Applications Open
Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation, in partnership with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), is pleased to announce the pilot edition of the G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop, an initiative designed to support the professional and critical development of emerging local art writers, researchers and cultural practitioners. This edition will explore critical art writing practices while examining how writing can function as a tool for activism, encouraging readers to ask questions, challenge dominant narratives, and engage more deeply with the social and political contexts that shape contemporary art. Structured as a three-day intensive programme, the workshop will take place at G.A.S. Lagos from 25th to 27th March 2026 and will provide practical training for selected paticipants. Through a series of workshops, readings, and lectures led by current resident Olutomi Kassim, in collaboration with other industry professionals, participants will develop essential writing skills for navigating and contributing impactful and thought-provoking contemporary art discourse.
Applications for the workshop are open to emerging and early-career art writers, researchers and cultural practitioners based in Lagos, Nigeria. Six writers will be selected by our panel to participate in the programme, which will run from the 25th to 27th March 2026. The deadline for applications is 22nd March 2026 at 23:59 WAT.
We encourage all applicants to thoroughly read the Information Pack linked below before submitting their application to ensure that they meet all criteria.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Across the three-day intensive, participants will:
- Explore critical art writing as a tool for activism, examining how writing can question dominant narratives and shape public discourse around Nigerian art.
- Develop a clear argument, title, and short critical text on a chosen aspect of Nigerian art and activism.
- Learn how to situate their writing within relevant scholarly and cultural debates.
- Gain practical tools into art-historical research methods grounded in Nigerian epistemologies, drawing on thinkers Chinweizu Ibekwe and Wole Soyinka.
- Engage in guided writing exercises, group discussions, and peer feedback sessions.
- Produce a 1,000 word draft article or structured outline that can be further developed for publication.
- Selected writing may be considered for publication (with the participant’s consent) in Business Today, Nigeria, published by BusinessDay Media Limited.
ELIGIBILITY
Applications for the critical writing workshop are open to emerging and early-career art writers based in Lagos, Nigeria. In order to be considered for final selection applicants must be:
- Living in Lagos, Nigeria or its environs. We are unable to provide programme participants with accommodation at G.A.S. Lagos.
- An art writer, researcher, and cultural practitioner. For the purposes of this open call, this is defined as a professional who researches, analyses and critiques various topics within the art, and this is not limited to visual arts, performance arts and cultural movements. Applicants maybe artists or graduate students studying in the arts.
- An early-career/emerging practitioner. This is defined as someone who has established a dedicated writing practice but is still in the early stages of their professional development. This includes individuals who have completed formal or informal training, has published writings in exhibitions, publications or projects, and started building a public presence. However, they may not yet have gained widespread recognition, received major institutional support, or achieved significant commercial success.
- Able to clearly demonstrate how they meet the application guidelines.
- Able to fully complete the application form and supply an up-to-date CV and writing samples.
- Available to participate in the three-day intensive, held at G.A.S. Lagos from 25th to 27th March 2026.
SELECTED WRITERS AWARD
Participants in the programme will each receive the following:
- Full access to the three-day programme.
- A hot meal (lunch), drinks and snacks on each day of the programme.
- A ₦50,000 allowance to cover transport costs and materials to support participation
APPLICATION TIMELINE
- Applications open: 18th March 2026
- Applications close: 22nd March 2026
- Final selection: 23rd March 2026
The G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop falls under the wider scope of Project Nexus, an ambitious residency and education programme designed to nurture and empower artists, art educators, art historians, and curators through a series of residencies, professional development workshops, and educational initiatives over three years. The project embodies the spirit of collaboration and cultural exchange that lies at the heart of both Foundations’ missions, aiming to encourage and cultivate artistic excellence and curatorial innovation. Project Nexus is generously supported by Deutsche Bank.
