Costume Design
From sketch to feather, pattern-making, beading and construction under the Seagull studio.
Beyond December · Incubator
Where the next carnival is being made.
The Gull Nest is a year-round incubator for young Cross River creatives, costume, floats, film, AR/VR and mentorship, run inside the working Seagull studio.
Five tracks
Craft, story and technology under one roof.
Float Building
Engineering, sculpture and finish for the parade's largest moving pieces.
Digital Storytelling
Editorial photography, documentary film and social craft for the next generation of audiences.
AR / VR Projects
Immersive experiences that let audiences step inside the costume and onto the road.
Youth Mentorship
One-to-one guidance pairing 14–24 year-olds with practicing masters.
Mentor profiles
The masters in the room.
M
Mama Ekaette
Master Feather-Worker
22 years with Seagull
E
Efe Bassey
Lead Choreographer
Carnival Calabar '18–'25
J
Jude Okon
Float Engineer
Structural design & mechatronics
A
Ada Nkoyo
Creative Technologist
AR / VR & digital studio
Success stories
Three names. Many more to come.
"Started as a beader in 2023. Now co-designs a frontline costume section for 2026."
Blessing, 19
"Documentary short from Gull Nest premiered at Lagos Film Festival."
Michael, 22
"Won a national design prize for her feather-work sketchbook."
Grace, 17
Nest an emerging artist.
A single sponsorship funds one young creative for a full year in the incubator.
Sponsor a nest