All applicants must read the guidelines below carefully before submitting an application to the Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency. By applying you are confirming that you understand and agree to these points.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORM DOCUMENTS
You can access these application guidelines and the application form in the following formats:
Large Print Application Guidelines
Large Print Application Form
Plain Text Application Guidelines
Plain Text Application Form
Word Document Application Guidelines
Word Document Application Form
PDF that can be run through text recognition Application Guidelines
PDF that can be run through text recognition Application Form
Please note, the downloadable application forms above are provided to help you draft your answers offline before submitting via the online application form.
WHAT IS THE JERWOOD SOMERSET HOUSE STUDIOS RESIDENCY?
The Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency is a new programme developed in collaboration with Jerwood Arts and defined to support three early-career visual artists over a period of 18-months.
The programme offers studio space in central London, a bursary and project budget to develop a new work to be presented in the Somerset House programme. In addition, artists will receive support and mentoring from the artist community along with wider Somerset House Studios residency benefits, all focused towards developing a sustainable professional practice for the long term.
WHAT DOES THIS OPPORTUNITY INCLUDE?
• £3,000 bursary per artist
• £3,000 project budget per artist to develop a new work
• Dedicated studio space for 18-months (24-hour access)
• A mentor from the wider Studios artist community
• £750 in-kind budget to experiment with in-house facilities such as our recording studio (unfacilitated), rehearsal studio, meeting rooms and project spaces
• Access to Makerversity workshops at significantly reduced artist rates
• Support from the Studios team to set goals and objectives for your practice
• Access to wider development and social programmes
• Final presentation of works in the Somerset House programme
• Support for reasonable adjustments to assist with access requirements
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY?
The opportunity is open to visual artists within the first five years of their practice, with a focus on artists who are pushing bold ideas, engaging with urgent issues and pioneering new technologiesWe particularly welcome applications from those making socially engaged, and inclusive work, activists and critical thinkers; the experimental; those interested in cross-disciplinary working and / or collaboration.
Artists must be UK based, over 18 and demonstrate that they meet the criteria of this opportunity. Artists should not be in formal education for the duration of the support (including part-time and post-graduate education). We are also interested hearing from artists who have not progressed through formal art training routes.
Applicants must be able to:
- share a minimum of three examples of public presentation of their work
- outline an idea / work they would like to develop
- clearly demonstrate how their practice would benefit from the opportunity
Somerset House is committed to being actively anti-racist across all areas of our work, and ensuring all programmes are inclusive and representational, paying particular attention to those under-represented* in the culture sector. We are committed to embedding inclusion and representation into our overall selection.
*By under-represented we mean: People who are under-represented within the creative sector workforce and audiences, specifically in terms of: LGBTQIA+ and/or non-binary, having a migrant or refugee experience, from African Diaspora, from South, East and South East Asian diaspora, and/or ethnically diverse, neurodivergent, disabled, affected by a health condition or impairment, affected by homelessness, care-leaver, carer, unemployed and/or have received welfare benefits, working class and/or first in their immediate family to go to university.
CAN A DUO APPLY FOR THIS RESIDENCY?
Yes, it is possible for a duo to apply but if you are selected all residency resources would be shared. This opportunity is not open to collectives or larger groups.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE EARLY CAREER?
The term ‘early-career’ is difficult to define and may look different depending on a range of factors. We are looking to support artists who have some existing professional experience and momentum for their practice but are still in the early stages.
This is the definition of ‘early-career’ that we are using for the Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency, and which we require you to meet. We anticipate that many will have struggled to find paid work during the Covid-19 pandemic and may have fewer examples of their practice over that period. This will be taken into account during the assessment process:
• You are over 18 and not in formal education for the duration of the residency (including part-time and post-graduate education
• You are a visual artist within the first five years of your practice
• You have a track record of presenting your work to a public audience (this can include educational settings)
• You have at least 3 examples of public presentation of your work
WHAT IS THE TIMELIME?
• September 2023: Residency announced - applications open
• 25 October 2023: Application deadline (midnight)
• December 2023: Artist interviews - opportunity offered
• April 2024 – September 2025: 18-month residency takes place
• September 2025: public presentation of work at Somerset House
IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO APPLY?
It’s possible to submit your application in written, audio or video format. Whichever format you choose, we ask you to answer the same questions.
Written applications should be submitted via the online form as outlined. Video/Audio Applications should be emailed to studios@somersethouse.org.uk
No assessment will be made of the production quality of audio or video recordings.
All applications regardless of format should be submitted no later than midnight on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
WHAT ACCESS SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
We are committed to making our opportunities accessible and the application experience as user-friendly as we can. This is part of our ongoing work to welcome and encourage applicants facing barriers to apply.
You can access this application guidance and the application form in a number of accessible formats at the top of this page. Please note, the downloadable application forms above are provided to help you draft your answers offline before submitting via the online application form or via the formats outlined.
Access Support Worker
We can contribute up to £200 towards a fee for an Access Support Worker for applicants who need one. Please email Harry Leek at studios@somersethouse.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7845 4623 at least one working week before the deadline to discuss how we can help.
