Artist Residencies in Dundee

Why Dundee is a strong residency city

Dundee is small enough that you can actually meet people, but dense enough with institutions that a short stay can change your practice. It’s officially a UNESCO City of Design, which isn’t just branding – it shows up in how the city funds, connects, and talks about creative work.

Artists come here for:

Design-led thinking – strong overlaps between art, design, craft, tech, and heritage.
Manageable scale – you can walk between V&A Dundee, DJCAD, DCA, and studio buildings.
Lower costs than bigger UK hubs – especially helpful if a residency stipend is tight.
Industrial and maritime history – shipbuilding, textiles, and mills give plenty of material if your work is research-based.

As a residency city, Dundee leans towards design and contemporary visual art, with good support for textiles, socially engaged practice, and research-heavy projects. Think studio time plus access to collections, archives, and communities, rather than an isolated retreat in the countryside.

Anchor residencies to know in Dundee

Start by mapping what kind of time you want: deep research, quick experiment, or career reset. Different Dundee opportunities suit different needs.

V&A Dundee – Designer in Residence

Best for: designers, makers, and interdisciplinary practitioners who want to work in dialogue with a major museum.

V&A Dundee’s Designer in Residence programme is one of the city’s most visible residency models. It is built to give you structured time to experiment in response to:

the museum’s collections and exhibitions
the building and the waterfront context
broader design questions around society, materials, and futures

You can expect a balance of studio-based exploration and public engagement – think open studios, talks, or digital sharing of process. It suits you if your practice includes:

material research or craft with a strong conceptual spine
social or service design and community-facing projects
speculative design, futures, or archive-driven work

If you like working with objects, documents, or design histories – and you want your work in conversation with an international design institution – this is a key Dundee opportunity.

RSA Residencies for Scotland – bring your own Dundee host

Best for: visual artists based in Scotland who want to self-direct a residency and base it in Dundee.

The RSA Residencies for Scotland scheme is Scotland-wide, but it can be a powerful way to create a Dundee residency on your own terms.

What it offers:

Up to £5,000 for research, development, and production.
Freedom to choose and negotiate your host venue – a studio, gallery, or specialist workshop.
Time to learn new skills, test ideas, and build networks.

Eligibility generally expects that you were born in Scotland or have lived there for a sustained period, with some flexibility for refugees. The programme is artist-led, so you pitch the partnership you want.

In Dundee this could look like:

a process-heavy project at Wasps Meadow Mill Studios, using the Project Space as a lab
a research residency connected to DJCAD or the University of Dundee archives
a production period linked to a show in a local gallery like Federation Gallery or Roseangle Gallery

If you prefer shaping your own structure instead of slotting into a predetermined residency format, RSA funding plus a Dundee partner is a strong combo.

Whanganui x Dundee: Textile Legacies

Best for: textile artists and designers rooted in Dundee who want an international exchange.

The Whanganui x Dundee: Textile Legacies programme connects designers in Dundee with Indigenous and ancestral textile practices in Whanganui, New Zealand.

Key features:

Focus on textiles and related fields, including weaving, material research, and heritage processes.
Stipend paid weekly (with the total typically covering a month of work).
Travel and accommodation covered, with support coming through UNESCO City of Design Dundee.
Eligibility tied to living, working, or having a studio in a DD postcode.

This residency is outward-facing – the Dundee side is the base that launches you into exchange. It suits you if you are:

engaged with ancestral, Indigenous, or community textile knowledge
comfortable working in a cross-cultural context
interested in how industrial textile histories (like Dundee’s jute mills) intersect with living practices elsewhere

Scotland’s Creative Cities Living Heritage Residencies

Best for: designers and artists based in Dundee who like short, intensive, place-based projects.

Scotland’s UNESCO Creative Cities, including Dundee, have teamed up with UNESCO sites across the country for the Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme.

The Dundee pairing connects a designer from Dundee with New Lanark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its historic cotton mills and social planning.

What you get:

Up to one week in residence at a heritage site.
Fees based on 5 days at Scottish Artist Union rates (around £1,796 in the published example).
Support for accommodation, travel, and access/materials.
An expectation that you create one new work (text, sound, image, object, or digital) and share it publicly.

