The Hugo Burge Foundation offers fully-funded Residencies throughout the year at our dedicated studios in the spectacular Scottish Borders. We support the development of new and exciting work across all artforms. This is a residency for a sculptor working in any medium and is part of our 2025 Residency Programme which covers visual and expressive arts.

The successful applicant will receive private studio space, on-site accommodation in one of our Hobbit Pods, and a weekly stipend of £350 together with a travel bursary of up to £500 (receipts must be provided). 

There are no expectations about what you will use the residency for but we would hope the selected artist will conduct at least one public event such as a creative workshop (for adult participants), a talk, demonstration, performance or educational activity.

You will be able to spend time with other visual artists and makers on site, along with another visiting artist also on residency. Locally based sculptor Charlie Poulsen and our Creative Director, Dr James Fox will provide mentorship during your stay. 

The residency will run from Wednesday 9 April until Friday 2 May 2025 inclusively.

JUDGES

Lucy Brown  

With a background in theatre, arts, law and business development, Lucy has led the Foundation since early 2022. Her motivation is to remove perceived barriers around arts and to provide support for those of us who want to explore our creativity. Lucy has worked with arts organisations, funding bodies and businesses to expand the scale and scope of creativity in the workplace. She is the Chief Executive Officer of The Hugo Burge Foundation

Charles Poulsen MRSS

Charlie is a sculptor living and working in the Scottish Borders with his wife Pauline Burbidge (textile artist). There are three distinct areas of his art practice: Growing Sculpture, Drawing and Studio Sculpture.

Dr James Fox

James is an art historian, writer, curator and multi award-winning, BAFTA-nominated, broadcaster. After positions at Harvard and Yale, he is currently Director of Studies in History of Art at the University of Cambridge, where he has taught for fifteen years. He specialises in British art, modern art, the cultural history of colour, and British craft traditions. His most recent book, The World According to Colour: a Cultural History, was published by Allen Lane in 2021. He is currency writing another book called Craftland: In Search of Britain's Vanishing Trades, which explores the country's lost and endangered crafts. Convinced of art's huge social importance, James works with museums, schools, charities and the media on both sides of the Atlantic to engage broader audiences in this most life-enhancing of subjects

ENTRY FEE

This opportunity is free of charge

ENTRY PROCESS

To complete this application, please provide the following:

" Five images of recent work

" A CV of no more than two pages long

" A statement telling us how a residency at The Hugo Burge Foundation might impact your practice (200 words)

" A statement telling us how you might use the community or the natural environment context to inform your project (200 words)

The closing deadline for applications is 5 pm, 18 February 2025.  

Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive feedback will not be given at this stage. Notification of all results will be sent by email week commencing 24 February 2025. 

RULES & GUIDELINES

By submitting an application, the entrant promises that all of the information comprised in the application is correct.

The entrant also promises to comply with these rules and any other requirements specified by the Society (whether on its website or otherwise) and the Society reserves its right to exclude any entry which in its opinion does not comply.

All applications must be made using the online form. No hard copy applications will be accepted. Applications must be received by the closing date specified.

Any submissions must be lawful, it must not be offensive, obscene, racist, discriminating or otherwise objectionable and it must not contain any form of advertising.

Entrants grant the Royal Society of Sculptors and The Hugo Burge Foundation the unrestricted right (without royalty) to reproduce images of any work in connection with the residency be it online, printed or otherwise disseminated. 

The Judge's decision is final. If the Royal Society of Sculptors is unable to contact any short-listed artist or winners via the email address supplied by the entrant, the shortlist position lapses and the Society reserves the right to select alternative winners.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications are welcomed from all Royal Society of Sculptors members. Please note that for your application to be accepted, your annual membership fee must be paid in full by the submission deadline or an existing quarterly direct debit be in place.

The successful candidate will be required to provide references.