BRIDGE

Applications OPEN!

BRIDGE was developed in response to a simple but pressing question: how can international cultural exchange move beyond short-term mobility and towards deeper, more meaningful relationships between artists, institutions and places?

Rather than replicating a single model of international residency, BRIDGE brings together four organisations operating in very different cultural, civic and institutional contexts. From a publicly funded residency programme in Finland, to artist-led and grassroots organisations in East and Southeast Asia, to a community-rooted social enterprise working in public space in Morocco, BRIDGE is intentionally built around difference rather than uniformity.

At its core, BRIDGE is about learning across contexts. Each residency is shaped by the specific social, cultural and political conditions of its host city, while the return phase at New Art Exchange creates space for reflection, dialogue, and connection back to Nottingham. This two-part structure recognises that international exchange does not end when travel does, and that learning is strengthened when ideas are tested, shared, and re-situated at home.

BRIDGE also reflects New Art Exchange’s long-term commitment to Global Ethnic Majority leadership and place-based practice. By centring artists whose perspectives are often underrepresented in international programmes, and by working with partners embedded in their local communities, BRIDGE prioritises depth, equity and continuity over visibility or prestige.

While residencies are the programme’s first public expression, BRIDGE is conceived as a longer-term framework for institutional partnership, shared learning, and future collaboration. Over time, it will support not only artist development, but also conversations about how international cultural work can be more grounded, reciprocal, and accountable to the places it connects.

The Residencies

Seoul, South Korea, September 2026 — with PBG

Artform: Photographer

Theme: Explore urban identity, memory, and the everyday realities of life in Seoul through a photographic lens. The residency invites the artist to investigate how movement, architecture, and social rhythms shape the city, creating work that connects lived experiences in Seoul with communities and perspectives in Nottingham.

About the partner: PBG is a leading contemporary art platform in South Korea, championing photography and visual artists through exhibitions, publishing, and international collaborations. With a vibrant base in Seoul, they offer artists an opportunity to engage with Korea’s dynamic art market and cultural scene.

Helsinki, Finland, October 2026 — with Helsinki International Artist Programme

Artform: Writer or Poet

Theme: Create new writing that reflects people and place, drawing on the cultural rhythms, histories, and lived experiences of Suomenlinna and Helsinki. The residency invites a deep, immersive response to local life, bridging Nordic narratives with the artist’s own context and practice.

About the partner: HIAP is one of Europe’s leading residency centres for artists and cultural practitioners, based on the island of Suomenlinna. Known for its supportive, international environment, HIAP connects residents to an active network of artists, curators, and thinkers across Finland and beyond.

Bangkok, Thailand, January 2027 — with Creative Migration (East) Foundation and its cultural & civic hub Bangkok 1899

Artform: Participatory / Co-creative Artist

Theme: Develop socially engaged and environmentally responsive projects that connect communities in Bangkok with audiences in Nottingham, exploring how everyday life, climate, and local ecologies shape shared and divergent experiences across both cities.

About the partner: Creative Migration (East) Foundation is an international arts organisation based between its anchor cities of Bangkok and Los Angeles. Its flagship space, Bangkok 1899, is rooted in cultural ecology, supporting artist residencies and public programs shaped by lived experience and local knowledge. It brings local and international communities into shared practice, exchange and collaboration across borders.

Marrakech, Morocco, March/April 2027 — with ASLNES

Artform: Mural / Public Artist

Theme: Develop a research-led public art concept rooted in multicultural public space, place and everyday life in Marrakech. The residency invites the artist to explore how mural-scale practices can be informed by culturally complex urban environments, with a focus on research and conceptual development rather than production, considering how public art might respond with care and relevance to diverse communities, and how these insights could inform future work in cities such as Nottingham.

About the partner: ASLNES is a volunteer-led and community-rooted social enterprise and think-and-do tank based in Marrakech, working at the intersection of culture, education and social innovation. The organisation supports artists working in public and civic contexts, with a strong emphasis on place-based research, social engagement and critical public practice, rather than the production of fixed artworks.

What’s Included

– Up to 1 month abroad (15 days in Marrakech) with accommodation, workspace, and local facilitation from the partner organisation.

– Up to 3-week residency at NAE in Nottingham, including a final public presentation.

– Return flights from the UK to the host city. – Daily living allowance (per diem*) for meals and incidental expenses.

– Up to £1,000 support during the NAE residency phase.

