The New Forest National Park
Artist in Residence
Above: New Forest National Park Artist in Residence (May 2023) - Dr Melanie Rose
Introduction:
The New Forest National Park Artists Residencies have become a significant biannual event in the UK’s residency calendar. Over the previous 3 rounds, the seven past and current artists in residence are building a significant body of rich, innovative research, and through deep dives into the Forest’s varied social, cultural and ecological states have challenged the way we historically have seen this extraordinary national treasure. It is time again that we look for our next two artists. Apply Now. This May we have two Australian multi-disciplinary artists showing at spudWORKS. Em Burrows and Jeremy Segal are based in Berlin and are going to bring us New Forest Collage Radio. Their stay here was a month of rich conversation with Foresters, local creatives and nature. Whilst their exhibition is running Copenhagen based artist Isabella Martin will be researching New Forest Time.
SPUD and the New Forest National Park Authority are delighted to announce the next round of New Forest residencies. We are inviting expressions of interest for two further artists in residence exhibiting in 2026. We welcome the continuing support from Arts Council England and are seeking to build on the database of significant research and resulting exhibition outcomes. Applications are welcome from local, national and international artists to think carefully about how to add to this past knowledge of creative thought.
The New Forest National Park Artist in Residence Programme is an opportunity for artists of any discipline to work with and comment on a chosen area, idea, or community within or engaging with the National Park. The brief is purposefully open to encourage artists to pursue a line of prolonged research whilst on their residency and to connect with a local and national audience with site specific work and/or a gallery show six months on. The residencies are designed to allow artists to build closer links between contemporary questions of the Forest and the people and more urban spaces that make up the National Park. We are looking for artists with an inspiring vision and a sense on urgency, whose focus is on creativity inspiring change. The highly protected nature of the National Park means that we are interested in artists who can understand this special landscape and respond to this positively in their work. This is an incredible chance to build a collection of responses from artists whose knowledge and experience can help to positively promote arts throughout the National Park.
SPUD and the New Forest National Park Authority work closely on several projects of shared questioning in which the arts are integral to our understanding of landscape and people, and nature can thrive within it. This continuing National Park Artist in Residence programme is creating a new partnership between the arts and people that work, live, and visit the New Forest, to inspire new audiences and heighten new opportunities for collaboration.
The Brief:
Open to UK and International Artists
Artists from all disciplines are invited to submit expressions of interest with a simple plan of ideas and questions they might like to explore in a paid residency. We are looking for artists with a clear direction in their personal practice. The residency is open to artists or makers working in any medium, visual arts, crafts, performing arts, writing, film, video, or digital media. Each residency will take place over a four-week period. These dates are fixed. Applicants may select to apply for their favoured option or both. If you can do both we recommend you do so. We highly recommend you spend some time looking at the past resident artists well documented on the SPUD website.
The Residency Will Deliver:
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A final exhibition / event (approx. 6 months after the residency at spudWORKS).
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Engagement with new and existing audiences to make work inclusive and accessible.
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Delivery of at least one public talk or event during the residency period.
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Engagement with at least one education event, supported in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority.
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SPUD will provide digital webspace at spud.org.uk to promote each artists residency and encourage collaboration amongst artists. SPUD also has an active community of artists at spudWORKS and the resident artists will be invited to take part in this group.
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Residency 1:
Wednesday 1st October 2025 – Friday 31st October 2025
Exhibition to take place throughout May 2026 (with some install/deinstall time before and afterwards)
Residency 2:
Friday 1st May 2026 – Saturday 30th May 2026
Exhibition to take place throughout October 2026 (with some install/deinstall time before and afterwards)
Finances:
The value of each residency is £8,000, which includes a cash payment to the selected artists of £3750 plus £1250 towards travel and materials.
PAYMENTS:
4-week artist fee: £3750
Artist Travel budget: £250 (no additional budget is available for international artists)
Materials and exhibition: £1000
Total fee available per artist: £5000
ADDITIONAL VALUE OF THE RESIDENCY:
Gallery hire/exhibition: £2000
Residency hire/accommodation: £1000
SPUD will provide professional support to the selected resident artists. No further fee is payable and any additional expenses including materials and transportation (above the allocated budget) are to be met by the artist.
N.B. There is no accommodation provided during install of exhibitions.
Expected Outcomes:
It is important to SPUD and The New Forest National Park Authority that the residency programme relates strongly to the sense of place, in all the rich diversity of identities found withing the National Park. We are looking for artists with a clear direction in their practice and who are willing to engage with new research and engage the local community during their time here, artists who have an interest in site responsive practice and the human experience of place, landscape and environment. A major element of this residency programme is to build confidence and interest in local communities to engage with contemporary art and artists.
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Artists will partake in a one-month residency in the New Forest National Park between agreed dates.
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Through discussion the successful candidates will present a completed body of artworks / objects / performances / or other outcomes for exhibition at spudWORKS by the agreed date, six months after their residency period. This may include site specific works or performances alongside the exhibition at spudWORKS.
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The artists will provide regular updates, share digitally material and comprehensive documentation of process and outcomes to both SPUD and the New Forest National Park Authority for advertising and reporting.
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Expectation of one public engagement such as a sharing of research, artists walk through of exhibition or other and one public workshop.
Support:
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SPUD can offer some curatorial support to artists throughout their residency and hanging of shows.
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The New Forest National Park Authority and SPUD can make connections across The Forest with professional individuals and groups, ammeter and volunteer organisations and advise one specialist knowledge of the area, history and people.
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Gallery facilities – https://www.spud.org.uk/_files/ugd/23bd29_2ff7c1d95e634fcd897bda077ab9cbe2.pdf link to the gallery plan, spudWORKS has large screen monitors and a 4k laser projector plus sound system available for use as part of any final exhibition/event.
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Key dates:
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The deadline for receipt of proposals is midnight on Friday 2nd May 2025
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Successful applicants to be notified by: 12th May 2025 (if you have not heard by this date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion).
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Interviews will take place on Tuesday 27th May 2025 (at spudWORKS in Sway). Please ensure you are available for this date if applying. We sadly cannot make alternative interview dates.
It would be favourable for shortlisted candidates to attend in person where at all possible. If this is not possible, we can interview through zoom.
Proposals should include:
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A link to your website if appropriate CV and artist’s statement. Please include your current location if an international applicant.
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Proposal to include why you would like to undertake this residency, how you would use your time, how this would benefit your practice as an artist. Please explain how your work will connect to the special qualities of the New Forest and to the communities who live and work here.
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Examples of previous work. This can be in the form of up to 3 images or a link to your webpage.
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Please note maximum file sizes and formats when submitting online.
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All applications to be submitted through the online portal:
Please indicate in your application your preferred residency dates, either October 2025 or May 2026. Dates of residencies are fixed, only apply if you will be available to undertake both the residency and exhibition on the dates shown.
Selected artists will require current DBS (CRB) check and must have Public Liability Insurance, at their own cost.
Applications:
We anticipate a very high level of interest in the programme, and we do not have the capacity to reply to all applicants, so if you do not hear from us by the 12th of May 2025 this means your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion.
All applications must be submitted using the online form below.
For more general information on spudWORKS and the Residency Space visit: https://www.spud.org.uk/newforestartistinresidence
For more information on the New Forest National Park Authority and the residencies visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/artistinresidence
New Forest National Park Residencies 2025/26 - Application
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Deadline: Friday 2nd May at midnight
Please do not exceed the space provided in the text box. This is approx 600 words.
Applications are only accepted online
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