A quick reminder that some AA2A application deadlines are now very close. Here is the full confirmed list for all 19 hosts:

31 Aug — Loughborough University
1 Sept — Gloucestershire College, Middlesex University, New City College
4 Sept — Cambridge School of Art, Leeds Beckett University, University of Chester, University of Roehampton
7 Sept — University of Portsmouth
12 Sept — De Montfort University
14 Sept — Birmingham City University, Blackpool School of Arts, York St John University
16 Sept — Newcastle University, Nottingham Trent University, University of Lancashire, University of Sunderland
21 Sept — Buckinghamshire New University
30 Sept — Liverpool John Moores University

We are not expecting any additional hosts to join this year.

We’ll also be holding our final Ask Us Anything session on Tuesday 1st September, 2–3pm. This is our final live Q&A session, so come along with any questions you have about the scheme. If you can’t make it, we are of course happy to answer any queries via email.

If you would like to join, here is the link (no Google account required): https://meet.google.com/yry-tphq-bac

Just a quick message to let you know that we have three upcoming ‘Ask Us Anything’ sessions happening soon:

Thu 20 Aug, 11:00-12:00 - https://meet.google.com/big-taza-fwj

Mon 24 Aug, 18:00-19:00 - https://meet.google.com/oki-nqsg-xvc

Tue 01 Sep, 14:00-15:00 - https://meet.google.com/yry-tphq-bac

If you have any questions about AA2A residencies that you’d like answered, please drop by.

One or two members of the AA2A team will be in the meeting to answer your questions. There’s no presentation and no expectation to stay for the full session; simply drop in, ask a question (either directly or in the chat), and leave whenever you like. You don’t need a Google account to join either.

We’re a friendly bunch, and we want to stress that there are absolutely no silly questions. If there’s something you’re unsure about, however small, please feel free to ask!

Just a quick roundup on applications.

We now have application packs and deadlines available for 17 hosts. The first deadline is 31st August, with most deadlines falling in early to mid-September, so now is a good time to start thinking about your applications.

There are just two hosts still outstanding:

• Liverpool John Moores University – We expect to have their application pack by next week. Their residencies will be based in the Fine Art department.

• Buckinghamshire New University – We expect to have a decision on their involvement by next week.

We’ve also made an update to the application form based on your feedback. You can now save your progress and return to complete the form at a later date, so you don’t need to complete it all in one go.

With 18 or 19 hosts spread across England, averaging around five residencies each, there are so many opportunities to get involved. Please feel free to spread the word.

The opportunities are also broader than ever, covering areas including:

• Fine Art

• Sculpture and 3D

• Printmaking

• Photography

• Film and Video

• Ceramics

• Textiles

• Jewellery and Metalwork

• Digital Art and New Media

• Animation

• Graphic Design

• Games Art

• Design and Crafts

You can find all the current application packs, deadlines and information on our website - https://aa2a.org/application-info-2026/

AA2A residencies are open to visual artists, designer-makers, and creatives working across a wide range of practices, including traditional, digital, contemporary, and emerging media.

Visit our Application Info page to explore the confirmed hosts and their application packs, which include key details about each scheme and available facilities. Some host packs are still being finalised and will be added soon. We expect to have all packs in by mid-August.

If you are interested in a host whose pack is not yet available, you can complete the form on the Application Info page, and we will notify you when the information is ready.

The earliest application deadline is 31 August, with most schemes closing in early to mid-September.

As a moving image artist based in London, I know that ideas are often limited by practical things—studio space, equipment and production costs. Sometimes a project isn’t impossible, it just has to wait. AA2A gave me the time and space to keep moving forward.

I still remember my first day at New City College’s Tower Hamlets Campus. The sun was shining. The reception staff and security team greeted me warmly, and the campus immediately felt calm, safe and welcoming. When I was shown around, the green screen studio caught my attention straight away. Although I never ended up using it, simply knowing it was there made me think differently about future projects. Along with the photography studios, computer rooms and workshops, it felt like a place where ideas could grow.

But when I think back now, the first things that come to mind aren’t the facilities.

They’re the people.

Jane would sometimes show me photos of the young swans she had been feeding. It had nothing to do with art, but somehow those conversations stayed with me. They reminded me that a creative community isn’t built only through work, but through the small things people choose to share with one another.

