By Merit Ibe
Still Earth Holdings, a group of companies with operations in oil and gas, construction and real estate sector, has thrown its weight behind the Guest Artists Space (GAS) Foundation, with a donation of $150,000 (approx. N125 million).
The holding company, whose subsidiary companies include Tirex Petroleum and Energy and Still Earth Construction and Realty, made this known at the private viewing to celebrate the international launch of the GAS Foundation, in Lagos recently.
Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi, the Executive Chairperson of the company, said the donation was part of the company’s contribution to aid the successful execution of GAS Foundation, a non-government and non-profit organisation dedicated to facilitating international cultural exchange, developing creative and research practices through residencies and collaborations,
“The GAS Foundation is focused on encouraging critical and engaging practices, giving practitioners and academics the space to research, experiment, share, educate and develop work. Achieving this capital-intensive goal requires huge financial support from individuals and corporate bodies who share similar interests. Still Earth Holdings shares this interest with the GAS Foundation.”
Adeyemi celebrated the efforts of the Foundation and its founder, Yinka Shonibare CBE and congratulated them for building and commissioning the two new artist residency spaces in Lagos and Ijebu in May 2022.
“I congratulate the GAS Foundation and its founder for the commissioning of the two centers for research and experimentation in Lagos and a rural farm in Ijebu. These live/work residencies will provide the much-needed platform for local and international organisations, education providers, fellow practitioners, curators and researchers to network with one another. I commend the foundation’s foresight and dedication that brought about these projects,” she said.
She further said the two new centers will also provide a platform for creative development and knowledge exchange between established and emerging practitioners; provide support for international partnerships between artists, designers, curators, collectors, architects, agriculturists and ecologists; and foster the development of careers, both locally and internationally among other benefits.
The executive chairperson enjoined the GAS Foundation not to rest on its oars but to keep driving the realisation of its goals, promising that Still Holdings will not relent in its support for the good work the GAS Foundation is doing towards promoting international collaboration and exchange in the areas of contemporary art, design, architecture, agriculture and ecology.