Summerhall Arts, in partnership with the Hugo Burge Foundation, announce the three recipients of the inaugural In Vitro Residency – a new artist development programme created in direct response to widespread barriers preventing artists from accessing traditional residency opportunities.
This new residency model reflects the realities of contemporary artistic life offering flexibility, access and sustained support to those often excluded from conventional residency formats. By creating a supported link from research and development to exhibition.
The In Vitro Residency was born out of feedback from artists across Scotland and beyond, highlighting a clear and urgent need for an accessible residency programme: many artists cannot step away from work, caring responsibilities or everyday life to undertake weeks-long, residential programmes. In response, Summerhall Arts and The Hugo Burge Foundation came together to provide a meaningful alternative – a 12-week, non-residential residency offering 24/7 studio access at Summerhall; a £1,200 stipend; a public workshop and a month-long exhibition.
The programme received a significant and highly positive response on launch, underlining both the demand for and the timeousness of this new approach.
Lucy Brown, CEO of the Hugo Burge Foundation, said “After five years of providing residencies in rural Scotland, away from the demands of everyday life, we realised that artists need a new type of residency: A residency that exists alongside the demands of life. Summerhall Arts is the perfect partner to help build this groundbreaking new programme. The atmosphere of support and 24/7 studio access is exactly what we were looking for. The chosen artists now have a chance to do work that might not otherwise have happened”
Selected artists: Juliana Capes, whose multidisciplinary practice creates sensory installations exploring perception and belief; Flore Gardner, an Edinburgh-based artist working through semi-automatic drawing to create surreal, symbolic imagery, will be in residence and Glasgow-based Joseph Taylor, whose work spans drawing, sculpture and performance, will each undertake residencies across 2026–2027.
Samantha Chapman, Head of Visual Arts at Summerhall Arts, said “This programme represents what can happen when two organisations with complementary skills and shared values come together with a clear purpose. Working in partnership with the Hugo Burge Foundation, we have been able to design a residency that responds to the feedback we have received and actively addresses barriers within the sector. It’s about widening access and creating space and support for artists who have historically been excluded from traditional model. Ensuring their practices can thrive. We are delighted that these opportunities now exist to make a real difference in the arts in Scotland”
For further information on Summerhall Arts, to get involved or to support please get in touch with info@summerhallarts.co.uk
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 