Royal Scottish Academy

About

Deveron Projects is an arts organisation embedded in Huntly, a rural town in north-east Scotland for 30 years. We build deep and meaningful collaboration between artists and communities, aiming to tangibly intervene in the complex and urgent issues affecting our town, including climate breakdown and Just Transition, town regeneration, identity and belonging in rural places.

Our popular regular events, flexible artists' residencies, innovative collaborative projects and valued community resources create connections between people and across differences, making space for mutual learning and activating citizenship. All of our work takes place in public, beyond the confines of a gallery or art centre; from a woodland dedicated to peace, to a climate justice youth group, film clubs to meals, an honesty bakery to a new community space in a disused shopfront on the town square, among over a hundred other projects.

We look after several well-loved buildings and community resources, including Square Deal community hub, the Artist's House live/workspace, two community gardens, woodlands and libraries.

About Huntly

Huntly is a small, former market town of 4500 people in the heart of north-east Scotland. The town supports a large rural area, equivalent to the AB54 postcode (around 7100 people). We are 40 miles from Aberdeen and 65 miles from Inverness (the nearest cities with galleries, theatres and formal cultural spaces), bound to the north by the River Deveron and to the south by the A96.

Within easy reach of the town are forests, rivers, farmland and hills. Driving, we are around half an hour from the Moray coast and half an hour from the Cairngorms National Park. There are lots of walks in the local area and it is possible to rent e-bikes from Huntly Development Trust. In town there are all basic amenities, plus a new community cinema and café. There are trains from Huntly to Aberdeen and Inverness.

Studio Facilities

The RSA Residency artist has access to our custom-built accommodation and workspace, the Artist’s House. This private live/work space has one double bedroom and a bothy bed, with a large open plan living space/studio on the first floor. There is a lift and stairs between floors.

Check out our Accessibility Guide for photos and for details of the Artist's House.

We aim to work flexibly with artists to build a residency around their needs – this could include, but is not limited to: coming on residency with family and/or children, breaking up the residency period over several months, providing alternative studio/workspace if required and available (e.g. messy / outdoor space). Please get in touch if you would like to discuss access to residency before applying.

Costs

£300 per week is paid by the artist to Deveron Projects. This is based on a subsidised Independent Residency rate.

Minimum Period

4 weeks

Maximum Period

4 weeks

Other facilities

Access to socially engaged and gardens & ecologies libraries.
Use of active community hub, Square Deal.
Community Garden with support from Garden Caretakers.
Letterpress & photocopier.
Access to desk space in Deveron Projects’ offices.

Support offered

Weekly check-ins, curatorial and project management support.

We will support the artist to build connections locally where appropriate.

If the artist has a specific need – e.g. for dance or music practice space, for specific tools or equipment, or information about our locale, we will try to help with this.

Promotional support offered

On Deveron Projects' website, email marketing and social media.

Exhibition or other opportunities

We will work with the artist to realise one public event as part of this residency. There are also opportunities to participate in Deveron Projects’ regular events programme, e.g. Friday Lunch our popular fortnightly lunch and talk.

Requirements

Please contact Deveron Projects directly with questions relating to this residency.

We do not expect artists to have a socially engaged practice or to produce a large project for this residency – due to the residency duration (approx. 1 mo.) we suggest research and development work should be the main focus.

Accommodation offered

Wheelchair accessible house with kitchen, wet room, large garden, workspace/living area, double bedroom and box room. Families are welcome. Deveron Projects has additional shared accommodation in the adjacent building that is subject to availability.

Alternative Accomodation

Deveron Projects has additional shared accommodation in the adjacent building that is subject to availability.

Travel

Google Maps location link: maps.app.goo.gl/N24t3NNcL6oJRXk56

Accessible by car; approximately 3.5 hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh, 1 hour from Aberdeen, 1hr30 from Inverness.

Public transport to/from Huntly:

Rail: The Artist’s House is only 0.5 miles from Huntly Station. There are regular trains to/from Aberdeen (46 minutes) and Inverness (1 hour 20 minutes).

Road: Stagecoach No.10 bus stops outside the Artist’s House. Travel time to/from Aberdeen is 1 hour 35 minutes and to/from Inverness is 2 hours 40 minutes.
Huntly has a Co-Wheels car sharing scheme and car hire is also available from Aberdeen (1 hour), Elgin (45 minutes) and Inverness (1 hour 45 minutes).

Paid parking is available outside the Artist’s House; free parking is available 0.1 mile away.

Air: There are international airports at Aberdeen and Inverness.

Accessibility

There is an access guide for the Artist's House available online here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fgy6Epf7yESd6YQooGH_aggViZ5D1Or0WCwm1Xb-saw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.x7yyz2ez18sf

We work flexibly with artists, recognising that everyone has different needs. We will invite you to provide an Access Rider or have an informal conversation about access prior to the residency, but welcome conversations about accessibility at any point in the residency process

Insurance

Public Liability Insurance is in place to cover an artist working with the public through Deveron Projects’ programme. However, the artist is responsible for their own personal insurance including for equipment damage/theft, health insurance, travel insurance, etc.

Website: deveron-projects.com

Facebook: @DeveronProjects

Instagram: @deveronprojects