This opportunity is for an emerging or mid-career artist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and offers a fully funded 12-week residency at Studio Voltaire in London, from May to July 2025.

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 51 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 will provide studio provision, a stipend to support living expenses, a materials, research, and production budget, plus funds for public events, dissemination, and access costs.

The successful applicant will also receive pastoral and curatorial support from Studio Voltaire’s Studios & 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, 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 £2,400 to support living expenses.
• A materials, research, and production budget, plus funds for public events, dissemination, and access costs.
• All travel and visa costs are covered and you will be supported during the visa application process.
• An Open Studio event showcasing the work and research developed during the residency, with access to dedicated international arts audiences through Studio Voltaire’s diverse public programmes.
• Dedicated pastoral care from the Curator (Studios & Residencies) and Assistant Curator (Studios & Residencies), 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 validation and career progression.
• A dedicated residency page on Studio Voltaire’s website, including a short video interview for our social media channels.
• 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 workshop, AV equipment, and event spaces.
• A prepaid travel card (TFL zone 1-2) for unlimited travel within central London for the duration of the residency. 

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

May-July 2025

Selection and Eligibility 

This residency is open to visual artists working across all disciplines who are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Applicants should feel comfortable engaging in discussions about their work and practice in English.

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. 

Selection Process & How to Apply

The selected artist will be evaluated and chosen based on their application. Studio Voltaire assembles selection panels with in-depth knowledge of the contemporary art scenes in both the UK and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The panel includes representatives from Studio Voltaire as well as external advisors.

To apply for this residency:

1. Please complete this application form. We are happy to accept applications written with or by 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 

Deadline for applications

Sunday 19 January 2025, 23:59 GMT. Please note, Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Access

• We welcome 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 19 January 2025. 
• Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Monday 27 January 2025. Due to the high volume of applications expected, we regret that we are unable to respond individually or provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
• Interviews will be held in the week beginning 3 February 2025.
• Successful applicants will be notified in the week beginning 10 February 2025.