G.A.S. Foundation

What G.A.S. Foundation does

G.A.S. Foundation (Guest Artists Space Foundation) is a Nigerian non-profit founded in 2019 by internationally acclaimed artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, operating alongside its UK sister organisation Yinka Shonibare Foundation (registered charity 1183321). The foundation delivers artist residencies, research initiatives, and education programmes in the visual arts and culture sector, operating from two purpose-built sites in Nigeria: G.A.S. Lagos (a multi-use live/work campus in Oniru featuring The Great Room event space, the G.A.S. Library, and the Picton Archive) and G.A.S. Farm House (a sustainability-focused facility with an onsite studio in Ikise, Ijebu). Its core product is fully funded residencies of up to three months for multidisciplinary artists, curators, researchers, and cultural workers from Africa and the diaspora, supplemented by structured programmes including the G.A.S. Fellowship Award, Re:assemblages (a multi-year African art libraries initiative with the AAL Lab Network), Ẹ̀mọ́rà Arts Intensive (professional development for emerging local artists), and the G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop.

The foundation generates no fee revenue from residents; it operates a non-profit revenue model funded by charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional grants. Confirmed major donors and partners include Deutsche Bank (anchoring the three-year Project Nexus programme), Afreximbank (via its Creative Africa Nexus and Afreximbank Art Programme), Bank of America, Outset Contemporary Art Fund, Femi Akinsanya, and VFD, alongside strategic delivery partners Yale University, Spelman College, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Pro Helvetia, the British Council, Frieze, and Terra Kulture. Distribution is hybrid: programme admissions flow through competitive open calls on its website and Jotform application forms, supplemented by institutional partner nominations and on-site public events at its Lagos and Ijebu venues, with awareness amplified via Instagram, LinkedIn, Vimeo, a monthly newsletter, earned media (Artforum, The Face), and presence at international art events including La Biennale di Venezia (2026) and ART X Lagos. Cumulative reach stood at 85 residents by June 2025, with applications for the 2026 Fellowship Award drawn from 12 African countries.

Name

G.A.S. Foundation

Legal name

Guest Artists Space Foundation

Website

https://guestartistsspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist Residency Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Artist residency programmes
• Arts education initiatives
• Cultural exchange programmes
• African art libraries
• Visual arts research

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: The foundation relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional donors to fund its residency programmes, facilities, and public events. Donations are solicited through its website and at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

G.A.S. Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit that delivers fully funded artist residencies of up to three months across two purpose-built sites (G.A.S. Lagos in Oniru and G.A.S. Farm House in Ikise, Ijebu), complemented by the G.A.S. Library and Picton Archive research resource. The foundation runs structured programmes including the G.A.S. Fellowship Award, Ìmọ̀ra Arts Intensive, Re:assemblages cultural development initiative, and G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop, serving multidisciplinary artists, curators, cultural workers, and researchers from Africa and the diaspora.

Product overview

G.A.S. Foundation operates a platform of residency-based arts programmes across two physical locations in Nigeria (G.A.S. Lagos and G.A.S. Farm House in Ijebu), complemented by the G.A.S. Library and Picton Archive research resource. The core offerings include the G.A.S. Fellowship Award providing fully funded residencies, supplemented by professional development initiatives including Ìmòra Arts Intensive and G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop. Cultural development programmes such as Re:assemblages and AAL Lab Network extend the foundation's reach through partnerships with international cultural organisations. The foundation also participates in major exhibitions including La Biennale di Venezia and offers art tours during Lagos art events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Re:assemblages: A roaming body and multi-year cultural development programme focused on the preservation and creative potential of African art libraries
• G.A.S. Fellowship Award
• Ìmòra Arts Intensive
• G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop

