next five decades.
The 2026 edition, themed “100″ 50 Strong, 50 Forward, was unveiled on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during a press conference held at Rayfield, Jos, where organisers outlined plans for an expanded celebration of Plateau’s culture, creativity, heritage and future.
The Convener of Enchanting Plateau, David Thomas, said the exhibition was established to tell the story of Plateau State through creative expression while creating platforms through which artists and other creatives can gain visibility, build sustainable careers and connect with wider opportunities.
According to him, Enchanting Plateau is a flagship initiative of Aweytu Creative Centre, established to empower creatives and showcase Plateau’s artistic and cultural identity beyond the state’s popular landscapes and tourism attractions.
Enchanting Plateau Records Over 2,500 Attendees
Since its launch in 2024, the Enchanting Plateau Art Exhibition has continued to grow as a platform for artists and creatives.
Thomas said the initiative has attracted more than 2,500 attendees, featured over 100 exhibiting artists and showcased more than 350 artworks across different categories.
The platform has also provided opportunities for young people through art competitions for secondary school students, masterclasses and other capacity-building programmes designed to nurture emerging creative talents.
He said the growth of the exhibition demonstrates the potential of Plateau State’s creative sector to contribute to cultural preservation, tourism, employment and economic development.
Artists Asked to Imagine Plateau at 100
The central focus of the 2026 edition is Plateau State’s 50th anniversary, with participating artists expected to explore the state’s history, present realities and future aspirations.
The organisers are encouraging artists to examine issues including leadership and governance, agriculture, mining, culture and heritage, tourism, youth innovation, peace, identity, creativity and community development.
Through paintings, sculptures, photography, illustrations, digital art, textiles, installations and other creative forms, participants are expected to present their interpretation of where Plateau has been, where it stands today and where it should be heading.
Thomas said the exhibition is intended to go beyond entertainment by using art as a tool for documentation, advocacy, dialogue, transformation and economic empowerment.
He said the broader ambition is to help position Plateau State as a leading cultural and creative destination in Nigeria and Africa.
The organisers have therefore posed a central question for the 2026 edition:
“What story will we tell when Plateau State turns 100?”
Enchanting Plateau 2026 to Feature Art, Music, Workshops and More
The 2026 programme is expected to feature a wide range of activities, including curated art displays, competitions, performances, masterclasses, seminars, workshops, panel discussions and community engagement activities.
There will also be opportunities to experience local crafts and cuisine as organisers seek to create an immersive celebration of Plateau’s cultural identity.
The initiative will collaborate with Tin City Fashion Week and Experience Plateau, while also receiving government support and exploring additional partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.
According to the organisers, the partnerships are expected to expand the reach of the exhibition and create more opportunities for creatives, cultural practitioners, businesses and other stakeholders.
Creative Director: Enchanting Plateau Is More Than a Visual Art Exhibition
The Creative Director of Enchanting Plateau, Jerry Jallo, said the initiative was deliberately designed to accommodate creatives from different disciplines rather than limit participation to visual artists.
Jallo explained that the exhibition is built around three major components: the main visual art exhibition; seminars, workshops and masterclasses; and evening performance art exhibitions.
He said the evening performances are carefully curated to provide artists and audiences with a unique and intimate experience, including acoustic presentations and direct interaction between performers and attendees.
According to him, the concept allows different creative disciplines to converge and communicate through a shared platform.
From “One” to “100″ 50 Strong, 50 Forward
Jallo also reflected on the previous edition of Enchanting Plateau, which was themed “One.”
He explained that the theme explored unity and the different elements that connect people across Plateau State.
Nature played a significant role in the creative direction, with features such as rocks, vegetation and waterfalls incorporated into the event’s set design.
Other visual elements, including balloons, were used to evoke emotions associated with happiness, childhood memories and shared experiences.
The previous exhibition brought together creatives from different fields, including visual artists, musicians, poets and writers, with participation from organisations such as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Jallo described Enchanting Plateau as an umbrella platform for diverse forms of creative expression, stressing that the exhibition is designed to bring different artistic disciplines into one creative space.
“The Event Itself Is an Artwork”
According to Jallo, one of the distinctive features of Enchanting Plateau is that the exhibition itself is designed as an artwork.
He explained that attendees are expected to experience creativity not only through the individual artworks displayed but also through the event’s environment, set design, performances and overall creative direction.
For the 2026 edition, he said the theme “100″ 50 Strong, 50 Forward will influence every aspect of the exhibition, with the creative direction focused on presenting a vision of Plateau State’s future.
Call for Entries Opens August 12
The official call for entries for Enchanting Plateau 2026 will open at midnight on August 12, 2026, and close on October 25, 2026.
Interested artists and creatives are expected to submit their works through the official Enchanting Plateau website: enchantingplateau.com
The exhibition itself is scheduled to take place in November 2026, with the exact dates to be announced by the organisers.
The call is open to painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, digital artists, textile artists, installation artists and creatives working across other artistic disciplines.
Organisers are encouraging creatives to take advantage of the platform to tell compelling stories about Plateau State and contribute to conversations about its future.
With its focus on the state’s 50-year journey and its aspirations for the next 50 years, Enchanting Plateau 2026 is expected to bring together art, culture, heritage, innovation and performance in a celebration aimed at showcasing the creative potential of Plateau State.
The “100” theme ultimately invites artists to look beyond the present and imagine the Plateau State they want future generations to inherit.
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