I also loved spending time with the students. We went out together, visited the Serpentine Galleries, and wandered through public sculptures in Hyde Park. There was always a sense of curiosity.

One student made a dragon that I still remember. She built its frame with paper and thin wooden sticks, shaped the whiskers from wire, then carefully threaded tiny translucent beads onto them. I stood looking at it for a long time. It wasn’t about technical perfection. It was simply full of imagination. Looking at that dragon, I couldn’t help wondering what she might make in ten years’ time.

There were quieter moments too.

Before I had learnt many of the students’ names, some of them had already remembered mine.

Every now and then, someone would smile and say,

“Bye, Shan.”

It was such a small thing, but it always made me smile.

Towards the end of the residency, I visited the students’ final exhibition. There were paintings, films, sculptures, tie-dye textiles and all kinds of experiments. Of course they were talented, but what moved me most wasn’t the quality of the work. It was their willingness to try. Standing there, I was reminded of how I felt when I first started making art—before deadlines, funding applications and budgets became part of every project. They reminded me that curiosity comes before everything else.

Some of my favourite memories happened just before I went home.

I often stayed until around six o’clock. By then, the campus had become almost empty. The last light of the afternoon would fall across the benches, the clock on the wall, the canteen and the quiet corridors. Nothing special was happening.

But those evenings never felt empty.

They felt like the kind of place where ideas have time to grow.

When I think about AA2A now, I don’t first remember the green screen studio or the computer rooms.

I remember a dragon with beaded whiskers.

I remember someone calling, “Bye, Shan.”

I remember Jane showing me photos of her swans.

And I remember the last light before going home.

Those are the moments that stayed with me.

Those are the moments that became the soil for new work.

Shan Hua, AA2A artist in residence 25-26 New City College, London

https://www.instagram.com/shanhua.me/

AA2A connects professional artists with universities and colleges to facilitate experiential learning, enriching students’ creative practice and academic discourse through direct engagement. Artists spend one year on campus accessing equipment/facilities in return for informal engagement with students.

Join us for a free online Q&A session where we’ll introduce the AA2A artist residency programme, explain the application process and answer your questions about eligibility, opportunities and what to expect as a resident artist.

We’ll be joined by current AA2A Artist in Residence Helen Thomas, based at Leeds Beckett University, who will share insights into her residency experience, how access to university facilities and resources has supported her practice and the ways the residency has contributed to the development of her work.

This informal session is open to artists interested in learning more about AA2A residencies, whether you’re considering applying this year or simply want to explore future opportunities.

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Tuesday 14 July
1.30–2.30pm
Online via Zoom
Free to attend

Please register via Eventbrite to receive joining details: https://tinyurl.com/2j2dkh9x

Image: Chris Millward, Lecturer, University of Chester

For 30 years, AA2A has helped shape the careers of some of England’s leading contemporary artists by giving them access to university workshops, studios and specialist facilities.

Since 1996, the residency programme has supported more than 2,000 visual artists across England, offering something increasingly rare: time, space and resources to experiment, develop new ideas and take creative risks. In return, participating artists share their professional experience with students, helping to bridge the gap between education and creative practice.

This summer, AA2A celebrates its 30th anniversary with an exhibition at CASC Gallery, presented in partnership with the University of Chester. Running from 16th July to 13th August, the exhibition reflects on the programme’s history while showcasing the impact it continues to have on artists today.

That impact is reflected in the words of current University of Chester artist in residence Christine Gallagher, who describes her residency as “life changing and transformative beyond all expectation”, adding that it inspired her to pursue the art degree she missed out on earlier in life.

Image: Christine Gallagher, artist in residence 24-25/25-26, University of Chester

The anniversary exhibition is both a celebration of what the programme has achieved and a reminder of the value of investing in artists at every stage of their careers.

