About Us

About Us

Yinka Shonibare CBE has developed and built two new artist residency spaces in Lagos and Ijebu, Nigeria, that opened in May 2022. 

The Guest Artists Space (G. A. S.) Foundation (Nigeria) was established in 2019 and is supported by the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (UK). G.A.S. Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to facilitating international cultural exchange, developing creative and research practices through residencies and collaborations. 

Building on the success of Guest Projects London, G.A.S. Foundation’s ambition is to encourage critical and engaging practices in the fields of contemporary art, design, architecture, agriculture and ecology. Giving practitioners and academics the space to research, experiment, share, educate and develop work. 

 

What and How

We have sucessfully established two centres of research and experimentation in Nigeria, with live/work residencies delivered in Lagos, one of the most enterprising and energetic cities in the world, and on a rural farm in Ijebu. Both locations serve as opportunities to network locally and internationally with organisations, education providers, fellow practitioners, curators and researchers.

 

G.A.S. Foundation hosts cultural exchanges and fellowships where international participants live and work, alongside their African peers for up to three months.

 

Underpinning all that we do is Yinka Shonibare’s inspiration for G.A.S. Foundation to:

 

  • Create a platform for creative development and knowledge exchange between established and emerging practitioners.
  • Support international partnerships between artists, designers, curators, collectors, architects, agriculturists and ecologists.
  • Foster the development of careers, both locally and internationally
  • Create learning opportunities for participants and local communities in Lagos and Ijebu
  • Break down traditional barriers of privilege, wealth, lack of infrastructure and limited opportunities
  • Promote mutual understanding of cultural differences to foster growing respect, knowledge and debate

 Our Trustees

Our Team

How You Can Support Our Foundation

Your generous contributions support the Foundation’s distinctive interdisciplinary residencies, research, education programmes and public events.