Digital Residencies in United Kingdom

Acme

London, United Kingdom

Acme Studios, established in 1972 and celebrating its 50th anniversary, is a London-based not-for-profit organization that provides affordable studios, work/live spaces, and a comprehensive artist support program. Acme supports over 800 artists across 15 buildings in Greater London annually. The organization offers a range of residency programs, including fully funded and subsidized opportunities tailored to artists at different career stages—from early-career to established practitioners. Acme’s residencies provide financial support, professional development, mentoring, and exhibition opportunities, all within a supportive artist peer community. Their flagship Fire Station Residency offers artists a five-year term to focus on their practice. Acme also engages in various partnerships that extend additional opportunities to resident artists.

Beam

Chesterfield, United Kingdom

Beam, a cultural development organization based in Wakefield, North of England, offers a Socially Engaged Artist Residency in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. This residency aims to engage the community and visitors through creative participatory activities and animation, exploring unique and hidden stories about the town. The program runs for six months and provides an all-inclusive fee of £14,700 plus VAT. Beam supports artists with technical, administrative, and mediation assistance, offering a residency base in an empty shop in Chesterfield town center. The residency includes community engagement sessions, research, and creative outputs displayed in the town center. Beam emphasizes the importance of community involvement, cultural exchange, and the creation of high-quality public art.

Delfina Foundation

London, United Kingdom

The Delfina Foundation Residency Program, based in London, offers opportunities for artists, curators, and writers to develop their practice, explore connections, and build collaborations. Residencies, lasting up to three months, are largely thematic and support both emerging and established cultural practitioners. The Foundation hosts 6 to 8 residents simultaneously in its central London location, providing flexible living and working space. Residents engage with international peers and the public, fostering artistic exchange and professional development. The program has a strong focus on critical issues in contemporary art and has established relationships with the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

Factory

Manchester, United Kingdom

Factory International Fellowship is a unique opportunity for six artists based in the North of England to scale up their ambition through gaining insight into how Factory International makes work at Aviva Studios and for Manchester International Festival (MIF25). The Fellowship supports artists at a transitional stage in their career to stretch their practice in different directions. This bespoke programme allows Fellows to explore their practice in the world-class Aviva Studios building with new commissions and international artists making work at scale. Fellows receive mentoring opportunities, coaching, observational placements, peer-to-peer learning and access to Factory International staff and creative teams as well as monthly meetings with Creative Director Low Kee Hong. The programme builds on previous successful programmes – MIF Jerwood/Creative Fellows and Factory Fellows – which have supported 30 artists/creatives from the region since 2017 thanks to the initial support of the Jerwood Foundation. Fellows shadow the making of Factory International commissions over a nine-month period including access to MIF25 commissions, developing professional experience and knowledge of different art forms or different scales of work.

GroundWork

King's Lynn, United Kingdom

GroundWork Gallery, located in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, is a pioneering space dedicated to the intersection of contemporary art and environmental concerns. Established with a vision to showcase how art can influence our perception and interaction with the environment, the gallery hosts exhibitions and creative programs that explore the potential of art to address and reflect on global environmental issues. GroundWork Gallery operates both locally and globally, aiming to present art of global quality while connecting it to local environmental concerns. The gallery's programming is diverse, including all forms of visual arts and engaging with new environmental and ecological themes. Its semi-domestic space, arranged over two floors, provides a unique atmosphere for displaying art, creating varied experiences for visitors. GroundWork Gallery is committed to stimulating discussion and creativity around environmental subjects, offering events, talks, workshops, and community projects alongside its exhibitions. By fostering a network of artists, experts, and community members, GroundWork Gallery seeks to contribute to a broader understanding and action towards environmental sustainability.

Ovada

Oxford, United Kingdom

OVADA, an artist-led center in Oxford, offers a Summer Residency, providing a stimulating environment for up to 10 creative practitioners to develop new work and ideas. The residency takes place in a transformed warehouse shared studio space, encouraging collaboration and learning among artists, curators, writers, and researchers at any career stage. With no expected outcomes, participants have the freedom to shape their residency experience, engage with the public through talks and events, or organize open studios and exhibitions.

