FREEE Recycle Limited, Nigeria’s pioneer tyre recycling firm, has unveiled the maiden edition of its FREEE Art Residency Program, a groundbreaking initiative that merges environmental sustainability with cultural preservation.

Running from July 28 to August 30, 2025, the five-week residency will host young Nigerian artists, challenging them to transform recycled materials into contemporary artworks that reinterpret and revive lost Nigerian artifacts. The program is themed “Echoes of Reclamation: Rebuilding Heritage from Waste.”

Participants, selected from leading Nigerian tertiary institutions through a competitive process, will engage in studio work, expert-led workshops, mentorship sessions, and cultural research at FREEE Recycle’s Ibadan facility. Their creative journey will culminate in a public exhibition and auction in Lagos, sparking dialogue around culture, sustainability, and innovation.

“Too often, we treat waste and heritage as unrelated challenges,” said Ifedolapo Runsenwe, Managing Director, FREEE Recycle Limited. This residency suggests otherwise that the things we discard may hold the power to reconnect us with what we’ve lost.

The residency will feature a distinguished faculty of cultural scholars and artists, including Oriyomi Pamela Otuka, Deputy Director and Curator at the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan; Dotun Popoola, visionary sculptor and founder of the Scrap Art Museum; and Tunde Odunlade, a globally acclaimed printmaker and textile artist. They will mentor participants, guide research, and lend institutional credibility to the program.

Since commencing operations in 2020, FREEE Recycle has processed over 350,000 used tyres into sustainable products for schools, offices, and public spaces across Nigeria. The residency builds on this impact by positioning young creatives at the intersection of waste and cultural memory, demonstrating the role of the arts in advancing circular economy practices.

The initiative also aligns with broader policy efforts, including the federal ban on single-use plastics in government institutions, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability and responsible production.

Sponsors of the program include Sage Grey Technologies Limited and the Netherlands Consulate, with endorsements from the Scrap Art Museum and the National Museum of Unity. Together, these partners are helping amplify a grassroots movement that connects creativity, heritage, and environmental responsibility.