The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation (HCAF) is one of the first five leading contemporary art organisations in Nigeria, it will be 20yrs old in 2024. Its formation in 2004 by BM Dzukogi while teaching Physical and Health Education at the Hill-Top Model School, Minna, marked a turning point in literary art organisation formation in Nigeria whence many more platforms started sprouting out across the country as individual private art organisations in the new Nigerian literary environment.
Today, you could see organisations like: Poets in Nigeria Initiatives, Open Arts, Poetic Wednesday, Arojah Arts Theatre, Aunty Talatu Reads, Gombe Jewel Writers, Ebedi International Writers RResidenc, All Poets Network Initiatives, Northern Writers Forum, and many other platforms in the Eastern, Western and Southern parts of the country.
The national headquarters of HCAF is situated along David Mark Road, Maitumbi, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Since 2004, it has been in the vanguard of promoting teen arts in young people across Nigeria. HCAF has branches in about twenty States in Nigeria. Through her mentoring facilities at the national headquarters, it has been promoting Creative Writing, Photography, ICT, Innovation, Songs, Cultural Activities, Painting, Drama, Spoken Word, Short Videos, Citizen and Leadership Education, Reading, Festivals, Prizes, Scholarships in teenagers and youth in Nigeria.
The Foundation is home to teen and young artists in the country. It is the first and only of its kind in Nigeria, exclusively dedicated to this all-important group of artists in the society. In addition to these, HCAF publishes two exclusive online journals on reviews, and interviewing writers around the world.
In April 2017, the Foundation inaugurated the maiden edition of the Nigerian Festival of Teen Authors (NIFESTEENA). HCAF is the organiser of HIASFEST, the largest teen arts festival in Africa; the Niger State Photography Contest; Annual Painting and Photography Exhibitions; Niger State Schools Creativity and Essay Competition, it is the largest producer of published teen authors in Nigeria.
HCAF activities are embedded in the free, liberal but disciplined atmosphere at the headquarters, with members bound by a simple philosophy of ‘training for life’ as the guiding verse. The idea is to encourage critical thinking, enterprise, unlimited flow of creativity, service and togetherness, as tools for the growth and prosperity of society.
The National Headquarters which doubles as the mentoring centre is currently being developed into a national monument of art. HCAF has also constructed one of the three homes for her proposed International Artists’ Residency programme. The headquarters is a beautiful, cool and inspiring arena for young creative minds to develop their artistic potential. Members are obsessed with its presence and are very proud of it. The Centre is well-ventilated and lighted to cast brilliance and glow from the alluring colours on the walls. The inscriptions and works of art on the walls that first greet you with abundant aesthetics show the glamorous nature and the glowing spirit of the minds you find there, happy for creation.
The summary of the Foundation’s activities focuses primarily on mentoring teen and young artists for quality productions and responsible citizenship.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, ALSO VISIT: www.hilltopfoundation.com.ng- Facebook (Hill-Top) –www.nigeriareview.com.ng – www.literaturevoices.com.ng– www.hiasfest.com.ng
Email- hilltopcart@gmail.com
