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Category : News

Blacksmithing Induction with Technican Jimmy, image credit: SSW

2026 Group Residency 1: In Pictures

It was wonderful to welcome artists Alex Sarkisian (Scotland), Breanne Johnson (Mexico), Claye Bowler (England), Ocean Lorraine (USA) and Ruby Allen (Scotland) to SSW in June and July, as our first cohort of artists selected for Group Residency 2026. Over the course of their month-long residency, the group had inductions and support in ceramics, metalwork, blacksmithing and stonework. Alongside developing their practices in the workshops & studio, the group took part in a collective programme of walks, sauna, films night, […]

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News 11:41 am , August 31, 2026 Comments Off on 2026 Group Residency 1: In Pictures
Image credit: Felicity Crawshaw

Open Call: SSW x Unlimited Partner Award

SSW is excited to be partnering with Unlimited for this years Partner Awards.  This Partner Award offers a £15,000 award to a Scotland based, disabled artist working in any discipline, to develop a new project and undertake a four-week residency here at SSW using our workshop spaces. Through the Partner Award the artist will receive: Cat Sheridan, Senior Producer, Unlimited, says of the Partner Awards: “These awards [with each partner across England, Scotland and Wales] mean 11 disabled artists can make ambitious new work with a partner invested in […]

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Artists / News 7:53 pm , August 30, 2026 Comments Off on Open Call: SSW x Unlimited Partner Award
Woodblock Printing with Anupa Gardner, image credit: SSW

Community Making Space Blog: Spring / Summer Programme Reflection

We’ve had a great time in the Community Making Space this Spring and Summer. From exploring clay, glass and plant materials to print, paper and soil. There’s been lots of making techniques to get stuck into, with plenty of opportunities for our local community to try something new and spend time together. As with each season, we started by talking with our Community Advisers about what people wanted to see in the programme and what we wanted to explore together. […]

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News 5:41 pm , August 28, 2026 Comments Off on Community Making Space Blog: Spring / Summer Programme Reflection
Katie Schwab in the SSW Ceramics Studio, image credit: SSW

Caregivers Residency Blog: Katie Schwab

Katie Schwab, one of the five 2025 SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency artists, reflects on her time here at SSW in February, April and May. The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency was set up in 2020 to expand funded residency opportunities to artists who are also caregivers. Words and images below by Katie Schwab. Final image by Mike Bolam. — My caregiving experience has been characterised by family illness, birth and death in close succession. This residency opened up a […]

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Artists / News / Residencies / Residency / Residency 5:33 pm , August 28, 2026 Comments Off on Caregivers Residency Blog: Katie Schwab
Image credit: Felicity Crawshaw

SSW Open Weekend 2026

We are excited to announce SSW’s Open Weekend 2026. Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 10am – 4pmDrop in making sessions: Saturday, 10am – 12 midday and 2pm – 4pm Come along to SSW and check out what some of our local artists and makers have been up to in the workshops. There will be an opportunity to meet a wide range of local artists, see some of our workshop spaces and take part in some relaxed making sessions in […]

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News 5:32 pm , August 28, 2026 Comments Off on SSW Open Weekend 2026
Group Residents with SSW team members Lewis, Ruaridh, Amy and Harriet, and Ecologies in the Making resident Roy and Vita, image credit: SSW

Group Residency 2026: Artist Announcment

We are delighted to announce Bao-Yin Hall, Danielle Macleod, Jo Matthews, Rudy Loewe, Shehzad Jaffer and Tamsin MacArthur, as our second group of artists selected for Group Residency 2026. The SSW team are supporting the artists in developing their practices over the course of their month-long residency this August. Alongside inductions and support in ceramics, metalwork, blacksmithing and stonework, Group Residency includes a collective programme of sauna, local visits to Pictish stones, film nights, potluck meals, artist sharings and peer […]

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Artists / News / Residency 11:58 pm , August 26, 2026 Comments Off on Group Residency 2026: Artist Announcment
Shiori Usui in the SSW Ceramics Studio, image credit: SSW

Caregivers Residency Blog: Shiori Usui

Shiori Usui, one of the five 2025 SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency artists, reflects on her time here at SSW in April and May. The SSW x Counterflows Caregivers Residency was set up in 2020 to expand funded residency opportunities to artists who are also caregivers. Words, images and video below by Shiori Usui. — Wow, what intense but magnificent days they were. Thinking back to the days I spent on the Caregiver’s Residency at Counterflows Festival and SSW, these […]

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Artists / News / Residencies / Residency / Residency 5:19 pm , July 31, 2026 Comments Off on Caregivers Residency Blog: Shiori Usui
Ellie Ballantine in the SSW Ceramics Studio, image credit: SSW

Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) Artist Residency Blog: Ellie Ballantine

Artist and Researcher Ellie Ballantine shares observations and insight into her time working at SSW on a Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) Artist Residency. Over 3 months Ellie worked both on site in Lumsden and remotely, to explore Regenerative Materials and Community Knowledge within Arts Practice, alongside SSW’s Materials Garden and Community Making Space programme. Words and images below by Ellie Ballantine — sitka spruce growing from a bench at SSW early Marchsnowdrops not yet outflowering white […]

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Artists / News / Residencies / Residency / Residency 5:18 pm , July 31, 2026 Comments Off on Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) Artist Residency Blog: Ellie Ballantine
SSW's new electric forklift with SSW team members and ceramic subscribers, image credit: SSW

SSW Has A New Electric Forklift

We are excited to have a new electric forklift at SSW replacing our old diesel Lansing which has been at SSW since we began in 1979. The new electric forklift is part of our Big Shift programme supporting SSW’s work to reduce emissions and create a healthier workshop environment for everyone. It has already been put to work shifting large bags of compost and planters in the Materials Garden and moving heavy equipment such as the raku kiln and deliveries of materials. A big thank […]

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Artists / News / Residencies / Residency / Residency 3:33 pm , July 24, 2026 Comments Off on SSW Has A New Electric Forklift
Group Residents with SSW team members Ruaridh and Amy, image credit: SSW

Group Residency 2026: Artist Announcment

We are delighted to announce Alex Sarkisian, Breanne Johnson, Claye Bowler, Ocean Lorraine and Ruby Allen as our first group of artists selected for Group Residency 2026. The SSW team are supporting the artists in developing their practices over the course of their month-long residency this July. Alongside inductions and support in ceramics, metalwork, blacksmithing and stonework, Group Residency includes a collective programme of walks, sauna, film nights, potluck meals, artist sharings and peer learning.  Find out about our first […]

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Artists / News / Residency 4:32 pm , July 17, 2026 Comments Off on Group Residency 2026: Artist Announcment