Frequently Asked Questions

As we are primarily looking for artist residents who we are likely to work with, residencies at Somerset House Studios are by invitation and range in duration from 1-7 years. Artists are expected to contribute to our charitable aims and objectives as part of their residency, which usually involves playing an active role in the community.

Artists join the community in the following ways:

• Direct invitation from Somerset House Studios
• Selection via the Expression of Interest process
• Selection via Open Call or Nomination process for supported programmes (which are funded and non-fee paying)

Studio costs are subsidised by Somerset House, including access to artist development and community programmes, and vary depending on the size of the space. Please see the Studio Spaces & Facilities page for full details on the spaces we offer. Studio costs are included in the opportunity for our supported programmes.

Artists are invited to apply for a residency of between 1 and 3 years, depending on their own preference, with the potential for artists to apply to extend up to 7 years, subject to review. A very small number of artists are invited to remain in residence for a further 3 years as in-house artist advisers, up to a maximum of 10 years.

A small number of short-term national and international residency programmes ranging from 1-month to 6-months run in parallel. These programmes have their own processes, depending on the opportunity, funding and / or partners involved, and are part of what we refer to as Supported Programmes.

Somerset House Studios supports a cross-disciplinary community representing a range of contemporary practices, including but not limited to music, visual art, performance, writing and those experimenting with evolved and advanced technologies. We are particularly interested in artists who are genre-curious, collaborative and want to push the boundaries of practice beyond these silos.

Artists are professionally practising, primarily based in London, and at various stages in their careers. All residents are over 18 years of age; studio spaces are not suitable for working with children.

Residents must want to be part of a creative community and demonstrate an interest in collaboration, which can mean many different things (public and non-public forms of working or exchanging with other residents). Duos and collaborations are welcome, with members of Collectives reviewed as individuals. We regularly monitor the mix of individuals within our community and tailor artist recruitment priorities to maintain diversity across artistic disciplines, backgrounds, and approaches.

Supported residencies will have more specific criteria, which will be clearly communicated in the opportunity details and open call.

Somerset House Studios will always make the final selection, but for open call and nomination processes, proposals are reviewed by a selection panel including current or past resident artists, and where relevant, external programme partners. The details of the selection process will always be made clear in the opportunity details.

Artists can express their interest via this form year-round, reviewed by the Somerset House Studios team four times a year. Expressions of Interest by artists who meet our criteria are kept on file for 12 months. If during that time we feel we have might have a suitable space and your practice/focus aligns with our current recruitment priorities, you will be invited to see the spaces and complete a full application form.

After 12 months, if you have not heard from the Studios team, you are welcome to submit again.

Open calls for supported programmes will feature on our Somerset House Studios webpage and will also be promoted via our newsletter and Somerset House Studios social media channels. The selection process will vary depending on the specifics of the opportunity.

Current supported programmes include:

• Jerwood Somerset House Studios Residency: Supporting early-career visual artists.
• Creative Technologies Fellowship: Unique development and commission opportunity in partnership with UAL's Creative Computing Institute.
• Donna Lynas Residency: mid-career artist opportunity offering studio space plus an annual salary for three years.
• Assembly Residency: a returning residency programme for artists working in music and sound.
• Performance in Practice: supporting artists working across dance, movement, and live performance.

• Residency cafe/bar (The Paint Room)
• Shared kitchens and breakout space (Snooker Rooms)
• Recording Studio
• Rehearsal Space
• Project Space
• Discounted access to Makerversity workshops and photography studio
• Meeting rooms

(Hot works (e.g. welding) are not permitted onsite)

We expect all Studios artists to actively engage with the community by:

• Using the studio as a primary workspace, committing to being present a minimum of two days per week.
• Being open to connect with others in the community, sharing skills or supports with other fellow resident artists.
• Participating in internal talks, salons, and surgeries.
• Being open to contributing ideas to internal and public-facing programmes.

At the start of each residency, we work with each resident artist to set specific residency goals and explore how artists can contribute to the community in a way that feels right for them and not forced. This helps us co-develop a vibrant internal programme that supports authentic artistic development.

Our ambition is to work with every resident artist in some way during their time at the Studios. We welcome proposals and invite residents to participate in exhibitions, performances, and talks when appropriate to their practice. As a curated programme, we cannot guarantee inclusion in specific projects.