Artists Make Space 2025-26

Artists Make Space provides free creative workspaces and aims to support artists who need space to develop their practice. It is open to artists, artist organisations, or artist collectives.

How it works

The selected artists, artist organisations or artist collectives will be supported with a space free of charge to practice their art, experiment with new creative techniques, hold meetings, etc. 

This programme is aimed at artists who do not currently have studio space for financial reasons, who do not have the appropriate type of space for a specific project or experimentation in expanding their practice, or who can demonstrate that the programme will help to grow their practice in a way that would not otherwise be possible.  

Spaces available

The Old Town Hall, Richmond:

• 3 to 12-month placements available, July 2025-July 2026   

Workshop at Orleans House Gallery:

• 3.5-week placement available, 27 August to 21 September 2025 
• 3.5-week placement available, 6 January to 31 January 2026 

Studio at Orleans House Gallery:

• 6 to 12-month placement available July 2025 to July 2026 

Coach House at Orleans House Gallery: 

• 6 to 12-month placement available weekly on Thursdays, July 2025 to July 2026   

Training Room at Orleans House Gallery:  

• One-week placement available in summer 2025   
• One-week placement available in early 2026  
• Two-day to 6-month placements available on weekends, July 2025 to July 2026 

Grounds of Orleans House Gallery (outdoors only):  

• 1 to 6-month placements available beginning in July 2025  

OSO Arts Centre, Barnes:

• 12-week placement available, morning or afternoon (half day only), 4 September to 20 November 2025   

Who should apply 

We welcome applications from a range of practitioners looking to utilise our spaces across art forms including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, and combined arts.  

To be eligible for this programme, artists must have an existing practice and be over 18.

Arts organisations, artist collectives and individual artists living, working or studying in Richmond upon Thames can apply. Artists from outside of the borough may apply if they are able to demonstrate that they will bring something innovative and exciting to the borough during their proposed residency, however priority is given to those who live, work or study in the borough. 

We are keen to work with artists from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, stories, and experiences. We actively seek applications from our diverse communities including Global Majority, Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, and LGBTQ+, to represent diverse lived experiences in our projects.       

How to apply

Download the information pack and application pack. Printed copies of the application pack are available at Orleans House Gallery.  

To apply, send a completed application form to artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk with the subject line Artists Make Space 2025 and your name.

Applications must be received by 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 April.