Deadline: 29-Sep-2025
The Gasworks is offering a fully funded eleven-week residency in London from 7 April to 23 June 2026 for contemporary visual artists based in West Africa who have already presented their work in several venues.
The residencies programme supports professional development, cultural exchange, and artistic experimentation. All residencies are self-led, non-prescriptive and process-based; they are about enabling artists to research and develop new work, engage with the city, and build their networks. Residents are expected to be self-motivated and to lead on the research and production of their own work during their time at Gasworks.
The selected artist will receive 24-hour, 7 days a week access to a fully accessible private studio at Gasworks, alongside other resident artists, and a community of London-based studio holders; single room accommodation in Gasworks’ Residency House, a two-story house with three communal bathrooms and a kitchen, shared with other resident artists; economy return flights and taxi transfers from the artist’s home country to London, including one cabin and one hold luggage; all visa costs and support with the visa application process; a weekly stipend of £175 to cover living expenses in London; a materials budget of up to £800; a prepaid travel card (TFL zones 1+2) for unlimited travel within central London throughout the residency; studio visits with Gasworks’ staff, external curators, artists, and educational groups; an Open Studio event and presentation introducing the work and research developed during the residency; access to Gasworks’ basic tools and AV equipment, subject to availability; a dedicated residency page on Gasworks’ website, including a short video interview introducing the artist’s work, filmed and edited by Gasworks; networking opportunities and at least two individual studio visits with other artists, curators and arts professionals; and administrative, pastoral, and curatorial support from Gasworks’ staff during office hours, from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The Gasworks Residency Open Call 2026 presents an exceptional opportunity for artists from West Africa to immerse themselves in London’s dynamic art environment while benefiting from substantial support and resources. Over the course of the eleven-week residency, the selected artist will be provided with the tools, space, and network to further develop their practice and expand their professional reach.
Located in a vibrant artistic community, Gasworks hosts up to twenty residencies each year, welcoming artists from around the globe. The programme’s emphasis on self-led, process-based work allows participants to shape their residency according to their own creative goals, whether focusing on research, experimentation, or production of new work.
Practical support includes a fully accessible private studio, comfortable shared accommodation, and comprehensive travel and visa arrangements. The provision of a weekly stipend, a materials budget, and local transport ensures that residents can focus fully on their artistic process without financial distractions. The residency also integrates opportunities for public engagement and professional networking, such as studio visits and an Open Studio event, enabling artists to share their work and ideas with peers, curators, and the public.
Eligibility is open to contemporary visual artists based in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, who have already showcased their work in several venues. Applicants should possess a moderate level of spoken English and be comfortable discussing their practice in the language. Selection is based on artistic quality, with priority given to those who have not yet had the opportunity to work in London.
Gasworks is committed to accessibility and inclusivity, offering fully accessible facilities and, where required, accessible accommodation. While residencies are offered to individual artists only, applicants who wish to bring their families to London may do so if they arrange their own accommodation and travel.
Applications must be submitted digitally through the online form on the Gasworks website, including all required documents in one PDF file not exceeding 15MB. The selection process involves a review by a panel of Gasworks representatives and external advisors, followed by interviews with shortlisted candidates. Application deadline: 29 September 2025 at 1pm (UK time).
For more information, visit Gasworks.
