We aim for time spent at Hospitalfield to act as a step change in the evolution of an artist’s work.
The residency programme at Hospitalfield provides opportunities for visual artists, filmmakers, writers and other cultural practitioners to focus on the development of a specific idea, project or the development of new work.
It is a context in which participants can work independently or collaboratively. Selectors are looking for applicants that can demonstrate clearly what their project or focus for the residency will be.
Please note that currently:-
- The funded residency programmes are devised for those developing their working lives within the scope of contemporary visual art practice.
- The Interdisciplinary Programme is a programme that welcomes applications from a wide range of cultural practitioners.
- The Graduate programme invites applications from art courses.
- We work with partners to devise and run other specialist residency programmes throughout the year.
Applications are invited from artists who have a specific project or period of work to focus on and for whom this time will be invaluable. We expect that applicants will have had a formal training or similar and will be developing projects and new work for public exhibition or developing their research with some form of future public outcome in mind. The programmes are structured for individuals working at a range of points in their career. Each has a specific focus, the Interdisciplinary Programme for example aiming to cultivate a group which has the broadest range of practices. Selectors will consider the application statements with care and in accordance with the aims of each of the programmes. We do not expect to do interviews so will select from the applications.
Participants in the programme live and work in the house, studios, gardens and courtyards of the estate. The location overlooking the North Sea gives a feeling of isolation and is an extremely peaceful place to work however, once off the threshold of the estate the reality is that Hospitalfield is a part of the small fishing town of Arbroath and within walking distance of useful amenities. Arbroath station is on the east coast train line running from London to Aberdeen and the direct trains to all of the main Scottish cities. The long daylight hours in the spring and summer, beautiful coast line and high percentage of sunshine hours defines this part of Scotland.
Selectors for the residency programmes at Hospitalfield are looking for applicants that can demonstrate clearly what their project or focus for the residency is and what they anticipate the potential that this setting will offer them and the progression of their work.
To read more about Hospitalfield's Residency Programme please visit our website...
Introduction: Hospitalfield and Glasgow Sculpture Studios are pleased to offer a residency opportunity for an artist based in Scotland to participate in a four week residency at Tabakalera. Tabakalera is a renowned art centre, making facility and residency provider - in Donostia/San Sebastian, Basque Country.
Application Dates:
Deadline: Sunday 16th of August at 11.59pm
Applicants will hear back by mid September
Residency Dates: 14th of February – 14th of March 2027 Apply Here Bursary:
€2300 Bursary to cover per diems €1000 Production Budget Travel and Insurance costs will be covered to a maximum of €800
Eligibility: Artists must be living in Scotland and working in the arts. Applicants cannot be part of a formal education programme at the time of application or at the time of the residency
If you have any questions about your application please email:
rahel@hospitalfield.org.uk or olivia@glasgowsculpturestudios.org
About the Residency:
Tabakalera, International Centre of Contemporary Culture, situated in Donostia/San Sebastián, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain, is partnering with Scottish Arts organisations Hospitalfield, Arbroath, and Glasgow Sculpture Studios for an exchange residency between Scotland and Basque country.
Responding to the themes of the recent major exhibitions at Tabakalera we are inviting applications from Scotland based artists whose practice engage with issues of climate emergency, migration, and social justice and inequality for a month-long residency at Tabakalera in Donostia/San Sebastián.
This exchange programme aims to support and contribute to the mobility of artists, and encourage cultural exchange between artists and arts organisations internationally.
Hospitalfield and Glasgow Sculpture Studios will welcome the incoming Basque artist in September of 2026 while the selected Scottish artist will be hosted at Tabakalera mid-February to mid-March 2027
This residency is for an artist working in the visual arts who lives and works in Scotland. The selected artist will receive a bursary, production budget and money to cover their travel and insurance as detailed above.
This residency is supported by the Etxepare Basque Institute and British Council Spain
Tabakalera will offer the artist in the Basque Country:
● A studio space between 12.5sqm and 50sqm, with basic furniture, a nearby water supply, electrical power, lighting and internet access with WiFi. The studio will be assigned considering the characteristics of the selected project.
● Accommodation with private double bedroom and bathroom in the One-Shot Hotel Tabakalera, placed in the building of Tabakalera, with a small working area in the bedroom with internet access with WiFi. The accommodation will also give access to a shared kitchen and living room.
● Access to all resources of Tabakalera as well as to the collections and resources of Medialab.
● Mentorship through the experts and networking / immersion in the local artistic context
● Participation in the public Open Studios weekend of Tabakalera, including professional encounters[5]
● Invitations to the cinema of Tabakalera.
How to Apply:
Applications can be made via the form available on Hospitalfield’s submittable page by the deadline of Sunday August 16th at 11:59pm. Applicants should submit a short bio and artists statement (max 350 words) , a short proposal for the residency (max 500 words) and a maximum ten page portfolio of your work.
