Delfina Foundation Residency for UK and Pakistan-Based Artists

The intention of this project is to facilitate a transformative learning and development experience for the participating artists and the wider communities.

Participating artists will have the opportunity to engage in research, build connections, and form relationships with art practitioners, and other creatives, as well as to explore sites and engage in activities local to Pakistan and the UK.

Delfina Foundation and Foundation Art Divvy welcome applications from both Pakistan-based artists and UK-based artists for residencies in London and Lahore respectively:

• One Pakistan-based artist will be selected for a twelve week residency at Delfina Foundation in London, taking place between 23 September and 15 December 2024, as part of Delfina’s autumn residency season.
• Two UK-based artists will be selected for a three-week residency with Foundation Art Divvy in Lahore, taking place between 15 September and 8 October 2024.

In addition to the international residencies, the three selected artists will also benefit from exchange and dialogue with each other and the institutions in both countries.

What you will get?

• The London Residency for Pakistan-Based Artist
  • The selected applicant will receive a twelve-week residency at Delfina Foundation in London, including:
    • A return economy-class flight
    • Airport transfers in the UK
    • Reimbursement of visa fees (if required)
    • A living allowance of £35 per day
    • A materials budget of £800
    • A travel pass for London’s public transport network
    • A single bedroom with a desk at Delfina Foundation, a house which hosts up to 8 residents with shared facilities, including: bathrooms, laundry rooms, a kitchen, library, and dining room.
  • Please note that travel insurance is not covered. The selected resident will be required to obtain travel insurance at their own initiative and expense, and to send a copy of the insurance documents to Delfina Foundation prior to travelling to the residency.
• The Lahore Residency for UK-Based Artists
  • The two selected applicants will each receive a simultaneous three-week residency with Art Divvy in Lahore, including:
    • A return economy-class flight
    • Airport transfers in Lahore
    • Reimbursement of visa fees (if required)
    • A private room (for each resident) in a secure guest house with a guard that will be shared by the two selected residents and the Foundation Art Divvy team during the residency period
    • Transport around the city by a means of a private driver and car
    • Two meals per day
    • A fixed £500 GBP participation fee
    • Studio space with basic materials. A small discretionary budget will also be available for additional materials in dialogue with the hosts
    • Close logistical support and facilitation throughout the stay from the Art Divvy team
    • Weekly dinners with the Art Divvy team
  • Please note that travel insurance is not covered. Selected residents are required to obtain travel insurance at their own initiative and expense, and to send a copy of the insurance documents to Art Divvy prior to travelling to the residency.

Residency Activities

• The London Residency for Pakistan-Based Artist:
  • Residing alongside seven other international practitioners at Delfina Foundation in London, the selected artist will benefit from:
    • time and space to develop their practice; opportunities to meet and engage with artists, curators, academics and researchers through organised presentations, studio visits, events, and meals; professional development activities including:
      • presentations and crits, portfolio reviews, and mentoring activities to strengthen the artistic practice; collaborative exchange between residents through informal gatherings, discussions, and meals; and guided visits to museums, galleries, non-profits, artist-run spaces and studios, as well as trips to institutions outside London.
  • Delfina Foundation will also work with the selected resident to provide an opportunity for a public presentation of some form around their work and research.
• The Lahore Residency for UK-Based Artists:
  • This residency will take place in the run up to and the occasion of the third Lahore Biennale, which will be a great opportunity for the selected artists to see and engage with art, artists, and art professionals from the city of Lahore and beyond. In addition to this — and responding to the expressed interests of the selected residents — Foundation Art Divvy will organise excursions with the residents around the city to visit sites, institutions, as well as people of interest and relevance to the artists’ practices.
  • The selected residents will also be supported by Art Divvy to produce work during their stay, which, if they wish, can be presented as part of a collateral group exhibition for the Lahore Biennale, which opens on 5 October 2024. Otherwise, and/or additionally Foundation Art Divvy can facilitate other opportunities to share work and exchange ideas, such as through an ‘open studios’ event and/or a talk for an audience.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be:
  • Either living and working in the UK (for the residency in Lahore), or living and working in Pakistan (for the residency in London)
  • An artist working in the field of visual art
  • Seeking an opportunity to develop their practice
  • Able to explain why they wish to undertake an international residency in the destination city.

For more information, visit Delfina Foundation.