This suits you if:

you work well under a tight timeline
you like responding to place, archives, communities, or architecture
you’re comfortable translating a short, immersive experience into a focused piece

The Dundee–New Lanark link is especially interesting for artists thinking about labour histories, utopian communities, industrial design, and social welfare in relation to contemporary practice.

University of Dundee – Artists & Writers in Residence

Best for: artists and writers comfortable in academic or curatorial contexts.

The University of Dundee and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design run project-based residencies rather than one fixed annual scheme. These often attach to exhibitions, research projects, or international collaborations.

Past examples include:

artists in residence working alongside major shows or research programmes
writers responding to exhibitions, such as the CURRENT series connecting Scotland and Shanghai

These residencies typically offer:

access to academic networks and archives
a framework for critical reflection and writing
opportunities to share work through talks, publications, or events

If your practice leans towards critical writing, theory-informed installation, or curatorial collaboration, this is a useful path to watch, especially via University channels and the Cooper Gallery.

Using Dundee’s spaces as your DIY residency

Not every artist needs a formal residency programme. Dundee’s studio and gallery infrastructure is flexible enough that you can build a self-directed residency using rentals and ad hoc support.

Wasps Meadow Mill Studios – Project Space

Best for: short, self-hosted residencies, project sprints, and experiments that need space more than structure.

Wasps Meadow Mill houses around 100 artists and makers. The key resource here is the Project Space:

approx. 635 ft² with flagstone flooring and strong natural light
available for exhibitions, projects, workshops, or short-term residencies
hire starting around £38 for a half day or £70 for a full day, with reduced rates for charities and resident artists

This space is ideal if you want to:

book a week and treat it as a private lab
run an intensive making period followed by an open studio or pop-up show
host workshops or community activity as part of a socially engaged project

If you have your own grant funding (RSA, or something similar), combining it with a block booking here effectively becomes a custom Dundee residency.

Galleries and hybrid spaces you can plug into

Creative Dundee maintains a handy exhibition spaces list. For a residency, these spaces are less about long-term studio time and more about how you show or test the work you create while in Dundee.

Federation Gallery – a contemporary art space in the Keiller Centre, good for experimental exhibitions and emerging artists.
Gallery 48 – gallery plus eatery in the Westport area; works well for accessible, public-facing shows or pop-ups.
Roseangle Gallery – connected to Dundee Art Society, with a regular exhibition programme and the option to rent the space.
LifeSpace, Original Copy, and other smaller venues – often connect art with science, books, or design.

Strategy-wise, you can:

use Dundee as a production base (in a studio or project space)
end with a micro-exhibition, talk, or workshop in one of these venues
frame the whole thing as a self-initiated residency when you communicate it to funders or future partners

How to align Dundee residencies with your practice

Dundee residencies don’t all look the same. Matching your practice to the right format will make the stay feel coherent instead of random.

If you are textile-focused

Think about:

Whanganui x Dundee: Textile Legacies as a way to connect Dundee’s mill history with living Indigenous textile practices.
Using RSA Residencies for Scotland funding with a Dundee textile host (studio, museum, or workshop).
Connecting with local archives or heritage collections tied to jute and other industrial fabrics.

Dundee is particularly rich for textile artists working with labour histories, trade routes, and material memory.

If you are a designer or object-based maker

Good options include:

V&A Dundee – Designer in Residence if you want deep institutional dialogue.
Creative Cities Living Heritage residencies if you like short but intensive site-based work.
Wasps Project Space plus gallery hire, if you prefer a self-made structure and have or can secure your own funding.

Dundee’s UNESCO status keeps design at the centre of many conversations, so designers can expect genuine interest and institutional support.

If you need focused research time

Look at:

RSA Residencies for Scotland with a Dundee research host, such as an archive, university department, or science partnership.
University of Dundee project-based residencies, particularly those connected to Cooper Gallery or cross-disciplinary research projects.
A self-initiated stint where you rent a studio, spend time in collections, and structure your own research plan.

Dundee works well for practice that sits between studio-making and research; you can move easily between desk, lab, workshop, and waterfront.