Criteria / How your application will be assessed: Your application will be assessed based on:
● Quality of your practice
● Urgency and feasibility of your proposal
● How your proposed project relates to the stated themes of of climate emergency, migration, or social justice and inequality
● How you demonstrate that this residency at Tabakalera will support your specific artistic and professional development.
● Fluency in English. Proficiency in Spanish would be helpful but is not a requirement to apply.
When reviewing applications, the panel will also consider how the expertise of the team, facilities and geographical context that Tabakalera offers could provide the best support to the artist in order to develop their work.
The panel will be made up of representatives from Tabakalera, Hospitalfield and Glasgow Sculpture Studios. .
Accessibility at Tabakalera:
Tabakalera has two main entrances: one in Plaza de las Cigarreras, and the other in Plaza Nestor Basterretxea.
The entrance in Plaza de las Cigarreras has an access ramp by the existing staircase.
● There are automatic doors at both entrances.
● Inside, spacious lifts provide access to all floors.
● Guide dogs are permitted.
Adaptions
The building has largely been adapted for people with functional diversity and for families.
Toilets
● The public toilets on floors 0, 1, 2, 4 and 5 are adapted for people with functional diversity.
● The toilets on the 2nd floor are located in Medialab and are therefore only available when this facility is open. (Check the Medialab opening times here).
● All toilets, except those on the 5th floor, have changing units.
● The toilets on the ground floor (0) have children's toilets.
Wheelchair service
● Tabakalera has a wheelchair available for use by those who need it. You can request it at the Information Point, by phone (+34 943 11 88 55) or by email (info@tabakalera.eus).
Prams
● There is an area outside Medialab for leaving prams.
Exhibitions
● Guided visits of the exhibition are available with sign language interpreting. Please book this service in advance if you require it.
Cinema
● The cinema has six adapted armchairs interspersed with conventional chairs, available in the first row. Tickets for these specific chairs are available when booking tickets in advance.
● The cinema also has a hearing loop system.
Medialab
● Equipped with search points at different heights. The shelves are separated by a minimum of 1.5 m and enable wheelchair users to consult the content directly.
● The table height does not present an obstacle to wheelchair users. These are just some of the measures in place.
For further information see : https://www.tabakalera.eus/en/
More About the partner organisations:
Hospitalfield:
Dedicated to contemporary art and ideas, Hospitalfield has an international reputation in the visual arts for our artist development programmes through residencies and commissioning. Over the last ten years our programmes have given time and space to artists to develop new work at a pivotal time in the development of their careers. Hospitalfield was the vision of the 19th century artist Patrick Allan Fraser who created one of Scotland’s most important Arts and Crafts houses, his intention was to leave a legacy for the support of artists and education in the arts. In 1902, after his death, the Trust opened an art school.
Today we interpret this vision through a contemporary prism. The renowned residency programme is rooted in the visual arts but also invites artists working across disciplines. Through our public commissions strand we have worked with artists at an early, mid and established levels in their artistic development to create new work that a diverse range of audiences learn from and invite questions from.
Glasgow Sculpture Studios:
Glasgow Sculpture Studios is the largest art production facility in Scotland, with specialist workshops in metalwork, woodwork, plaster, resin, ceramics and digital fabrication. We provide studio space for artists working in these media and more, exploring what sculpture means today.
We have a technical team who provide support to workshop users, and run specialist fabrication services, making work for a variety of clients in the arts, architecture and design.
Glasgow Sculpture Studios provides affordable access to specialist skills and production space for professional artists and makers, and we share our facilities and creative and technical skills with wider groups of people through our learning and engagement programme.
We build and strengthen relationships between our artists, our communities, and our local partners and aim to provide services that are meaningful, relevant and responsive to the needs of all of our users.
We are located at The Whisky Bond on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal. As the anchor tenant in the building and one of the first arts organisations to move into the area we continue to play an important role in developing this vibrant creative industries hub in North Glasgow.
GSS also has strong links with similar organisations across the country, and we are a member of Scotland’s Workshops.
Tabakalera:
Tabakalera is the centre for contemporary culture located in the former tobacco factory of Donostia/San Sebastián. Since its opening in September 2015, it has pursued two main goals: the support of artistic creation and making it accessible to a wide audience.
In its 38.000sqm, Tabakalera hosts different cultural institutions and programms, such as the San Sebastian Film Festival, Basque Film Archive, Elias Querejeta Film School or the Kutxa Foundation. Tabakalera pursues its mission of supporting production and dissemination through the artists in residency programs, commissions, exhibitions, film programs, education programs, a medialab etc.
Tabakalera, as a centre of creation, develops a residency programme, to support artists, creators and cultural agents. This program's main aim is to provide support and assistance to artistic processes, both at a conceptual and production level. With this programme, in addition to others currently being run by Tabakalera is trying to generate a space where different artists, agents and their projects can co-exist to promote potential collaborations between residents and invited guests.