Artist in Residence 2026

This year’s Artist in Residence (AIR) opportunity attracted 21 brilliant applications from artists across Somerset in a range of disciplines. We drew on the input of our chair of trustees Pauline Burr and last year’s AIR Tina Salvidge to help Daniel and myself shortlist using the criteria we’ve established. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to submit such thoughtful and inspiring proposals. The landscape and biodiversity of Somerset clearly continues to inspire and there is a wealth of emerging and established talent that needs shouting about.

It’s at times like this that I am reinvigorated to try and find funds to realise more of the ideas that we have read about. The artists surgeries are, of course, available for artists to book to develop those ideas but we recognise that financial support is important. I will leave my colleagues to announce the successful recipient in due course and look forward to the programme that is emerging for our contribution to the Somerset Art Works Festival Weeks in September.

- Deb Richardson, Creative Director