AA2A 30th Anniversary exhibition, CASC Gallery, University of Chester, Creative Campus Kingsway, Kingsway, Chester, CH2 2LB

The exhibition runs from 16th July to 13th August, and is open 10:00–16:00 Monday to Saturday. No ticket is required for general visiting. The private view takes place on Thursday 16th July 5-8pm. To attend the private view, register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aa2a-30th-anniversary-exhibition-private-view-tickets-1992825988176

The CASC gallery is located at the rear of Creative Campus Kingsway and adjacent to a large car park. There are disabled parking spaces within 50 metres of the building with smooth pavements and dropped kerbs to facilitate easy use of mobile aids. Entrance points have low thresholds, wide corridors and doors. There are several accessible toilets near the gallery space. The site is secured by CCTV and on-site security personnel.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9ni8h1ZfpNUAEHS77

https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/our-locations/creative-campus-kingsway-chester/

Submission deadline: 11 June 2026, 5pm

AA2A and the University of Chester are delighted to announce an open call for AA2A artists to participate in a special exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of AA2A.

Taking place at Contemporary Art Space Chester (CASC) from 16 July – 13 August 2026, the exhibition will bring together artists from across the AA2A community, creating a unique opportunity to showcase work alongside fellow practitioners connected through three decades of residencies, creative exchange and collaboration with further and higher education institutions.

The exhibition is led by the University of Chester in partnership with AA2A and forms part of the University’s CASC Gallery programme. It celebrates the impact of AA2A’s mission: connecting professional artists with universities and colleges to foster experimentation, learning, dialogue and artistic development.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are invited from:

• Artists who have completed an AA2A residency at any point during the programme’s 30-year history

• Current AA2A Student Ambassadors, in recognition of their support for artists and the scheme

What Can Be Submitted?

Artists may submit up to five works for consideration, including:

• Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textiles and mixed media

• Sculpture and installation

• Video and audio-visual works

📸 Sophia Rosenthal, AA2A artist in residence 25-26 at New City College

About the Venue

The exhibition will be hosted at CASC – Contemporary Art Space Chester, based at the University of Chester’s Creative Campus Kingsway. CASC has established a strong reputation for presenting contemporary art, supporting emerging and established practitioners and contributing to the cultural life of Chester through an ambitious exhibition programme spanning more than 15 years.

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: 11 June 2026, 5pm

• Notification of selection: 18 June 2026

• Artwork delivery: 19 June – 3 July 2026

• Private View: 16 July 2026, 5–8pm

• Exhibition dates: 16 July – 13 August 2026

• Deinstallation: 14 August 2026

• Final collection deadline: 1 September 2026

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted via the AA2A exhibition submission form, which includes full submission and participation details:

https://aa2a.org/exhibition-submission-form/

We look forward to celebrating 30 years of AA2A with an exhibition that reflects the breadth, diversity and creativity of the artists who have shaped the programme. If AA2A has been part of your journey, we would love to see your work.

Since finishing my Fine Art Degree, I’ve definitely felt that mix of uncertainty and curiosity; trying to figure out what comes next and what working in the arts actually looks like outside of University. Day to day, I’ve been balancing paid work, having started a graduate internship as Marketing and Communications assistant at Aesthetica Magazine, while still holding onto a growing interest in arts and culture, just in a slightly different context than before.

At the moment, my own performance-based, theory-led practice has taken a bit of a step back. It’s not gone, it’s just waiting in the wings while I figure other things out. Right now, I’ve found myself leaning more towards marketing, editorial work, and communications within the arts sector, which has opened up a whole new way of thinking about creative work - not just in terms of making, but how work is shared, talked about, and experienced by others.

Thinking back to my time at York St John, the AA2A residency programme played a huge part in shaping how I understand all of this now. Having practicing artists around us regularly made things feel real and accessible. It wasn’t just about the work they were making, but the conversations around it - how they sustain themselves, how they navigate the industry, and what their day-to-day actually looks like.

Through seminars, tutorials, feedback sessions, and just general chats, I was able to get a much clearer and more grounded sense of what building a career in the arts can involve. One of the most valuable parts for me was getting involved in the networking and communications side of the programme. Interviewing AA2A artists and connecting with them directly gave me the chance to build relationships, while also helping to bring those conversations back to my peers.

Image: Caroline Jane Harris, A Stopped World, 2020

Image Credit: Aesthetica Art Prize 20: Skipton Town Hall, Jim Posner, 2026

Those kinds of experiences made things feel a lot less abstract. The advice we received wasn’t polished or idealised; it was honest, practical, and sometimes uncertain, which made it all the more useful. It helped demystify that jump from education into professional practice and made it feel more manageable.

