G. A. S. / Yinka Shonibare Foundation

• two working grants for two months (8 weeks) for visual artists, writers, curators.
• working periods: April 6th–May 31st, and August 24th–October 18th.
• the working grant amounts to €5,500 per two-month residency.
• The amount of travel grant depends on the selected means of travel; see further information from the application guidelines.
• G. A. S. webpage

The G.A.S. residency programme embraces interdisciplinary collaboration and welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and career stages. Residency proposals should demonstrate active engagement with the local environment. While there is no requirement for residents to produce specific outcomes during their tenure, we encourage them to consider ways in which they can contribute to the cultural vibrancy and infrastructure of Lagos. This may take various forms, such as masterclasses, workshops, talks, or events.

The first G.A.S. residency building located in Oniru, Lagos is a modern, brutalist-inspired structure that wraps around a central courtyard. The building houses a library of around 1500 volumes, and cover topics including Sub-Saharan African art, history, and archaeology, as well as African American and Black British arts. G.A.S. staff are on-site Monday to Friday to support residents’ needs, the building includes 24/7 security and residents have access to shared use of the G.A.S. driver and security on weekdays.

The second residency building sits on the lush 54-acre Ecology Green Farm in the village of Ikise, Ijebu Ode. The farm produces crops ranging from cassava and cashew to peppers and maize. The building includes one ensuite double bedroom and two double bedrooms with a shared bathroom, studio/work space, and an open plan kitchen/living room.

The residency artist of the Finnish Cultural Foundation will primarily be housed in Lagos, with a possibility to spend a shorter time at the Farm. The exact lengths of the stays are to be agreed with the G. A. S. team following the awarding of the grant.

The three strands of enquiry which are prioritised within the G. A. S. residency activities:

• Materiality, Craft and Identity: This strand supports artists and designers in exploring a wide range of materials and techniques, encouraging practices that move beyond conventional forms while drawing on Nigeria’s rich material culture as a point of departure.
• Ecology, Food, and Environment: This strand encourages critical engagement with environmental and agricultural systems through artistic and research-driven practice.
• Archives and Publishing: This strand centres on the preservation, interpretation, and circulation of cultural knowledge.

It is recommended that residents bring any specialist materials with them as they may be hard to source in Lagos.

In Lagos, residents are allocated a private bedroom with ensuite. At the Farm residents are allocated a private bedroom with a shared bathroom. Airport transfer is provided by G. A. S. The G.A.S. team provide end-to-end production support to help with the successful delivery of any events or activations. A production budget is allocated to each resident and managed by the G.A.S. team.

Please familiarise yourself with the travel information of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, which urges to exercise particular caution, as well as visa and vaccination requirements, already when applying.