Deadline: 10-Aug-2025
Applications are open for Emergent, a hybrid residency and support programme designed for early career disabled artists. The programme is a collaboration between Baltic and Shape, aimed at nurturing talent through both digital and physical engagement over a three-month period.
Disabled artists and creative practitioners in the first five years of their careers are invited to apply. The residency offers a blend of remote and in-person support, with structured phases running from mid-October 2025 to mid-February 2026. Participants will receive expert mentoring and technical support to develop new or existing work, along with a £5,000 award.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is known for its world-class exhibitions and accessible programming. It operates with inclusivity at its core, providing spaces for communities to experience innovative, socially engaging contemporary art. Shape Arts, a disability-led organisation, has a long history of breaking barriers and championing disabled artists across the UK and internationally.
Together, the organisations aim to promote accessibility, support artist development, and raise the visibility of disabled creatives. The programme is open to UK-based artists aged 18 and over, who self-identify as disabled and have experienced barriers in their artistic careers. Applicants must not be in full-time education, and their practice must be socially engaged.
The application process requires a 500-word statement explaining the applicant’s work and how the residency would benefit them, a description of barriers faced, a CV or biography, and examples of previous work. Artists selected in 2024 are not eligible to apply. Selection will be handled by representatives from Baltic and Shape. All applicants are encouraged to review the Emergent FAQs before submitting their application.
For more information, visit Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.