One thing I didn’t fully realise before graduating was just how important those connections become once you’re no longer in a structured University environment. The small conversations, the people you meet briefly, the encouragement to stay in touch - it all adds up. Those informal networks have been more valuable than I ever expected.

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to keep building a career within arts and culture, particularly in marketing, editorial and communications, while allowing space for my own practice to come back into focus over time.

For anyone graduating this year, I’d say take your time with it. Stay connected to people, even in small ways, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out for help. The support is still there - it just looks a little different, and learning how to find it is all part of the process.

Lily Jemmett, AA2A Student Ambassador 24-25 York St John University

Trusted by over 70 institutions and 2,000 artists over the past 30 years, AA2A is a well-established and unique part of the visual arts pipeline, supporting career development for both students and artists.

Image: Christine Gallagher, AA2A artist in residence at University of Chester 24-26

Why it matters for students

Our residencies consistently deliver impact:

• Real insight into creative careers and working methods

• Workshops, talks and demos introducing new techniques and ideas

• Ongoing, informal learning through studio interaction

• Access to AA2A’s Creative Futures programme, including employability talks, online seminars, digital resources and the Student Ambassador scheme

Students gain confidence, ambition and a stronger understanding of the creative industries - key drivers of graduate employability.

“It has deeply enriched my college experience and provided me with a good grounding of industry knowledge that will help my creative career.”
- Saul Scott, student

Image: Mollie Balshaw delivering AA2A employability talk at Leeds Beckett University

Why institutions partner with AA2A

Our partner universities and colleges join us to:

• Enhance student employability through real-world exposure

• Bring fresh, external perspectives into teaching

• Maximise use of existing facilities

• Build stronger connections with the regional creative community

“The students really enjoyed having the artists around for a prolonged period to see their creative artwork developing over time and to build up a professional relationship with them. Some of these professional art contacts will continue beyond the scheme.”
- Robbie Chapman, Curriculum Leader Art & Design, Course Leader National Diploma Art and Design, Arts Academy, Gloucestershire College

Bring AA2A to your institution

Joining AA2A is straightforward, flexible and designed to work within existing resources. We collaborate with each partner to shape residencies that align with your students, facilities and curriculum.

If you’re looking to strengthen employability, enrich your learning environment and connect students with real-world creative practice, we’d love to work with you.

Get in touch to discuss hosting an AA2A artist residency at your institution.

Contact AA2A Executive Director daniel@aa2a.org

https://aa2a.org/why-host/

What does it actually look like to build a career in the creative industries right now? That was the question at the heart of this year’s AA2A Creative Futures online seminar series - and the conversations have been very honest.

This year, we changed the format and invited participants to suggest the topics for discussion. Unsurprisingly, “How do I get started after graduation?” topped the list. Across the series which ran from November to March, a brilliant line-up of industry voices shared insight on everything from starting out as a freelancer to managing money, building a brand, finding opportunities and navigating employment or self-employment.

With over 140 attendees joining across the series, it’s clear there’s a real appetite for practical, experience-led advice.

What our attendees said:

‘... good to get advice from people who are closer in age to myself as they have a more relatable and applicable experience, especially when it comes to getting a foot in the industry’ - student, Loughborough University

‘Really good to consider how transferable skills can be applied to arts jobs’ - student, University of Sunderland

‘I think these seminars are a really valuable resource for students looking to apply their degree in real world contexts’ - student, Loughborough University

Anyone who would like access to the recordings on our Youtube channel, contact us: info@aa2a.org

Residency updates

It might feel like things are just getting started, but many of our artist residencies are already over halfway through. We’ve loved seeing works-in-progress unfold - especially via Instagram, where artists are sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into their process.

We’re seeing a growing number of collaboration requests coming through - always a good sign of connection and momentum building.

Seeking new hosts

At AA2A, we actively welcome partnerships with universities and colleges interested in enriching student experience and employability outcomes. Alongside our established artist residency programmes, we offer a range of practical, employability-focused opportunities designed to help students make a confident move into the world of work. Through AA2A, students can meet and learn directly from practicing artists, hear honest insights into different career journeys and start to understand what working in the creative sector really looks like. These experiences fit easily into careers and professional development modules, adding real-world context to academic learning and helping students build confidence, awareness, and direction for their future.

