Crafting the Future is a new funded creative residency supporting an emerging maker or designer to research, reinvent, and innovate within an endangered craft practice.
We are seeking proposals from artists or designers to undertake a one-month supported residency in The Art House’s purpose-built, accessible studios, with full access to our Maker Spaces. This opportunity supports artists and designers living and working in the UK who are interested in exploring the evolution of craft, sustainability, and contemporary design.
This residency champions practices connected to endangered and at-risk crafts, particularly those listed on the Heritage Crafts Association Red List, while actively encouraging experimentation with contemporary materials, processes, and ideas.
Craft plays a vital role in shaping cultural heritage, identity, and innovation. However, contemporary craft and design are often under-recognised within the visual arts sector. Crafting the Future seeks to address this imbalance by providing time, space, resources, and professional support for a maker to push their practice forward and help shape the future of contemporary craft.
Who We’re Looking For
We particularly welcome applications from creatives working with, or interested in:
- Endangered or at-risk crafts
- Sustainable and environmentally conscious making
- Contemporary reinterpretations of traditional skills
- Craft practices intersecting with design, innovation, and cultural heritage
You do not need to already work within a Red List craft. However, applicants should demonstrate a clear interest in developing skills, knowledge, or experimentation within endangered or at-risk craft practices.
Facilities and Making Opportunities
The Art House offers exceptional facilities that can support a wide range of craft and design practices, including:
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Print Studio – papermaking, bookbinding, lithography, block printing on paper and textiles, including pigment-making using organic materials
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Ceramics Studio – suitable for pottery and ceramic-based practices
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Urban Garden – supporting sustainable pigment, dye, and ink production using herbs, plants, and vegetables grown on site
Application Process
We are inviting an expression of interest (EOI) application process.
Please give a very short summary of you, your idea, or what you would like to use the residency for. The is no standard process, but perhaps you can briefly describe your practice, the idea you want to explore, the art form, and content. Or you can briefly explore what you’d like to use the residency time for. This is all about establishing your ideas and how we can support you.
The opportunity is to support you and your practice. You are not required to have a project in mind, make an object or create a final outcome.
You can make your application using text, video, or audio. To keep the process simple, we suggest no more than one page of A4 text / or 4 minutes of video/audio. Of course, you can provide more if you prefer, but there is no need to offer more than what is suggested. You can also send us links to your socials/website.
Your EOI can be submitted to residencies@the-arthouse.org.
The selected artist will engage in an initial online conversation TAH Programme Team to explore their aspirations for this residency, and what other support may be needed and available. We are very happy to discuss flexibility if any aspect of the offer needs adapting to suit your needs.
Supported by The Radcliffe Trust
Applications close 31 March 2026.
Key Information
- When is it open? The call-out for this opportunity is now live.
- Residency type: The selected artist, designer or maker will be invited to take a one-month residency
- When: We can support a residency taking place anytime between April to the following March. The one-month residency can be broken into smaller time periods to suit artist’s needs.
- Who it’s for: Artists or designers living and working in the UK, with an interest in craft, making, and design, especially with string connections to endangered crafts, skills at risk or sustainable making.
- Discipline: Open to artists and designers working in any medium, particularly those engaging with craft, making, sustainability, or material-led practice.
- Focus: The residency supports practices connected to endangered or at-risk crafts, particularly those listed on the Heritage Crafts Association Red List, as well as contemporary reinterpretations of traditional skills.
- What’s provided: Support budget: £2,500 (suggested £1,500 artist fee, £750 material, £250 travel) and studio space and accommodation at The Art House.
- Free access (with technician support) to Print Studio, Ceramic Studio and Darkroom
- 1–2–1 coaching and mentoring with The Art House Programme team
- Professional development support tailored to the artist, available during the residency and for up to 12 months afterwards, as agreed with the designer and Programme team
When and How to apply
- Application type: We know time is precious, so please submit a short, simple Expression of Interest to residencies@the-arthouse.org.
uk. Please specify in the email subject the name of the residency you are applying to. - When is the open call live: This callout is now open, Applications close 31 March 2026.