2026 is the 6th year of the SSW and Counterflows collaboration, offering vital residency opportunities to Scotland based artists who are also caregivers. We are delighted to offer 4 Fully Funded Residencies in 2026, thanks to generous support of the William Grant Foundation and Creative Scotland.
The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency offers:
- A 4 week fully-funded residency at SSW bespoke to the artists’ caregiving needs and schedule
- £3000 artist fee
- £300 travel budget
- £300 materials budget
- £1000 to support access and care costs to enable the artist to take part in the residency.
- Weekend pass and travel to Counterflows Festival in April 2027
This residency recognises that the care of others is central to the collective survival of our world yet is deeply undervalued within our society. This is often mirrored in the structures of support created for artists.
The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency is shaped to support artists who undertake this essential care work. It is set up to provide a nourishing, open and flexible residency structure to serve caregivers diverse needs.
For an insight into what can happen whilst on this residency you can read blogs from all our past Caregivers Residents:
Laura Bradshaw (2021)
Chris Dooks (2021)
Hang Linton (2021)
Oren Shoesmith & Rabindranath X Bhose (2022)
Norma D Hunter (2022)
Bobbi Cameron (2023)
Keng Keng Tang (2023)
Julianna Capes (2024)
Morven Mulgrew (2024)
Alicia Matthews (2025)
as well as an essay by writer, journalist and caregiver Claire Sawyer
It is amazing to have this time to play and to not worry about everything else going on in life. The Caregivers Residency is so unique, and in a way it is depressing to say it is radical, but it is. This residency is radical because there is a no questions asked access budget, the staff are so supportive – there is no gatekeeping to these workshops and it enables you to make your weird ideas happen. Being able to all meet at the amazing Counterflows Festival was also hugely inspiring. It kinda highlights how inaccessible the wider arts can feel. This should all be normal but it sadly isn’t!
Olive Jones and Belladonna Paloma, SSW X Counterflows Caregivers Residency 2025 artists
At a time where I was doing a lot of reconfiguring and rethinking about how to be an artist in the world (or indeed if I could be), undertaking the Caregivers Residency at SSW has been vital. I feel nourished to the core – incredible supportive staff, the best residency pals, wonderful facilities and the space and time to make and make only. It felt like home and that every effort was made to ensure I was able to undertake and immerse myself in the residency. Counterflows punctuated the halfway mark of my time there and what a tonic! Every performance was total nourishment, even the ones where I was fidgeting and desperate to escape, haha. I returned to making with renewed vigour and gratefulness that I have been able to experience all of this.
Alicia Matthews, SSW X Counterflows Caregivers Residency 2025 artist
Find out more and apply here: SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency
The deadline for applications is Friday 12 June 2026, 12 midday.
