Studio Community

We have 24 Studios, with options for solo or shared occupancy, and Project Spaces accommodating up to 13 artists at any time.

Studios offered on a shared basis allows us to accommodate more artists, and studio share monthly rent cost is lower, while still giving all the same benefits.

(Scroll to bottom of page for full Project Space information and application form)

Studios

Our Studios offer is designed to support artists at different stages in their careers and to ensure a range of experience, skills and connections are fostered within the studio community.

Selection is by panel, comprising staff and other people working within the arts or from ESW’s Board.

Applications for Studios are welcomed at any time from professional artists working within contemporary sculpture practice.

Artists meeting the Criteria for Selection below are eligible to apply.

We welcome applications from groups under-represented at ESW.

If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Cowan in the first instance: lynn@edinburghsculpture.org

 

To Apply

Please read through the information below, then download and complete the relevant application form:

Studio Application Form

Graduate Studio Application Form

Submit your completed application form with your CV, a PDF of an Artist Statement and 8 images of your work to Lynn Cowan who administers the studio system for ESW: lynn@edinburghsculpture.org.

Email limit is 10mb so you can also Dropbox or WeTransfer the files.

Applications are reviewed and selection panels managed by Laura Simpson, Director.

Types of Studio Lease

Fixed Term: 5 years
Short Term: 3 years

Prices, From 1 April 2023:

Monthly rate: Solo – £159      2 sharing – £112 (per person)
(Plus monthly membership: £5.00 (£4.00 Concession))
Refundable Space Deposit: £99

Graduate Studios (2 sharing): up to 3 years, there are 4 studio shares

Artists who are within three years of graduating from a UK College or University can apply to the Graduate Support Scheme giving them a reduced rate, shared studio for up to three years.

Prices, from 1 April 2023:

Monthly rate: 2 sharing: Year 1 – £91   Year 2 – £98   Year 3 – £105
(Plus monthly Concession Membership £4 per month)
Refundable Space Deposit: £99

Studio Holder Benefits

Studio Holders have access to the workshops and research facilities, as well as 24 hour access to their custom built studios.

Studio dimensions approx. 16m²
Studio heat, light and power and included within the rental cost
24 hour access, 365 days a year
Opportunities to book spaces for talks, presentations or events that may support Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s professional education or research programmes
Free access to use shared workshops and workspaces – no Session charge, machine costs apply, with booking via the online booking system (subject to availability via the online booking system and around ESW’s programmed activities)
Opportunities to apply for ESW’s Members Rep positions
Use of ESW kilns at reduced rate (no daily charge, electrical units only), with booking via the Office
Reduced rates for training, and free inductions (no Session fee, machine charge applies)
Opportunities to meet with visiting selectors and curators
Opportunity to participate in events such as Doors Open Day / Open Studios

Studio Selection and Management

We select artists at different stages in their careers to ensure a range of experience, skills and contacts within the Studio community.

Selection is by panel of staff, ESW Board Members and arts professionals.

In return for subsidised support, Studio Holders are asked to make an in-kind contribution to Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Ways in which this contribution can be made are described below and Studio Holders are trusted to fulfil this obligation on an annual basis.

It is a requirement that Studio holders must be Members of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop throughout the term of their Licence.

Studios are not available to undergraduate students in full-time education.

Artists can apply to sub-let their studio, usually for a maximum of up to one year, for a range of professional and personal reasons. Sub-lets will be added as an Extension onto the end of the Licence, and Membership must be maintained throughout the sub-let and Licence term. Sub-lets are arranged through ESW, however cannot be guaranteed. Conditions apply.

Studio Pool

Artists whose applications are highly rated by the selection panel but who cannot be allocated a studio immediately will have the opportunity to be added to the Studio Pool to be considered for the next available studios. When studios become available, selection committees will review the pool and attempt, where possible, to allocate from this list before going to open call.

Artists in the Studio Pool may be asked to update their application after one year. The selection panel will select from the pool, taking into consideration the existing balance of studio holders, which may mean that artists in the pool will not be awarded studios chronologically.

Eligibility

Only artists who have satisfied a rigorous selection procedure reflecting the quality of their work and its place within contemporary sculpture practice, as well as their need for a studio, are offered spaces.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate their commitment to a significant level of usage during their tenure of a studio.

There is a focus on artists working within contemporary sculpture practice, but we accept applications from artists working in a range of media and different disciplines.

A limited number of studios may be available, from time to time, for applicants working within the Creative Industries (defined for our purposes as architecture, crafts, design, film, music, performing arts, publishing, and media). Any Creative Industry tenants should be able to demonstrate the benefit of their practice to Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s activity.

Criteria for Selection

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

A high quality of work
Skills of a high standard
Their work is located within contemporary sculpture practice
An engagement with audiences and/or participants
A clear vision for the development of their work
Need for studio space that will be used on a regular basis and to its full potential
A willingness to engage in peer or professional development and the exchange or transfer of knowledge
How working at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop will benefit their practice
How they will actively contribute to Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop activities

Studio Holders’ Contribution

Part of being a Studio Holder at ESW is making a contribution to the operation and community here. This model has been developed to:

–  Help ESW be sustainable economically and maintain high subsidy levels
–  Foreground ways to make a difference individually as a stakeholder
–  Keep a high level of conversation, interaction and engagement going

The Studio Holder’s contribution is to support the following types of activity each year. Examples below, but other suggestions welcome.

Contribute to a Community of Skills:

Give a talk about your practice, as part of ESW’s programme
Participate in ESW’s Member-led research programme
Act as a mentor for students or involve students in your practice
Assist the Technical Team with workshop management, e.g. rationalising of space, maintenance, group work days
Skills share with other ESW-based artists – providing technical support or advice for members and users
Teach on ESW’s Learning Programme (paid positions)
Contribute to ESW’s strategic development and profile-raising:

Undertake ESW Members’ Representative role
When relevant, credit ESW on exhibition or commission publicity material
Input into focus groups and take part in group events at ESW
Act as an ambassador for ESW when travelling/exhibiting abroad
Initiate links with other national or international arts organisations
Feedback to staff on ways to improve ESW facilities and activities
Contribution to the wider community outside of ESW

Suggest new audiences for ESW to target
Volunteer to assist with open days and public events at ESW (at least one event per year) OR agree to open your studio for visitors to ESW and discuss your work informally (at least once a year)
Propose ESW as the location for partnership project
Suggest appropriate new sponsors, funders and partners