Living in Dundee during a residency

Residencies rise or fall on practical details. A few Dundee-specific points help you plan.

Cost of living and budgeting

Dundee is generally more affordable than Edinburgh or London, with studio and living costs that are still workable for many artists, though prices have risen in recent years.

When you evaluate a residency offer, check:

Is accommodation included? If not, factor in short-term rental costs, which can spike near the university and at busy times.
Are travel and materials covered? Programmes like the Creative Cities residencies and Whanganui x Dundee often include both.
Is the fee realistic for your needs? Calculate actual days of work, production needs, and any days you’ll need before/after the residency for set-up or debrief.

If you are self-directing a residency, pair affordable space hire (like Wasps) with modest accommodation and a clear budget for materials and local transport.

Neighbourhoods that make sense for artists

Dundee is compact, but location still shapes your experience.

City Centre – efficient for short stays. You can walk to V&A Dundee, the waterfront, DCA, and transit links.
West End / University area – close to DJCAD, student energy, and several galleries; good if your residency is tied to the University.
Hawkhill, Hilltown, and nearby zones – can be more affordable, with easy bus routes into town.
Near the waterfront regeneration – convenient for design-focused residencies and museum access.

For a residency, prioritise:

walking distance or a single bus ride to your host venue
access to supermarkets and late-opening shops
reliable internet if you are doing digital work or remote teaching

Getting around with work and materials

Dundee is very walkable in the central area; most residency sites and galleries sit within a tight radius. For larger works or heavy gear:

confirm loading access and lift availability at studios and galleries
check if your residency host can receive shipments ahead of your arrival
budget for taxis when moving delicate or bulky pieces

If your practice involves site-specific or outdoor work, remember the coastal weather – wind and rain can affect filming, sound recording, and install days.

Visas, timing, and how to catch opportunities

Visa basics for international artists

If you are visiting from outside the UK, clarify early:

whether your residency host can provide a formal invitation letter
whether you will receive payment from a UK source and how that fits your visa options
whether your activity is framed as research, cultural exchange, or work
if any public workshops, talks, or exhibitions are allowed under your immigration status

Always check the latest UK government guidance before committing. Residency organisers are used to writing support letters, so ask for what you need in clear terms.

When to be in Dundee

Dundee works year-round, but some periods are especially useful for residencies:

Late spring to early autumn – better light, easier travel, and more public events.
Graduate show season at DJCAD – good for networking and seeing emerging work.
Key programme seasons at V&A Dundee and DCA – more talks, screenings, and openings to hook into.

If your project relies on filming, outdoor installations, or long walks along the waterfront, avoid the darkest, windiest months if you can. For quiet writing or drawing time, winter can actually be productive.

How to keep track of calls

Because many Dundee residencies are project or partnership-based, opportunities appear in cycles rather than as permanent, always-open programmes. To stay in the loop:

follow Creative Dundee for local calls and space opportunities
check V&A Dundee and Jupiter Artland channels for Dundee-linked residencies or legacies like Jupiter+ Dundee
watch the Royal Scottish Academy for RSA Residencies for Scotland open calls
keep an eye on University of Dundee / DJCAD news for artist and writer residencies

Making a Dundee residency actually work for you

To turn Dundee from a nice idea into something that genuinely shifts your practice, treat any residency here as a project with a before, during, and after.

Before

Clarify a simple focus: a material to push, a question to work through, a new audience to test.
Decide how public you want the residency to be: quiet research, open studio, workshops, or a final show.
Reach out early to potential partners – studios, archives, community groups – especially if you are shaping your own residency.

During

Use Dundee’s density: combine studio days with collection visits, talks, or informal studio visits.
Document process clearly; many residencies here expect some kind of public sharing.
Say yes to one or two key social events – a crit, an opening, or a studio visit – to build real connections.

After

Follow up with the people and organisations you worked with.
Translate the residency into something tangible: a publication, a portfolio section, or a clear new body of work.
Use the experience to apply for next-step opportunities, pointing to Dundee as a testing ground.

Dundee rewards artists who like mixing research, conversation, and making. If that sounds like you, a residency here – formal or self-made – can be a solid way to move your work on.