As we enter two years of programming and residencies at G.A.S. Foundation, we are thrilled to present our first Impact Report. It chronicles our journey from digital programming to welcoming our 43rd G.A.S. resident in December 2023. Throughout this transformative period, we have solidified our dedication to fostering creative development and knowledge exchange. The outcomes have surpassed our expectations, and reinforced our commitment to supporting the development and growth of cultural infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond.

As we enter two years of programming and residencies at G.A.S. Foundation, we are thrilled to present our first Impact Report. It chronicles our journey from digital programming to welcoming our 43rd G.A.S. resident in December 2023. Throughout this transformative period, we have solidified our dedication to fostering creative development and knowledge exchange. The outcomes have surpassed our expectations, and reinforced our commitment to supporting the development and growth of cultural infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond.

At the end of May 2024, Tilga Art Fund announced an open call for artists based in Nigeria or of Nigerian descent to submit project proposals on the themes of insecurity, youth unemployment, and poverty. The call was open to works in photography, painting, sculpture, and multidisciplinary arts. The jury, composed of art collectors and supporters Grace Osime and Jubril Enakale, G.A.S. Executive Director Moni Aisida, Nigerian Gallerist Adenrele Sonariwo, and renowned artist Victor Ehikamenor, selected the winner. This year's Tilga Art Fund Grand Prize went to Ugo Ahiakwo, who will receive an all-expenses-paid residency at Guest Artists Space Foundation.

On the evening of 8th July 2024, we hosted our inaugural Patrons Summer Soiree in conjunction with Yinka Shonibare CBE’s exhibition, Suspended States, and in collaboration with our residency partner, Tiwani Contemporary. Our guests, comprised primarily Y.S.F. and G.A.S. Patrons and Partners, were treated to a private tour of Suspended States led by exhibition curator Tamsin Hong. Following the tour, our guests were escorted to Tiwani Contemporary for an exclusive private viewing of In the Blood.

To celebrate our corporate donor African Export-Import Bank's (Afreximbank) first year of philanthropy, we spoke with Stephen Tio Kauma, Group Managing Director of Human Resources. Corporate donations like those from Afreximbank are essential in underpinning the success of our operations, empowering us to fulfil our mission and vision. Their generous support has been instrumental in allowing us to continue delivering our unique multidisciplinary residency in Nigeria, which has garnered the attention of creative practitioners locally, from the diaspora, and further afield across the globe. Discover more about Afreximbank, the motivation behind its support for the creative industries, and the lasting impact the Bank hopes to make on the world.

In May, Tilga Art Fund resident Katesi Kalange explored integrating non-biodegradable materials into urban architecture in Lagos. G.A.S. Fellow Amanda Iheme researched the intersection of Nigerian tropical modernism and affordable housing, hosting a photography showcase and presenting her findings in a residency retrospective, Ugwu-001.

Tiwani-supported resident Dawit L. Petros focused on photographic and moving image works, leading workshops and concluding his residency with Ekphrasis, an immersive public cinema experience. Additionally, G.A.S. Foundation launched Re:assemblages, a cultural program focused on African art libraries. The Annotations phase includes internships and a research associate program, with participants conducting research and planning events to share their findings.

The Open Research Room is the second and final public activation of G.A.S. Foundation’s Annotations Programme curated by Adeyosola Adeniran, Osayame Emokpae-Ozoro, Neil Grasty, Amaya Loubeau, Ufuoma Ogbemudje and Robyn Simpson with Annotations Co-Curators Naima Hassan and Maryam Kazeem. 

The Communications and Events Coordinator will play a pivotal role in developing and managing all communications and event-related activities for G.A.S. Foundation under the direction of the Executive Director (G.A.S.) and Communications and Projects Manager (Yinka Shonibare Foundation) in London. 

This multifaceted position involves crafting and executing comprehensive communication strategies, overseeing social media content, and coordinating end-to-end event production. The ideal candidate will have a background in communications, social media management, CRM system management, and event planning, with a particular focus on the arts and cultural sector, especially within Lagos.