*Per diem are not fees; they cover meals and incidental expenses, calculated based on the local cost of living in each country to ensure an equitable experience across residencies. Artists will receive £20 per day in Bangkok and Marrakech, £30 per day in Seoul and £45 per day in Helsinki for the duration of the residency abroad

To find out whether you are eligible to apply or for more information, please see the Q&A section below.

Q&A

Who can apply?

UK-based artists from the Global Ethnic Majority or artists currently living and working in Nottingham.

Do I have to be a professional artist?

Yes, you should have an established or emerging professional practice in the relevant art form.

Do I need previous international experience?

No, you don’t need to have worked internationally before. What matters most is that you’re confident working independently, open to new cultural contexts, and ready to immerse yourself in a different environment. We’re looking for artists who are curious, self-directed, and able to adapt—not necessarily those who have already travelled for their work.

Will I have support while I’m abroad?

These residencies are designed for independent artists who are confident working autonomously in new environments. While you won’t have someone with you at all times, each partner will allocate a producer or facilitator to support your experience helping you get oriented, introducing you to local contexts, and offering light-touch weekly check-ins throughout your stay. The residency is designed for artists who can make the most of this opportunity, thrive in unfamiliar settings, and bring their own direction, curiosity, and initiative to the residency.

Can I apply for more than one residency?

You may express interest in more than one, but you can only be awarded one residency.

Is accommodation provided abroad?

Yes, accommodation is provided as part of the programme.

Where will the residencies be hosted?

Each residency is split into two parts: one month abroad with our international partner, followed by a three-week residency at New Art Exchange (NAE) in Nottingham, which includes a public sharing of work at the end of the UK phase.

Will there be a final event at each venue?

Where appropriate, residencies may include a light-touch public sharing at the end of the residency phase. These sharings are not mandatory and will depend on the residency context, the artist’s practice, available resources and local conditions. Formats will be agreed collaboratively after recruitment.

Will the residencies result in a final artwork?

Not necessarily. These residencies are designed to prioritise research, development, experimentation and public sharing rather than the production of permanent artworks. Outcomes will vary depending on the residency context, the artist’s practice and the opportunities available, and may include ideas, proposals, texts, sketches, conversations or other forms of reflection.

How accessible are the accommodation and the host cities?

Accessibility varies between locations, and each residency partner provides different facilities depending on their buildings and the wider infrastructure of the city.

Where available, we are sharing accessibility information in advance to help applicants make informed decisions:

• Helsinki accommodation and accessibility information HERE
• Bangkok accommodation and accessibility information HERE
• Seoul accommodation and accessibility information HERE

For the Marrakech residency, accommodation will be arranged by New Art Exchange. We will make every effort to identify a safe and accessible option once arrangements are confirmed.

As with any international residency, accessibility in the wider city environment may differ from what applicants are used to in the UK. We encourage applicants to review the information provided and familiarise themselves with the context of each location.

If you have specific access requirements, please contact us before applying so we can discuss your needs and share the most up-to-date information about each residency.

Are all residencies the same length?

Most BRIDGE residencies are one month long. The Marrakech residency is a 15-day, research-led residency designed to support focused place-based exploration and concept development rather than production. This shorter duration reflects the nature of working in public space and the emphasis on observation, relationship-building and research, and is balanced by the full three-week return residency at New Art Exchange in Nottingham.

How will applications be assessed?

Applications will be reviewed by a panel including NAE staff and members of its VOICE Assembly as well as representatives from our international partners. We will assess proposals based on clarity of artistic vision, connection to the theme, alignment with the residency context, and the artist’s capacity to work independently.

Are per diems a fee?

No, they are to cover daily meals and incidental costs during the month abroad.

How are the per diem amounts decided?

Per diem are set according to the local cost of living in each country. This ensures an equitable experience for all artists, so that daily meals and incidental expenses are covered regardless of location.

Are travel costs covered?

Yes, return economy flights from the UK to your host city are included.

Will I need a visa and travel insurance?

We may provide advice and support as needed, but you will be responsible for handling visa applications and purchasing travel insurance.

Can my family or partner join me?

Residencies are designed for the selected artist only.

How to Apply

Application deadline: 12pm, 2nd April 2026

Applicants notified by 30th April 2026 Complete the online application form

You will need to provide: 1. Contact information and location. 2. Short biography (max 200 words). 3. Artist statement (max 300 words). 4. Proposal for the residency (max 500 words): tell us what you want to do, why the location matters, and how it

connects to your practice. 5. Up to 5 work samples (images, video links, or text excerpts). 6. Any access requirements.