Somerset House Studios Bursaries

• 1 Non-London based Artist 
• 1 Early-Career Artist 
• 1 Early-Career Artist or Designer working critically at the intersection of art, design and technology 
• 1 Mid-Career Artist or Designer working critically at the intersection of art, design and technology 
• 1 Mid-Career Sound Artist 

For all bursary opportunities, there will be a focus on applicants who are underrepresented in the industry. An Equal Opportunities Questionnaire must be submitted to complete your application, where data is collected for monitoring and reporting purposes and, for the purpose of readdressing balance in terms of gender, disability, ethnicity, and socio-economic background, will not be anonymised. 

Priority will be given to artists can display the impact this opportunity would have on their practice and demonstrate why a residency at Somerset House Studios would not be feasible without this bursary support.

Applications are open to UK-based artists of all disciplines with a continuing focus on artists who are pushing bold ideas, engaging with urgent issues and pioneering new technologies. Artists must be over 18 and demonstrate that they meet the criteria of the bursary opportunity they are applying for. Selection will be by a panel comprised of members of Somerset House Trust, Somerset House Studios and resident artists. 

Somerset House is a Grade 1 listed building and is restricted in terms of extensive building works but is committed to making reasonable adjustments to spaces based on individual needs and dedicated to improving access where feasible to support a diverse community of cultural perspectives and abilities.  

NON-LONDON BASED ARTIST BURSARY 

Open to: Non-London based artists of all disciplines at any stage in their career living and working regionally in the UK with an interest in temporarily relocating to London to join the Somerset House Studios community for a 12-month period of artistic development.

Included in this opportunity:

• Dedicated studio space for 1 year: shared vault 
• Contribution to London living costs: £600 per month x 12 months
• Fee contribution (cash award): £1500
• Mentorship programme tailored to individual needs, including mentorship from current Somerset House Studios artists

EARLY CAREER ARTIST BURSARY

Open to: Early-career artists of all disciplines within the first 5 years of their professional practice

Included in this opportunity:

• Dedicated studio space for 1 year: shared vault 
• Fee contribution (cash award): £1500
• Concentrated mentorship programme tailored to individual needs, including mentorship from current Somerset House Studios artists and the wider Somerset House network

ART, DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY BURSARIES 

Open to: One early-career (must be within the first 5 years of their professional practice) and one mid-career (must be a minimum of 10 years into their professional practice) artist or designer working critically at the intersection of art, design and technology. Two bursaries available.

Included in each opportunity:

• Dedicated desk space for 1 year in Studio 48 at Somerset House Studios
• Fee contribution (cash award): £1500 
• Mentorship programme tailored to individual needs, including mentorship from current Studio 48 residents and the wider Somerset House network

SOUND ARTIST BURSARY

Open to: Mid-career artists with a sound-based practice interested in dedicated recording studio time to experiment, work on new projects and connect with other artists in a multidisciplinary environment. Artists must be a minimum of 10 years into their professional practice.

Included in this opportunity:

• Hot-desk access to Somerset House Studios, including shared social areas and project spaces
• Dedicated access to Somerset House Studios recording studio: fixed period of time per month on a rolling basis based on artists requirements (scheduled around other bookings)
• Fee contribution (cash award): £1500
• Mentorship programme tailored to individual needs, including mentorship from current Somerset House Studios artists and the wider Somerset House network
• Free music studio induction, specialist training & skill development opportunities
• Artists with sound production skills who are interested may also have paid opportunities to work with Somerset House on other audio projects eg. podcasts, sound commissions etc.

ALL SOMERSET HOUSE STUDIOS BURSARIES INCLUDE:

• An artist profile page on the Somerset House Studios website and promotion of your residency and work through our marketing and social media channels
• a-n membership
• Priority for all activity in the Somerset House Studios Artist Development Programme
• Connection to Somerset House Studios community of artist through social events and networking activities
• Support from Somerset House Studios team, including regular meetings
• Access to Somerset House Studios project spaces and facilities which include meeting rooms, rehearsal space, recording studio, screening facilitates and shared social spaces (in some cases subsidized rates apply)
• Opportunities to pitch ideas for the Somerset House Studios public programme
• Locker storage at Somerset House Studios
• Support for reasonable adjustments to assist with access requirements

TIMELINE

• 12 February: Bursary applications open
• 11 March: Bursary applications deadline is 17.00
• 23 -26 March: Panel interviews take place at Somerset House Studios
• 27 March: Bursary offers confirmed
• 01 April: Bursary residencies begin
• 31 March 2021: Bursary residencies end

This bursary programme is supported by Somerset House’s Young Talent Fund. Somerset House is very grateful to all the individuals who have contributed towards this.