If you work in further or higher education and you’re looking to strengthen your students’ employability and bring industry insight into your courses, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to explore how we can work together - info@aa2a.org

Image: Rosie Preston, AA2A Student Ambassador, New City College, London

Meet the AA2A Student Ambassadors

This year we’re working with 24 AA2A Student Ambassadors across our partner universities and colleges. From Fine Art to Photography, Illustration to Graphic Design, they represent a wide spectrum of creative talent.

Ambassadors receive online 1:1 mentoring with the AA2A team, a dedicated profile on our website, guaranteed access to seminars and opportunities to publish writing via our Substack newsletter.

Some of our ambassadors have only recently joined us, so we’ve extended the deadline for our photo/video competition to Friday 17 April - giving students and artists a bit more time to get involved.

Spring has finally arrived, and at AA2A it marks that in-between moment where reflection meets anticipation - as we look back on this year’s schemes while beginning to shape what comes next. Over the summer, we’ll be hosting an online Q&A for artists interested in applying for a residency, and we’re excited to continue building strong partnerships with a fantastic group of education institutions in the coming academic year.

For 2025-26 we have one of the biggest artist cohorts in our history - 65 artists are placed across 12 host colleges and universities. We’re very pleased to welcome 3 first time AA2A hosts this year. Gloucestershire College operates across 3 sites and has taken on 6 artists to work with their students, including some younger learners aged 16-18. Similarly, New City College, a multi-site college with campuses across East London and Essex, is working with 6 artists. In a new development for AA2A, some of the artists will be working alongside younger learners in 6th form settings. Leeds Beckett University also joins us for the first time with 4 artists who will be taking advantage of the university’s state of the art facilities at the Leeds School of Art.

As well as welcoming our new partners, we are delighted to have 10 returning hosts, including the University of Chester which has been with AA2A for 11 years and Anglia Ruskin University which has been with us since 2009. Our longest-standing continuous partnership is with the University of Lancashire, which has hosted AA2A artists since 1999.

Image: Still from video by Natalja Vikulina, AA2A resident at Anglia Ruskin University 2024-25

At this stage of the AA2A annual cycle, most of our artist residencies are fully underway, and it’s great to see artists sharing posts of their work-in-progress on social media. It’s very rewarding to see our behind-the-scenes work realised as artists articulate the value of using industry-standard facilities, working within an academic environment and engaging with students.

Some in-person employability talks have already taken place on campus, delivered by our hand-picked industry experts, with more to come. Our online employability seminar series resumes on 27th January, with three further sessions to follow. Places are free for students, staff and artists at AA2A host institutions, with limited spots available for others.

New for this year, we are very excited to be in talks with our colleagues at the University of Chester about a potential AA2A exhibition at the city’s CASC gallery. Conversations are at a very early stage, but we will share details as soon as possible if we can make this exciting development happen.

Finally, we will shortly be launching our annual recruitment campaign aimed at welcoming new host institutions into the AA2A network. The focus is on building strategic partnerships that offer opportunities for artists while strengthening engagement across further and higher education. If you know of any institutions that might be interested in joining AA2A, please get in touch and help us connect with them.

Part of the reason some early social media platforms skyrocketed was because of our fascination with peeking behind the scenes into the lives of celebrities via their social media output. For the first time, we could reach out to people in the public eye through platforms like Twitter, hoping for a personal reply. Over time, audiences realised that what seemed like real-life was often heavily curated, and may have only had the slightest touch from the hand of the celeb themselves, if at all.

While social media marketing can be hugely beneficial for freelancers and small businesses because the basics are largely free, there is actually a huge time commitment involved in keeping up with the latest trends and creating fresh content.

Some people don’t have the time.

Some people aren’t confident with the tech needed to produce content - reels, stories, audio, animation, live streams, infographics and e-books - the list goes on.

Some people are just not that comfortable in front of the camera (including some* members of the core AA2A team).

Image: Sid White Jones, AA2A artist in residence at Anglia Ruskin University 24-25

Going viral

But what about when you’re an artist or maker? Chances are you’re a sole trader - so the business is just you. Artists may feel compelled to post continually across multiple platforms, sharing their thoughts, processes, inspirations and insights into working practices in the hope of ‘going viral’ or at least building a bigger and better audience. Personal stories, workspace shots and work-in-progress videos can easily blur the line between personal and professional. In our hyper-competitive sector, it’s easy to see how artists would be anxious about jumping off the treadmill of social media posting - you might lose that sale, opportunity or your place in the algorithm race. Can artists afford to step off?

