The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) at Pan-Atlantic University and Ventures Platform, an early-stage venture capital firm, have announced a three-year collaboration integrating public art and entrepreneurial education.
The partnership, launched to mark Ventures Platform’s 10th anniversary, begins in 2026 and comprises two distinct components.
The first is a student engagement programme embedded within Pan-Atlantic University’s curriculum. Through guest lectures, masterclasses and practical sessions, Ventures Platform will give students direct access to investors and operators from its team. The sessions are intended to move beyond classroom theory, offering students insight into building scalable ventures and managing real-world entrepreneurial challenges.
The second component is the Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award, an annual commission awarding ₦10 million to a selected artist to create a permanent outdoor sculpture within the YSMA sculpture garden. The award is open to Nigerian and non-Nigerian artists based in Nigeria working in sculpture and installation, with a focus on experiential, participatory, and technology-informed works built for long-term outdoor display. Applications opened on April 2 and close on May 18.
Kola Aina, Founder and General Partner at Ventures Platform, said the initiative was designed to build environments where future founders could develop with clarity and capability. Jess Castellote, YSMA’s Museum Director, described the collaboration as consistent with the museum’s role as a platform for public engagement rather than simply a repository of the past. Vice Chancellor Enase Okonedo said the programme would deepen Pan-Atlantic University’s commitment to experiential and interdisciplinary learning.
YSMA was voted Museum Opening of the Year by Apollo Magazine in 2020. Ventures Platform has backed more than 75 active portfolio companies and recently announced a $64 million first close for its Pan-African Fund II.
Artists wishing to apply for the Futures Art Award can find eligibility criteria and submission guidelines at museum.pau.edu.ng.
•Featured image: YSMA Director, Jess Castellote in a conversation with the Founder and General Partner of Ventures Platform, Kola Aina during a Courtesy Visit and Tour of the YSMA/YSMA
