The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) has announced that applications are now open for
RSA Residencies for Scotland 2026, an artist-led scheme offering research and residency
opportunities for visual artists.
Since its inception in 2009, Residencies for Scotland has awarded more than £386,000 to
118 artists, supporting residencies at 42 venues across Scotland. Open to visual artists at
all stages of their careers, the programme provides vital time for research, development and
production, alongside opportunities for creatives to acquire and exchange new skills and
experiences. Residencies for Scotland is administered and funded by the RSA, with kind
support from the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust and the W. Gordon Smith & Jay
Gordonsmith Trust.
Artists can apply for up to £5,000 to manage their own residency in collaboration with one
of the partner venues. Exhibition opportunities may also be available at the RSA or through
links with the host organisations.
The partner venues involved with the programme have a long history of offering professional
development and presentation opportunities for contemporary artists and their expertise has
formed the backbone of Scottish artistic practice for decades. RSA Residencies for Scotland
aims to give artists the time and space to pursue dedicated research and production,
strengthen links with centres of excellence across the country, provide access to technical
expertise and specialist skills and encourage the exchange of ideas and practices across
disciplines.
2026 marks the eighth edition of RSA Residencies for Scotland, coinciding with the
Academy’s bicentenary. The RSA will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2026, with
nationwide celebrations involving hundreds of artists, partners, galleries and institutions
across Scotland and the wider UK. The launch of this round of residencies in such a
landmark year will place a national spotlight on the wealth of artistic talent in Scotland.
Colin Greenslade, RSA Director said:
‘RSA Residencies for Scotland highlights the remarkable breadth of artistic talent across the
country. Through our partnerships with venues based on our islands and in our cities, artists
can access world-class expertise, facilities and communities wherever their ideas take them.
By placing artists at the heart of their own residencies, the programme empowers them to
create opportunities that respond directly to their practice. Launching this edition in our
bicentenary year is a fitting way to celebrate Scotland’s creativity and our ongoing
commitment to supporting it.’
The Royal Scottish Academy is working with 19 partner venues across Scotland for RSA
Residencies for Scotland 2026:
– Wasps Artists’ Studios (Skye)
– Airlie Artist 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
– RSA Collections Department, Edinburgh
– Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden
– Stills Centre for Photography, Edinburgh
– Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow
– Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist
– The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney
