CALL FOR ARTISTS - PAID RESIDENCY FOR SOUTH ASIAN MONTH 2025
To mark South Asian Month, we invite artists and creative practitioners to apply to be part of our artist-in-residency programme this Summer. We are looking for an artist with South Asia heritage to explore heritage through their artistic practice (more detail below). You will also be asked to respond to and contribute to our Time Capsule project.
ABOUT THE TIME CAPSULE
In 2025/26 the grade II-listed North Block of the building will be renovated and transformed into more artist studios. We want to take the opportunity to encase a time capsule in the building’s fabric to be opened in 2106. Working with artists and the Newham community through a series of workshops, consultations and events to create and compile content for the TimeCapsule.
One of the founding ideas of the Time Capsule is to explore what “Heritage” is when applied to the past, the present and the future. What is our current heritage, and what part of it do we want to convey to future people of Newham in this time capsule?
WHAT DOES THE RESIDENCY INVOLVE?
We are looking to commission a South Asian artist from East London to take on a 2-week artist residency and associated creative sessions
The artist in residence will create work that responds to the Time Capsule Project through the lens of their South Asian heritage and their lived experience of Newham or the wider East London area.
Taking inspiration from the notable absence of historical recognition for Alice Billing—one of the first female sanitary inspectors—we ask the artist to reflect on how untold stories and overlooked legacies may shape our understanding of the past.
In this context, the residency encourages exploration of how past, present, or imagined future events might be documented, interpreted, and preserved. What deserves to be remembered? Who gets to decide? And how can these narratives be meaningfully represented within the time capsule?
SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH 2025
This residency is also part of this year’s South Asian Heritage Month and the theme is ‘Roots to Routes’ which explores the rich journey of growth, and the evolving connections we make through generations.
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
10-day residency spread across 2 weeks
Minimum of 4 days onsite each week using the project space (these dates can be agreed in advance)
Artist Fee + Materials £900 + £100 materials
The artist leads 1 x key participatory group activity or workshop over the period of the residency
2 x creative outputs
Collaboration with current artists/studio holders is encouraged
WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ARTIST?
Paid opportunity
The offer of studio space for 10 days during the residency
Access to the creative community
Support from the Cultural Engagement Manager
A 1-2-1 session with the founder of Grow Hackney and Head of Engagement at Grow Studios
Needs to take place in July, but flexible with exact dates
HOW TO APPLY
Email over a CV, cover letter and complete optional equal opportunities form to alicebillinghouse@growstudios.co.uk
Within your cover letter, please answer the 2 x application questions (below) + attach up to 6 images or pages that illustrate examples of your creative practices
The CV and cover letter should not be more than 2 pages. Your application can be submitted as a video/audio, but please do include examples of your work
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
How will your artistic practice benefit from this residency? (100-200 words)
Tell us about your practice; how your work can fit into our socially engaged programme, and how your work relates to heritage (200 words)
WHO CAN APPLY?
Based in East London based, Newham-based is desirable
Aged 18 or over
Grow Studios is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all individuals
KEY DATES
Deadline: 5 pm, 1st June 2025
Interviews: W/C 9 June (dates/times TBC)
Residency to take place in July, but exact dates are flexible
FAQs
What is Alice Billings House?
Grow Studios is working with the Creative Land Trust (CLT) and LB Newham to provide studio space at Alice Billing House in Stratford.
Alice Billing House is one of Newham’s most historic buildings located on Stratford’s historic High Street. The studios are made up of two blocks, one of which is a Grade II listed building, built in 1905-6 as firefighter’s accommodation for the West Ham Fire Brigade. The South block opened in January 2024 and is now the creative home to over 12 artists. The Creative Land Trust are currently fundraising to be able to convert the 2nd block into more studio space.
The buildings make a perfect space to repurpose into studios for artists to make their creative home.
What do you mean by responding to the Inspector of Nuisances?
The artist in residence will use their artistic practice to create work that will contribute to the Inspector of Nuisances project. More information will be provided in a project brief and any further questions can be answered in the interview and throughout the residency in the form of weekly check-ins .
Is there a minimum number of days the artist is expected to use the project space?
4 days each week to be spent on site in Stratford and pre-agreed in advance
What is the interview process like?
Based on application submissions, 2-3 applicants will be invited to an approximately 45 min chat at Alice Billing House to discuss their experience and ideas in more detail.
Is the building and project space accessible?
Yes, the project space is located on the ground floor, where there is also an accessible toilet.
How will the Payment work?
50% of payments once on site with workshop activity completed and final 50% paid on receipt of assets and/or by the end of the residency. A contract for supply of services will be agreed in advance before the commencement of the residency.