PLOP

London, United Kingdom

PLOP Residency, established in 2018, is a vibrant artist residency located in the heart of East London, near Bethnal Green. Situated in the former Annka Kultys gallery space, PLOP has become a nurturing ground for over 65 international artists from 4 continents and 14 countries. At its core, PLOP is a community-driven initiative that offers a unique blend of studio space and mentorship, enriched by studio visits from esteemed industry professionals. Each month, the residency hosts 2 artists, providing them with free studio space to work collaboratively, culminating in a curated open studios event. PLOP underscores its commitment to artist development through annual open calls that welcome both artists and curators, fostering a diverse and dynamic creative environment. The residency’s creator, Oli Epp, and Residency Manager, Mollie Barnes, alongside an advisory panel comprising art critics, curators, and collectors, play pivotal roles in steering PLOP towards its mission of championing artist development and facilitating revolutionary residencies.

Residency 11:11

London, United Kingdom

Residency 11:11 in London offers a unique, one-month residency for art practitioners focusing on research and reflection. Set in the home of its founders, Alex Bell and Giulia Shah, the residency provides a supportive environment for exploring local artistic landscapes and engaging with diverse discourses. In collaboration with Iniva’s Stuart Hall Library, the residency emphasizes engagement with special collections and archival practices, particularly those centered on Global Majority, African, Asian, Caribbean, Polynesian, Latinx, and Diaspora perspectives. This program includes access to Iniva’s resources, a research budget, and opportunities for public engagement.

Sarabande Foundation

London, United Kingdom

Sarabande Foundation, established by Lee Alexander McQueen in 2006, is a charitable foundation in London that supports creatively fearless artists and designers. It offers heavily subsidized studio spaces ranging from 50 to 350 sq. ft. at £1 per sq. ft. per month, including utilities and access to communal spaces and equipment. The foundation also provides business mentoring, pro-bono support from experts, and networking opportunities. Sarabande nurtures artists from various disciplines, including sculptors, fashion designers, jewellers, textile designers, painters, performance artists, and more. The residency program emphasizes community and collaboration, providing a robust platform for artists to develop their craft and connect with leading industry professionals.

Tenderground

London, United Kingdom

Tenderground is an arts strategy and commissioning program for the almshouses of Southwark Charities, aimed at embedding art and culture into the daily lives of the residents. This innovative and ambitious program is designed to enhance community life, support change, and activate the new almshouse building on Blackfriars Road, London. Directed by Laura Wilson and Clare Cumberlidge & Co, and supported by Southwark Charities, Tenderground explores methods to integrate art and culture deeply into the community. The residency provides opportunities for artists to engage with residents, creating projects that foster community building and enrich the living environment. Tenderground focuses on the collaborative potential of art to influence daily life positively and to assist in the transitional processes associated with the new development.

The Cut

Halesworth, United Kingdom

The Cut is a rural arts centre that offers a vibrant mix of theatre, music, art, dance, cinema, and educational programs. It operates a Summer Project Residency focusing on themes like Environment, Identity, Migration, and Sustainable Structures. The residency encourages exploration across various artistic approaches and supports participants with mentorship from established artists. The program concludes with an exhibition and the publication of a Summer Project publication. The residency aims to challenge artistic norms and foster community engagement through lectures, seminars, and public events. The Cut provides a supportive environment for creativity, experimentation, and the development of new ideas, emphasizing inclusivity and community involvement in the arts.

The Muse Gallery & Studio

London, United Kingdom

The Muse Gallery & Studio offers an Artist in Residence program to support recent graduates by providing subsidized studio space and gallery exposure to cultivate client and industry connections. Since 2004, this residency has been bridging the gap between academia and the professional art world, with a focus on emerging artists. Residents benefit from shared resources, mentorship, and opportunities to participate in community arts projects, exhibitions, and events. The residency spans from January to June each year, beginning and concluding with group shows. Selected artists are also offered a three-week solo exhibition during the following calendar year. The program is designed to foster professional development and facilitate networking, with additional support for event management and marketing.