There is a growing acknowledgement that artists and small businesses can’t be ‘on’ all the time, with artists reporting feeling ‘burnt out’. There is particular pressure on new artists starting out on their career journey, with a strong temptation to overshare ‘for likes’. The extremely grounded and sensible advice from our colleagues at the fabulous Short Supply is to keep it realistic and don’t beat yourself up if you get it wrong.

Showing up on social media is a balancing act. While authenticity can be a powerful tool for connection, the pressure to constantly produce content can be exhausting and even counterproductive, particularly for artists and small business owners who are already juggling multiple roles. Oversharing ‘for likes’ may feel necessary in the moment, but it could come at the cost of personal energy, focus and sometimes even mental health. The key is finding a sustainable approach: post when it feels meaningful and focus on quality over quantity. Amid the pressure to always be online, it’s ok to take a step back.

*all of us

Mags McLeary, AA2A National Coordinator

When I was an MFA student at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), I became acutely aware of this gap. I wanted real-world insight—how do artists actually make a living? What does a sustainable creative practice look like? Then the AA2A artist residency took place and it gave me a peek into life as a creative.

Photo credit: Ian Reynolds

Having AA2A artists in residence at NTU provided a real-world perspective. As a Student Ambassador working closely with these practicing artists, I gained insights into what being a creative can mean. I observed firsthand how they balanced being a professional artist with other forms of creative work - from managing studio time to handling commissions and grant applications. These interactions demystified the romanticised "starving artist" myth, showing instead the varied, pragmatic ways artists build sustainable careers. Perhaps most importantly, I learned how to navigate professional relationships in the art world - how to collaborate, negotiate fair terms, and recognise worthwhile opportunities.

I also took the opportunity to combine different roles like collaborating with Arianna Milesi - AA2A artist in residence, for a lecture and workshop at Bonington Gallery where I facilitated Bonington Connects and worked as Gallery assistant. Organising these workshops gave me insight into being on the other side of public programming and artist liaison. This gave me the opportunity to think about other possible dimensions of creative work.

Now as a recent graduate, my career is taking shape through a host of different creative endeavours. I'm developing my artistic practice while taking on freelance projects, applying for residencies and staying engaged with the arts community in different ways. As a part of AA2A Creative Futures program I also got personal mentoring sessions with experienced professionals in the arts through which I got crucial guidance for the direction of my career and being mentored made me feel validated in my multi-faceted approach towards building a portfolio career. As of now, I am exploring new avenues in public programming and curation, whether it’s as a gallery assistant, a young trustee or event assistant. The path isn't linear, and that's okay - the AA2A experience taught me that creative fulfilment can come in many forms. For current art students and graduates I think the most important thing is to branch out from university education and reach out to artists and creatives to build a community of genuine relationships with other contemporaries.

Photo credit: Ian Reynolds

What AA2A gave me above all was perspective - seeing how professional artists navigate their careers made the art world feel more accessible and less intimidating. For current students and new graduates, the transition can be challenging, but it is worth it. Seeking out mentors, staying open to different possibilities can open up great new avenues. Graduation has gone from being something I was terrified of to the beginning of a new and exciting journey.

Vidhi Jangra, AA2A Student Ambassador at Nottingham Trent University 2024-25

https://vidhijangra.com/

Vidhi Jangra is a multidisciplinary artist with a research-driven practice centered on materiality as both context and content, exploring home as a site for micropolitical interventions. She earned her BFA (Honours) from Santiniketan School of Art, followed by an MFA from Nottingham Trent University.

An AA2A residency gives artists, designers and makers:

• Free access to university and college studios, workshops and facilities

• Time and space to experiment, research and create new work

• A unique opportunity to connect with students and inspire the next generation

• Access to professional practice resources, including our Creative Futures Guide and online seminars

• The option to apply if eligible for our Artist Support Fund to help with travel and materials

Residencies run through the academic year (usually October–May) and are open to visual artists, designers and makers at all stages of their career.

