ABOUT RSA RESIDENCIES FOR SCOTLAND
The Royal Scottish Academy Residencies for Scotland programme provides valuable research and residency opportunities for artists whilst forging important networks with centres of artistic excellence across Scotland, ranging from traditional residency venues to specialised production facilities.
Open to visual artists at all stages of their careers, the artist-led programme enables a period of research, development and production, as well as the acquisition and exchange of new skills and experiences. Artists can apply for funds of up to £5,000 and are responsible for managing their own residency, in cooperation with the residency venue.
Our partner venues offer quality development and presentation opportunities to contemporary artists. Their expertise and longevity have helped form the backbone of artist practice in Scotland for decades. Exhibition opportunities may be available at the RSA or through links with the partner venues and their own exhibition facilities or networks.
The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture is an independently funded institution whose purpose is to promote and support the visual arts in Scotland. The Residencies for Scotland programme is administered and funded by the RSA, with kind support from the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust and the RSA W. Gordon Smith & Jay Gordonsmith Trust. Launched in 2009, the programme is now offered on a biennial basis. Since its inception we have awarded over £386,000 to 118 artists to spend time at 42 venues across Scotland.
Aims of the residency programme:
To enable artists a dedicated period of research, development and production.
To reinforce links with centres of excellence across Scotland.
To provide access to technical expertise and assistance to learn new skills and techniques.
To enable the exchange of ideas and practice.
Participating Residency Venues 2026
Airlie Artists Residency, Angus
An Cridhe, Isle of Coll
An Lanntair, Isle of Lewis
Bothy Project, Isle of Eigg
Cove Park, Argyll and Bute
Cromarty Arts Trust
Deveron Projects, Huntly
Dundee Contemporary Arts Print Studio
Edinburgh Printmakers
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
Glasgow Print Studio
Peacock and the worm, Aberdeen
The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney
RSA Collections Department, Edinburgh
Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden
Stills, Edinburgh
Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow
Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist
WASPS Artists Studios (Skye)
ENTRY CONDITIONS
Entry conditions and requirements must be strictly adhered to or applications may be rejected. By completing the application the artist agrees to all stated entry conditions.
Artists must have been born or are currently living in Scotland (and have been for at least 3 years consecutively).
Artists should no longer be in full-time education at the time of applying.
Artists may apply for funds of up to £5,000.
Duration of residencies are flexible but must be completed before the end of 2027. Failure to complete residencies within the stated time may result in award monies being recalled.
Artists are responsible for budgeting all aspects of the residency (accommodation, materials, venue costs, travel, workshop use, etc).
The artist will be responsible for the structure and day-to-day management of their award, in agreement with the residency venue.
The overall project will be administered and financial aspects monitored by the RSA.
Artists will need to check for any restrictions or additional costs that may apply to each residency venue before completing the application. A full list of participating venues and residency guidelines can be found on our website.
Funds are to be put solely towards the residency costs.
Funds can be used in conjunction with other sources of funding (this should be clearly outlined in the budget).
Funds cannot be used as capital, to fund exhibition costs, to pay for editioning of works or for third party production costs.
Successful applicants will be required to complete an evaluation document at the end of their residency.
All resulting works/exhibitions/publications should carry RSA and Residency Venue credit and the relevant logos.
SELECTION PROCESS
Artists will be assessed on the quality of visual material submitted, the coherency of their proposed project, and on proving to the panel that the project will allow for major development and artistic exploration.
An initial shortlist of applications will be made by an RSA Panel, made up of Royal Scottish Academicians. This shortlist will then be sent to each of the relevant venues for a second round of selection, ensuring that the venues are involved in the process. The RSA Panel will then make a final selection based on the funds available.
All artists will be notified by the end of May 2026.
The decision of the Panel is final and no correspondence can be entered into.
Due to the high volume of applications, we regret it is not possible to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Applicants may not contact members of the selection panel directly regarding their application or to request feedback. Contact with members of the panel may result in rejection of the application.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be made online via Submittable. If you have used the Submittable platform with any organisation before you may use the log in details you have previously set up. If this is your first time using Submittable you will be required to sign up for an account.
The online application will require artists to submit the following information:
- Artist statement (max. 100 words)
- Up to 5 key artistic achievements (max. 150 words)
- 25 word summary of proposed project
- Desired venue
- Proposed residency dates
- Proposal (max. 400 words) which should include a concise outline of proposed project
- Up to 6 visuals of works already produced.
- Budget (excel format) including total project costs and amount requested from the RSA
- CV
Postal applications will be accepted from anyone who is having difficulties with the online form. Please ensure that postal applications are received by the RSA by the application deadline.
Artists may submit a maximum of 6 JPEGS or up to 3 minutes of video files. Please consider that should you wish to submit a mix of video and JPEGS, every 30 seconds of video equates to the value of one JPEG.
Avoid using composite or multiple images per slide and captions on images.
For collaborative applications, one artist should be nominated to be the contact for correspondence. A collaborative application must keep to the same guidelines and limits as a single artist submission.
Applicants may apply to one venue only.
In addition to these Application Guidelines, please read the following thoroughly before submitting an application (available to download via our website):
- Residency Venue Information
- Applicant FAQ's