Residency Vision, Mission and Values
Residency Vision
A residency programme that reflects the world we want to live in, where artists are paid fairly, supported to take creative risks, and celebrated for the diverse perspectives they bring. Our residencies model a more inclusive arts sector: equitable, accessible, and anti-exploitative.
Residency Mission
To create residencies that offer time, space, and fair pay for artists to experiment, make, and connect. To provide tools and support needed for artists at all stages to thrive – from emerging to established/career break, local to international. Each residency champions care, inclusion, and professional respect, rejecting unpaid labour and the idea that “exposure” is compensation.
We build relationships that last beyond the residency, supporting sustainable creative careers and nurturing bold, socially engaged practice that challenges and inspires.
Residency Values
Fair Pay and Equity: We value creative labour and commit to paying artists fairly for their time, skills, and ideas. No Art House residency is unpaid or exposure-based.
Access and Inclusion: Every artist should be able to take part. We design residencies around individual access needs, with adaptable spaces, flexible working arrangements, and support for disabled and sanctuary-seeking artists.
Care and Collaboration: We foster trust, shared learning, and creative exchange. Our residencies are rooted in care and respect.
Growth and Sustainability: We support artists’ long-term development, offering space to experiment and fail safely. We invest in residencies that build sustainable careers and contribute to a fairer creative ecosystem.
About our Residencies
We continue to support creatives with one of the UK’s leading programmes for risk-taking work and experimental practices. These include solo (or collective) and international residencies, which provide a fee, a materials budget, paid travel, and mentorship, as well as vital support at crucial points in an artist’s professional development. Either bridging the gap between leaving university and entering the art world, or providing opportunities for those who have not been able to access traditional art routes, we encourage artists to develop their practice and push boundaries. We also help facilitate conversations and meaningful engagement between artists, local peers and our communities.
Please check back for updates on open calls for our residency programme. We also recommend joining our mailing list, or following us on social media to stay up to date.
Solo Artist Residencies
Since being founded in 1994, The Art House has remained committed to supporting high-quality professional development for individual artists, or collectives. Over recent years we have extended the programme for those who have been traditionally underrepresented, or for creatives who have taken career breaks for a variety or reasons, and subsequently faced barriers in restarting their creative practice.
Our 2024 solo residency artists so far include Christopher Samuel, Jakob Rowlinson and Tonye Ekine. Our 2025 includes Amak Mahmoodian, Emily Ryalls and Emma Bolland
International Residencies
Since 2019, The Art House (TAH) and the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) have worked in partnership to offer an incredible UK-based residency opportunity for international artists. Each year, two artists are selected to spend two months on a fully funded and supported residency in Wakefield.
The opportunity is to help develop the practice of artists living and working internationally who have not yet worked or exhibited in the UK. Our 2024 selected artists are Ronald Muchatuta and Lilah Benetti. Our 2025 artists are Behnaz Fatemi and Geovanni Barrios.
Our 2026 International Open Call application will open in December 2025
The Patricia Sutcliffe Artist Residency - for Disabled artists
Disabled people make up 23 % of the UK population. We aim for our programme to reflect that. We actively encourage applications from disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill artists.
This opportunity is named in honour of our founder and disabled artist, Patricia Sutcliffe, to support a disabled artist working in any medium. TAH is home to one of the most accessible residency facilities, Maker Spaces, studios and onsite accommodation in the UK. The residency is a proud celebration of Patricia’s vision, who championed a better future for the arts inclusively.
Our 2024 artists are Emma Bentley Fox and Lily Lavorato. Our 2025 artist is Terence Birch.
We know that some disabled artists may face restrictions around fees. We don’t want this to be a barrier. We’re committed to finding fair, transparent and artist-led solutions so everyone can take part.
Calling Residency Partners
Want to work with us?
We believe the arts sector can and must do better: by inviting contributors at all levels to be paid and aiming for better representation. If you’re an organisation that shares this vision, let’s partner.
Art is fundamental to understanding ourselves, people, and the world around us. The Art House champions diverse voices – we give a platform to creatives who are underrepresented or marginalised in the arts and we support them to break barriers and achieve their potential. If you would like to partner on our 2026 Artist Residency Programme, we’d love to hear from you! Email Amelia@the-arthouse.org.uk
Your support combined with our specialism in nurturing artistic excellence will help our future talented creatives. We hope our work can inspire you to partner with us!