📅 Deadlines are fast approaching – some as early as this weekend.
Check the full list of hosts and closing dates here:

👉 aa2a.org/application-info-2025

If you’re thinking about applying, now’s the time. Secure your chance to develop new work, make new connections, and expand your practice.

• Access to specialist facilities – Dive into equipment and workspaces you might not otherwise access: from printmaking and ceramics to digital labs, 3D tech, darkrooms, VR, photography and filmmaking kits. See host facilities.

• Dedicated creative time – Focus on experimentation, development, or pushing boundaries in your practice without everyday distractions.

• Engagement with future creatives – Engage students with workshops or talks; inspire and be inspired in return by their creative energy.

• A national, supportive community – Join a growing network of UK artists across disciplines—boosting your visibility and professional opportunities.

• Continued professional development – Benefit from AA2A’s resources—talks, videos, the Creative Futures programme, and the Artist Support Fund to help with materials, travel, childcare or disability-related costs

Important: Upcoming Host Deadlines

Applications for the 2025–26 AA2A residencies are open now, with all deadlines approaching swiftly. Below is the full list of host institutions and their application deadlines (all deadlines are set at 11:59 pm unless stated otherwise):

Host Institution
Application Deadline:

Loughborough University
31 August 2025
Anglia Ruskin University
1 September 2025 (10 am)
Gloucestershire College
1 September 2025
Leeds Beckett University
1 September 2025
University of Chester
4 September 2025
New City College (London)
14 September 2025
Blackpool School of Arts
15 September 2025
Buckinghamshire New University
15 September 2025
University of Lancashire (UCLan)
19 September 2025
University of Sunderland
19 September 2025
York St John University
24 September 2025 (noon)
Nottingham Trent University
10 October 2025

(All deadlines sourced from AA2A’s official “Apply for 2025/26 Schemes” page.)

AA2A

Final Thought

AA2A residencies are about more than space—they're about transformation. Whether you're deepening your practice, diversifying your skills, or connecting with new communities, there's a residency here that can support your goals.

Take action now. Choose your preferred host(s), tailor your proposal to their offer, and submit before your deadline. Your next creative chapter could be just an application away.

Access application information here

Placements are open to visual artists, designer-makers, and creatives working across a wide range of practices - from traditional to contemporary and emerging media.

On our ‘Application Info’ page, you will find a list of confirmed hosts and details of their scheme. If you are interested in applying, you just need to complete the short form on the page to access the application form.

The earliest deadline is 31st August, with most other schemes having a closing date in early/mid-September.

All key information and contact details can be found on our website.

When the UK government announced its £380 million pledge to boost the creative industries, the headlines offered some level of optimism. Some politicians heralded it as a historic investment in "one of Britain’s crown jewels." But for many in the sector, especially those still recovering from the brutal neglect of the COVID years, the mood may feel less than celebratory.

If it feels like Stockholm Syndrome, that’s because it might be.

The term - referring to the psychological condition in which captives grow attached to their captors - may seem extreme. Yet it captures the dissonance perfectly: a sector that was systemically overlooked during the crisis now finds itself applauding the very institution that once abandoned it. We're expected to cheer for a pledge that, while not insignificant, lands more as restitution than revolution.

How Big is £380 Million, Really?

The pledge, spread over three years, averages roughly £127 million per year. That’s less than Arts Council England’s annual operating budget (£795 million) and about equal to the British Film Institute’s. Within the context of a £2.7 billion DCMS budget, it is a notable injection - but hardly transformational.

Rather than a seismic shift, this is a calibrated top-up. Useful, yes. Game-changing? Not quite.

Who Gets the Money?

The funding is being routed primarily through existing agencies: Arts Council England, BFI, UKRI, Innovate UK, and local government partners. It will support infrastructure, skills pipelines, media-tech R&D, and the development of regional clusters. The big-ticket items include:

• £150 million for Creative Places Growth Fund
  

• £75 million for the Screen Sector Growth Package
  

• £50+ million for immersive and digital innovation via CoSTAR and others
  

But crucially, it won’t fund the artists, freelancers, and small collectives who form the backbone of cultural production. It won’t fix late pay, precarity, or lost livelihoods. And it doesn’t reckon with the devastation many faced when COVID-era schemes excluded them from support.

What Kind of Future is Being Built?

This is a pledge for a creative economy, not a cultural commons.