Access Rider
We are committed to ensuring that the programme is accessible for the selected artists. Selected artists will be provided with an access document at the start of their residency to let us know what they need to fully participate in the programme, including communication methods and engagement in both digital and real-life elements.
Access Budget
There is a budget to support with reasonable adjustments to assist with access requirements for this residency programme. We will work with individuals to understand their specific needs.
ARE ALL STUDIOS AREAS ACCESSIBLE?
The Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency studio space is located on the basement of the New Wing of Somerset House and is wheelchair accessible. This space is on the same level as the West Service Yard and Embankment entrances to Somerset House, and also accessible via lift from ground floor areas accessed via the Lancaster Place entrance. The Paint Room and Snooker Room social areas and all Somerset House Studios project spaces are wheelchair accessible via the lifts. Most vault spaces are not wheelchair accessible as they have steps to enter. Somerset House is a Grade I listed building so there may be times when we need to look at specific requirements. We will work with individuals to understand their specific needs in how to navigate access challenges if they arise.
WILL I RECEIVE CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF MY APPLICATION?
Yes, confirmation of all applications will be emailed.
WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS?
Each application will be read by a minimum of two members of the Somerset House Studios team and reviewed against the opportunity criteria to arrive at a longlist. The longlisting process will assess that the candidate meets the minimum criteria defined here, and that they have made a case that the opportunity will benefit their practice. The longlist will then be assessed by a selection panel including representatives from Somerset House as well as artists from the Somerset House Studios community. The panel will assess the strength of the case made for benefit to practice, as well as candidates proposed idea and it’s alignment with the Studio’s remit to push bold ideas, engage with urgent issues and / or pioneer new technologies. Shortlisted artists will be invited to an interview with Somerset House Studios in December 2023 and the three selected artists will be confirmed following this.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M SHORTLISTED?
Shortlisted artists will be invited for an in-person interview and a tour of Somerset House Studios to discuss their application in more detail. Key interview questions will be shared in advance. The three selected artists will be confirmed following this meeting.
CAN I VIEW THE STUDIO AND FACILITIES BEFOREHAND?
All shortlisted candidates will have a tour of Somerset House Studios and will be able to view the studio at this stage.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M SELECTED?
Selected artists will be offered this residency in December 2023 and issued with an agreement and residency pack. Participating artists will be expected to use Somerset House Studios as their main place of work for the residency period of April 2024 – September 2025 and artists will be expected to participate in all elements of the residency programme including mentorship meetings, artists development opportunities and other programme elements which will be outlined in more detail in your residency pack.
WHEN WOULD I RECEIVE THE BURSARY PAYMENT?
Selected artists will receive their £3,000 bursary in two payments of £1,500, the first upon signing the residency agreement and the second at the halfway point of the residency. This bursary payment is a contribution to residency expenses rather than a fee. It is expected that this bursary will be used to support artists to develop their practice over the 18-month period. This residency is designed to support artist’s wider practice and should allow participants to earn income from other sources.
WHAT IS THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR?
Selected artists will also receive a £3,000 project budget to develop a new work to be presented at Somerset House at the end of the residency. This £3,000 project budget should include an artist fee as well as material or production costs for the development of the work. Additional in-kind support may be allocated by Somerset House Studios where feasible, this will be discussed with the Somerset House Studios producer. The purpose of the project budget is to give the residency focus, and an outcome will be shared publicly at the end of the residency. This may be a work still in progress, and will be discussed with the team early on in the residency timeline.
HOW DOES THE MENTORSHIP WORK?
Each artist will be allocated a mentor from the wider Somerset House Studios artist community. The mentor is selected in conversation with each artist and advised by the Somerset House Studios team. Regular meetings will take place with your mentor over the course of the residency.
WHAT ARE THE WIDER DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMES?
Over 60 artists and their teams are resident at Somerset House Studios, with Somerset House more broadly being home to the UK’s largest and most exciting creative community. Somerset House Studios host a year-round artist development and community programme which Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency recipients will have full access to. These programmes include regular socials to connect with other artists, one-to-one meetings, parties, opening events, artist-led workshops and tailored advice sessions. Artists will also have access to the wider Somerset House support programme which includes legal advice clinics, networking opportunities and creative industry focused events.
APPLICATION QUERIES
We are happy to receive emails or calls to answer your questions. Please email Harry Leek at studios@somersethouse.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7845 4623. We will aim to respond to emails within three working days.
Please ensure you have read the Application Guidelines carefully before getting in touch as you may find your answers in this information.
Please note that the advice we give will be on the eligibility and suitability of you making an application and will have no bearing on its assessment. You do not need to have spoken to a member of staff before applying.
CAN I RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON MY APPLICATION IF I’M NOT SUCCESSFUL?
Due to the anticipated volume of applications, unfortunately we will not be able to offer feedback to unsuccessful applicants. Please note that the decision is final and there is no appeal or re-consideration process.