Open Call: Tender Living

This opportunity is for an emerging Trans, non-binary or gender-questioning artist based in the UK who currently resides outside of London. The programme offers a fully funded 10-week residency at Studio Voltaire in London from 3 February to 14 April 2027.

This residency forms part of Tender Living  (2024–2028) – a national four-year programme of interlinked collaborative projects, commissions, exhibitions, creative research and events. The programme centres on artistic practice and support structures for Trans, non-binary and gender-questioning artists, participants, partners and audiences. 

Studio Voltaire’s Residencies Programme provides valuable opportunities for self-directed artistic and professional development, exchange and experimentation. Our residencies are non-prescriptive, offering artists the space, time and resources to research and advance ongoing projects or produce new work.

The resident will live and work in one of Studio Voltaire’s purpose-built residency studios, situated within our vibrant community of 55 onsite artists. Studio Voltaire fosters an essential artistic community in South London, offering high-quality, light-filled studios for our onsite and resident artists, alongside dedicated professional development programmes.

This fully funded opportunity includes stipends to support living expenses and research, as well as funds for mentoring, public dissemination and access costs.

The successful applicant will also receive pastoral and curatorial support from Studio Voltaire’s Studios and Residencies team throughout their residency, alongside organised professional development and mentoring opportunities.

Artists are expected to approach the residency with a self-directed and self-motivated attitude, making the most of their time in London. Any outcomes of the residency will be shared through open studios and public programme events, which will be developed collaboratively by the artist and Studio Voltaire’s curatorial team.

The residency comprises:

• 24-hour access to a fully accessible private Live/Work Residency Studio at Studio Voltaire, alongside other visiting artists and Studio Voltaire’s onsite artist community.
• A stipend of £300 per week to support living expenses.
• Travel support for one return trip to London and a prepaid travel card (TFL zone 1–2) for unlimited travel within central London for the duration of the residency. 
• Monthly mentoring sessions by selected artists 
• Dedicated pastoral care from the Studios & Residencies team, with further support from the wider staff team during office hours.
• Access to a bespoke professional development, networking and mentoring programme, offering extensive opportunities through Studio Voltaire’s exceptional network of peers, collaborators and supporters, fostering meaningful career progression.
• A dedicated residency page on Studio Voltaire’s website.
• Social events with our community of studio artists and cultural tenants, as well as opportunities to connect beyond the immediate community.
• Access to Studio Voltaire’s onsite Henry Moore Workshop and AV equipment.

Location

Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR, United Kingdom.

Accessibility

All studios are wheelchair-accessible, with step-free access, and offer 24-hour entry for artists.

Residency Period

3 February to 14 April 2027

Selection and Eligibility 

This residency is open to Trans, non-binary and gender questioning visual artists based in the UK, who currently reside outside of London. 

Contemporary visual art practice can encompass a wide range of practices and contexts, including painting, sculpture, installation, writing, moving image, film, performance, participation, collaboration, social practices and sound, and may be cross- or multidisciplinary. Applications will not be considered from those primarily working within the fields of music, dance, architecture, fashion, theatre, craft or design.

The selected artist should be able to demonstrate how they will engage with Studio Voltaire’s artistic community, locale and programme, as well as London's wider artistic and cultural context. As such, applicants should outline their plans for the residency within their application, outlining their specific research interests and intentions for the period. 

We encourage applications from all backgrounds. Studio Voltaire’s building is accessible, including our onsite live/work residency studios. We are unable to offer residencies to artist collectives on this occasion. 

Selection Process & How to Apply

To apply for this residency:

1. Please complete this application form and submit it as a PDF file. We are happy to accept applications in written, proxy, or non-written formats (e.g., video or audio responses).
2. Please include a single PDF containing up to 10 images and/or links to up to 5 moving image or sound files

It is also optional to include:

1. Your artist CV (one PDF, 2 pages maximum)

Please submit your application via email to studiosandresidencies@studiovoltaire.org with ‘Application: Tender Living Residency’ in the subject line. Applications must be submitted in English only.

Deadline for applications

23:59 GMT, Sunday 22 November 2026. Please note that applications received after this date will not be considered.

Access

We welcome access enquiries and are happy to discuss measures to make our residencies accessible to everyone. If you have specific access requirements and need support making your application, please be in touch.

For questions about access requirements or facilities, please contact studiosandresidencies@studiovoltaire.org. 

Timeline

• Application Deadline: 23:59 GMT, Sunday 22 November 2026
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews, to be held in the week beginning 7 December 2026
• The successful applicant will be notified in the week beginning 14 December 2026.
• Due to the high volume of applications expected, we regret that we are unable to respond individually or provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.