The focus is squarely on "growth," "innovation," and "global competitiveness." It aligns with industrial strategy, not cultural renewal. While that may benefit parts of the sector - especially creative tech, film, and immersive media - it leaves others behind. Experimental, community-based, and socially-engaged practices are unlikely to see much of this investment.

The pledge also bypasses systemic reform: there's no new deal for freelancers, no sector-wide pay equity strategy, and no shift toward more democratic funding structures.

What Message Does it Send?

The government wants to be seen as the sector’s saviour. But this pledge risks becoming an act of reputational laundering. It rebrands minimal restitution as magnanimity, while eliding the role government played in exacerbating the crisis in the first place.

For some, it feels like being handed flowers by the person who forgot to pick you up from the hospital.

Better than Nothing, But Not Enough

Of course, we should welcome new investment. But we must also name what this is: a narrowly framed, growth-oriented stimulus package, not a holistic recovery plan. It addresses symptoms, not causes. And it continues to privilege institutional stability over creative worker sustainability.

So yes, it’s better than nothing. But it’s not what we need if we want a truly fair, diverse, and resilient creative sector.

Until the government invests in people - not just places, pipelines, and profit margins - we will continue to applaud our captors for crumbs.

Article by Daniel Hawley-Lingham

[above image: Swedish bankrobber Clark Olofsson barricaded in a vault with hostages, from the event that coined the term Stockholm Syndrome. Norrmalmstorg, 26th August, 1973]

What really shone through, however, was how graphically people described their struggles with gaining a foothold in the creative industries. Applicant after applicant spoke of their steep learning curves, and the need to navigate the industry through trial and error, ‘picking it up as they went along’. There were examples highlighting pivotal moments with a particular mentor, while many people wished that the kind of employability resources provided by AA2A had been available at the start of their careers. Not surprisingly, artists from underrepresented communities had even more challenges to overcome.

Numerous applicants expressed a sincere desire to support emerging artists, saying this was a key reason they were drawn to the role. It prompted a question: how much should arts courses address the practical business of being an artist?

Arts education in the UK has taken a significant hit in recent years, with colleagues working in HE reporting understaffing, excessive workloads and a lack of job security. Two of the four recommendations from a 2025 report about strengthening the visual arts ecosystem, commissioned by a coalition of UK arts organisations, emphasise the critical need to reinstate and safeguard arts courses. While arts education traditionally focuses on studio-based practice plus critical and contextual studies, colleges and universities are now leaning into preparing students for life as creative practitioners, but integrating career development initiatives into an already strained and administration-heavy academic environment can be a challenge.

To a certain extent, the well-worn cliche of life as a starving artist persists. The myth of the isolated genius may be appealing, but in reality, it’s outdated and unhelpful, suggesting that artists are not business-minded or engaged with practical concerns.

In fact, artists manage marketing, networking, sales, finance, contracts, legal issues, copyright law, tax, insurance, project management and much more - pretty much the definition of running a small business. All this alongside paid work which may or may not be related to the arts, and only after all of that carving out time for the creative work itself: making the jewellery, paintings, illustrations, films etc.

Outside of formal education, emerging artists have access to a growing range of valuable online resources to help navigate a career in the arts. The recent announcement by DCMS regarding the appointment of a creative freelance champion hopefully signals a positive shift, recognising the vital contribution of artists culturally and economically, and aligning with a more contemporary view of artists as multi-skilled professionals operating across both creative and commercial worlds.

The response from the applicants to our job ad clearly shows that a real knowledge gap exists for artists across all disciplines, and that the business skills needed for successfully making a living in the arts are hard-won.

Artists will go on making work as they always have, but there is a wider recognition that success requires abilities beyond artistic practice alone, and that artists are increasingly acknowledged as professional, entrepreneurial and creative small business managers equipped with a wide range of transferable skills.

Mags McLeary

AA2A National Coordinator

If so, join us for a free online Artist Q&A session on Tuesday 15th July at 1:30pm. You'll hear directly from current AA2A artist Emily Stubbs (York St John University) about her experience on the scheme and how she’s used the opportunity to develop her practice.

Whether you're planning to apply or simply curious to find out more, this is a great chance to ask questions and get a genuine insight into what AA2A can offer.

🎟️ Book your free ticket here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aa2a-artist-qa-tickets-1408396153809