Products and services

• G.A.S. Lagos Residency Fully funded multidisciplinary artist residency programme of up to three months based at the purpose-built G.A.S. Lagos campus in Oniru, providing multi-use live/work spaces including The Great Room studio and event space, with access to the G.A.S. Library and Picton Archive.
• G.A.S. Farm House Residency Sustainability-focused residency programme at the G.A.S. Farm House in Ikise (Ijebu), offering accommodation, an onsite studio, and agricultural programming for artists and researchers.
• G.A.S. Library and Picton Archive Research resource housing African-published journals, magazines, and manuscripts that supports research-led practices for residents and the wider art community, serving as the foundation for the Re:assemblages programme.
• G.A.S. Fellowship Award Prestigious fully funded residency award offering residencies for Nigerian artists, writers, African-based artists, and African diaspora creatives across multiple categories.
• Ìmọ̀ra Arts Intensive Professional development programme for emerging local artists offering practical knowledge, network expansion, and career refinement workshops covering project proposals, funding applications, portfolio development, and career sustainability.
• Re:assemblages Roaming multi-year cultural development programme focused on the preservation and creative potential of African art libraries, featuring research, convenings, symposia, micro-publications, and the AAL Lab Network.
• G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop Three-day professional and critical development workshop supporting emerging local art writers, researchers, and cultural practitioners in critical writing practices.
• G.A.S. Lagos Art Tour Guided art tour programme taking place during Lagos Art Week and ART X Lagos.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85 residents welcomed by June 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Yinka Shonibare Foundation (UK) and Guest Artists Space Foundation (Nigeria) were established in 2019 by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA as sister organisations sharing a unified vision. Y.S.F. (UK) and G.A.S. (Nigeria) co-deliver programmes including the G.A.S. Fellowship Award, Project Nexus, Ìmòra Arts Intensive, and the G.A.S. Critical Writing Workshop. Y.S.F. also supports G.A.S. through joint communications, governance oversight, and shared institutional networks.
• Finnish Cultural FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.A.S. Foundation partnered with the Finnish Cultural Foundation to provide two fully funded, eight-week residencies awarded to Finnish or Finland-based artists, curators, or writers. Selected residents are primarily housed in Lagos with the possibility of spending time at the G.A.S. Farm House in Ijebu.
• Yale UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.A.S. Foundation maintains a residency partnership with Yale University, facilitating exchange and hosting Yale-affiliated residents or programme participants at its Lagos facility.
• Spelman CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.A.S. Foundation partnered with Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective (AUC Collective) to facilitate internships for student members. The programme aims to shape the future of the art world by cultivating students pursuing art history, museum professions, and curatorial practice, providing archival research internships at G.A.S. Lagos.
• Pro HelvetiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.A.S. Foundation partners with Pro Helvetia (the Swiss Arts Council) to facilitate residencies, supporting Swiss or Switzerland-based artists, curators, or writers in placements at G.A.S. Lagos.
• British CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.A.S. Foundation partners with the British Council on cultural exchange initiatives including Art Exchange Moving Image, contributing to the foundation's international programming and cross-cultural collaboration.
• iranti pressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryam Kazeem, founder of iranti press (a Lagos-based publishing project), co-curates the Annotations programme alongside Naima Hassan. iranti press convenes FESTAC 2077: A Speculative Writing Exercise.
• Archival ConsciousnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchival Consciousness collaborated with G.A.S. Foundation to design the Annotations Research Associates Programme, assembling a pedagogical timeline and archival resource on twentieth-century pan-African festivals.
• FriezemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrieze, a leading global contemporary art organisation (art fairs, publications, digital presence), collaborated with G.A.S. Foundation to host a networking dinner at G.A.S. Lagos in April 2026, placing Frieze in dialogue with Lagos' art ecosystem and introducing the foundation to an international audience of collectors and gallerists.
• Royal College of Art Association of Black Students, Alumni & Friends (RCA BLK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA BLK provided support for Lukman Ipese's residency at G.A.S. Lagos, enabling a London-based British-Nigerian graphic designer to undertake a four-week residency exploring spirituality in Lagos' everyday visual culture.
• Terra KultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerra Kulture is listed among G.A.S. Foundation's partners, supporting cultural programming and exchange activities.
• Toof ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToof Architects is listed among G.A.S. Foundation's partners, contributing to the foundation's design and architectural programming.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AKKA Project: Amsterdam-based arts residency and platform supporting artists and curators from the Global South through funded residencies and exhibitions. Comparable in mission to support emerging practitioners from Africa and the diaspora via funded residency programmes.
• Delfina Foundation: London-based arts residency and research-focused foundation offering fully funded residencies to artists, curators, and thinkers. Directly comparable as a UK-rooted, fully funded arts residency foundation with international artist focus and corporate/philanthropic sponsorship model.
• RAW Material Company: Dakar-based centre for art, knowledge, and practice offering residencies, exhibitions, and a research library focused on contemporary African art. Highly comparable as a West African arts residency and archival research platform serving African and diaspora practitioners.
• Gasworks: London-based arts organisation operating fully funded residencies for international artists and producing exhibitions and public programmes. Comparable in mission, residency structure, and reliance on institutional philanthropy to support artist exchange.
• Triangle Network: Global network of arts organisations and residency programmes facilitating artist exchange across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Directly comparable as a residency platform supporting international artist mobility and cultural exchange.
• Fondation Zinsou: Benin-based contemporary art foundation operating residencies, exhibitions, and educational programmes focused on African artists. Highly comparable as a West African art foundation delivering residencies and public programming with corporate sponsorship.

Regional players

• CCA Lagos: Lagos-based contemporary art centre focused on exhibitions, residencies, and public programmes supporting Nigerian and African contemporary artists. Comparable regional peer addressing similar audience and artist development needs.
• Fondation Donwahi: Abidjan-based contemporary art foundation supporting African artists through residencies, exhibitions, and cultural programming. Comparable as a West African art foundation operating residencies and developing cultural infrastructure for African practitioners.
• Arthouse Foundation (Lagos): Lagos-based contemporary art foundation supporting Nigerian artists through residencies, exhibitions, and programmes. Comparable as a Lagos-headquartered arts nonprofit addressing similar gaps in artistic infrastructure for local artists.

Others

• Yinka Shonibare Foundation: UK-registered sister charity (1183321) co-founded in 2019 by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, sharing unified vision with G.A.S. Foundation. Treated as adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct peer due to UK domicile and overlapping but distinct programmatic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user103714619
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guest-artists-space-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/gasfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about G.A.S. Foundation