We are looking for early career creatives who seek spaces to work. You may be an artist that needs room to practice and perform or a designer who wants a place to exhibit or a performer looking for a stage on which to deliver.
Creatives in Residence at City scheme
The Creatives in Residence (CinR) at City Scheme provides a place for early career creative practitioners to grow and explore their practice, in an inclusive, socially engaged, politically conscious centre of education, practice and research, alongside the School’s own students and staff.
This initiative aims to:
- Provide CinR with a supportive and experimental community in which to develop their professional practice. This will culminate in the completion of a project, brand or product launch, exhibition or event.
- Encourage mutual learning and collaboration between students, staff and CinR, and explore new areas for study and practice within the School’s curriculum.
- Increase and diversify the School’s engagement with the general public, local creative communities and freelance/independent practitioners.
What We Offer to Creatives in Residence at City
- A six-month residency programme with the title Creative in Residence at City.
- Access to the School campus, including a space to work outside of core teaching hours and the opportunity to collaborate with staff and students.
- Access to performance and studio spaces out of teaching hours/out of term.
- Space to host workshops, exhibitions, open mic/scratch nights, performances and showcases and an opportunity to have an event or exhibition/installation hosted at Finsbury Town Hall or in other School performances spaces
- Training for media appearances and podcasting.
- Access to all School events.
What we expect from Creatives in Residence City
- Completion of a tangible creative project within the six-month residency, with measurable outcomes.
- Engage with the School community, sharing skills, experience and practice and collaborating through workshops, events and public activities.
- Promote their creative practice and act as ambassador for City amongst their networks.
- Host one paid ‘creative practice’ masterclass to our student and staff
- Deliver a final presentation on completion of their residency, showcasing your completed project
- Mentor two students (through City’s Professional Mentoring Scheme)
- Spend a minimum of four days a month in the School.
The precise package will be crafted with each Creative in Residence when their specific project and practice is identified.

Eligibility
The Creatives in Residence at City Scheme is open to early career creative practitioners, with under five years of professional experience.
Areas of practice may include (but are not limited to):
- composers/sound artists
- musicians, rappers
- video/film artists
- dancers/choreographers
- performance artists
- visual artists
- writers
- spoken word artists
- interdisciplinary artists
- journalists
- bloggers, vloggers and podcasters etc.
Applicants’ practice should reflect the School’s identity and mission. We support and develop the next generation of practitioners and entrepreneurs who work across the cultural, creative, music, heritage and media sectors.
We are deeply committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we are working to transform these sectors by educating and empowering students from under-represented backgrounds and supporting them to excel. Our Creatives in Residence should share these values.
Creatives and Communicators of all genders, ethnicities, national origins, sexual orientations/identities, religions/beliefs, education and physical abilities are encouraged to apply. We actively embrace fairness and inclusivity and are dedicated to creating a place where everyone can thrive and belong.
Applicants must be resident in the UK.
Applicants need not have any prior experience of working with a university.
Find out more about Equality Diversity and Inclusion at City.
Selection criteria and process
Five Creatives each year will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrable commitment to establishing themselves as an independent/freelance creative, with a dedicated and focused creative practice.
- Strength of tangible creative project plan and intended outputs.
- Potential collaborator with vision for integrated engagement with the School.
- Alignment with School’s identity and mission and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by a panel composed of members of the School and established creatives of various disciplines, identities, and practices.
How to apply
Please submit the following by email to Professor Anna Whitelock:
- A statement of interest (maximum two pages) describing:
- your creative practice and professional experiences;
- your motivation to apply as a Creative in Residence;
- your alignment with the School’s identity and mission;
- examples of your commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity, and ideas for how you intend to transform professions in this space.
- A tangible project plan for the six-month residency, with monthly milestones and measurable intended outcomes.
- Three practice or work samples as PDFs, JPEGS, MP3 or MP4. If submitting audio/video, please limit your submission to maximum of 15 minutes by providing cues/excerpts. Web links to work samples and press releases are allowed. Where applicable, work samples that capture a broader aspect of your practice are encouraged (ie. interacting with community, engaging in collaboration, etc… ). MIDI renderings will not be accepted for composers/sound artists.
- A Curriculum Vitae including contact information.
The deadline is 12noon on 6th March 2023