The Hugo Burge Foundation is delighted to announce its Springboard Studio programme, designed to help emerging artists and craftspeople kickstart their creative careers.

We are pleased to offer a free studio to emerging artists in the Scottish Borders as part of our Springboard Studios programme to be used for a period of 12 months with the potential to extend for a further 12 months. 

The studio is warm, spacious and characterful, located in historic buildings set in the beautiful landscape of the Scottish Borders.

The studio is offered free for the duration of the tenancy but does not include accommodation. For this reason, we are looking for a pracitioner local to the Scottish Borders or who has accommodation they can use nearby to our campus on Marchmont Estate. 

Springboard tenants will join the larger creative community at the Hugo Burge Foundation, which includes potters, silversmiths, traditional furniture makers, sculptors and artists visiting on our monthly residencies. All residents are expected to contribute to this community during their time here, participating in Open Studios and social events, and offering talks or workshops where appropriate. 

The position also comes with a grant of up to £1,000 to support the purchase of tools and materials.

Please note that this studio is upstairs and due to the historic nature of the building, accessible entry is not available. This opportunity does not include regular access to Redbraes Pottery, the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop, or The Marchmont Workshop. These studio spaces are already occupied and any access would have to be arranged with the studio occupants who are part of our community or through their public access schemes.

Timeline:

Deadline to submit: June 28th

Interview Invitations: Week of June 28th

Decisions by End of June

Residency Timeline: Monday Sept 21st to Sat Oct 17th 2026

This residency is for a local visual artist who is within commuting distance of the Hugo Burge Foundation who is not looking for accommodation but rather a free studio space, a stipend, and support from Charles Poulsen. 

This residency is named in honour of Charlie Poulsen’s ‘Skyboat,’ a living sculpture that is located on-site at our Creative Spaces. ‘Skyboat’ comprises a boat supported by an oak frame under which living trees are growing. In time, the trees will grow to support the boat without the frame, leaving the boat to ‘float’ in the trees. The resident will have the opportunity to meet with Charlie and discuss his practice.

There are no expectations about what you will use the residency for but we would hope the selected artist will conduct at least one public event such as a creative workshop (for adult participants), a talk, demonstration, performance or educational activity.

You will be able to spend time with other visual artists and makers on site, along with another visiting artist also on residency. There will be the opportunity to meet and discuss your work with members of the HBF team and Charlie Poulsen during this residency as well. 

Deadline: June 19th

Decision By: July 3rd

Residency Dates: Mon Oct 26th to Sun Nov 22nd 2026

This is a residency aimed at artists who work across multiple disciplines and media, including painting/drawing, sculpture, sound, digital, film, performance, etc. We have no restrictions on the type of artists who apply as long as their practice expands beyond a single discipline's traditional boundaries.

The successful applicant will be provided with studio space, on-site accommodation in one of our Hobbit Pods, and a weekly stipend of £350. We will also provide the opportunity to meet and discuss your work with members of the HBF team. 

There are no expectations about what you will use the residency for but we hope the selected artist will conduct at least one public event such as a creative workshop, a talk, demonstration, performance or educational activity. 

You will be able to spend time with other visual artists and makers on site, along with another visiting artist also on residency. 

Deadline: June 29th

Decision By: July 11th

Residency Dates: Mon Oct 26th to Sun 22nd Nov 2026

The Scottish Borders has a rich history of textile making and trading. Because of this, we are happy to create this residency opportunity for a textile artist at any stage of their career who would enjoy a tranquil and immersive environment to focus on their craft. 

While we do not have a studio specifically designed or equipped for textiles, we will provide private studio space, on-site accommodation, and a weekly stipend of £350. 

There are no expectations about what you will use the residency for, but we hope the selected artist will conduct at least one public event such as a creative workshop (for adult participants), a talk, demonstration, performance or educational activity. 

You will be able to spend time with other artists and makers on site, along with another visiting artist also on residency. Our Creative Director, Dr James Fox will provide mentorship during your stay. 

Deadline:  29th June

Decision By: 10th July

The fund that is open for individual artists, musicians, performers, writers is for those who are working alone or with one other creative. The intent is to fund a specific project, work, piece, etc proposed by the individual. 

The fund can go towards multiple stages of a project, including early research and development, testing, and delivery. 

This fund can support for artist’s time, the purchase of materials, access to training, and most other costs associated with planning and delivering art. The artist should not be delivering this project on behalf of a position they hold within an organisation and should instead apply to the “Creative Communities” fund to support organisational activity.  

We do not retroactively fund completed projects. If a new project or a follow up project is proposed following the completion of a project, we are happy to fund the next stage and any research and development that might go into it. 

This grant is open to all individuals who are residents of the United Kingdom. 

Please view the Grant Information Pack on our website for useful information before applying. 

The fund is open to any creative or arts led programmes designed for young people in education.  We will fund programmes and classes aimed at participants between the ages of 0 and 29.  

Creative education is crucial for nurturing well-rounded individuals, fostering innovation, and preparing students for a future that demands adaptability and problem-solving skills. It enhances educational attainment, boosts wellbeing, and promotes a sense of belonging. 

We are also dedicated to supporting the skills and expertise required to train the next generation of artists.  The fund can be used for the teaching of visual arts, expressive arts, crafts and making.  Our aim is to ensure that everyone is given an opportunity to discover or hone their creative skills by being exposed to learning opportunities in all areas of the arts. 

Please view our Grant Information Pack on our website for useful information before applying. 

This fund is open to organisations, community groups, festivals, and fairs that are planning on developing and delivering initiatives focusing on culture and creative arts in the United Kingdom. 

We are interested in supporting people to engage and connect as participants – not just audiences – in creative activities.

We hope to enable more people to regularly take part in or practise cultural activities.

We prefer to invest in organisations rather than one-off projects.

Please view our Grant Information Pack on our website for useful information before applying.