Royal Scottish Academy

About

SSW expands the possibilities of what sculpture can be – continuously working towards positive social and environmental change. 

We are embedded in our rural location, with a global outlook and reach. Our artist residencies and locally focused programmes are set up to rethink and push material and skills-based learning, prioritising process and opening up our workshop space as a site where community, creativity and nourishment are a driving force in all that we do. 

Our Values are: 

Transformative access 

Time and space to make is transformative and should be accessible to all. We prioritise access across our site and programmes. We commit to work with partners, communities and professionals to ensure that barriers (physical, environmental and organisational) at SSW are identified and broken down. 

Listen, learn and make change 

SSW believes that we are all simultaneously learners and teachers and that learning is enabled by working together in a safe and supportive environment. As an organisation we actively work to listen, (un)learn and reimagine what is possible in resistance to dominant narratives. 

Collaboration and skill sharing 

We work together with collective aims and approaches, valuing the unique perspectives, lived experiences and skills that are held by those we work with. We are here to support artists and our local community and bring together their diverse knowledge and skills to create an open and empowering environment. 

Respect and empowerment 

Our collective learning makes us powerful! We want to empower each other to shape new visions for the world and believe that this is only possible with respect for ourselves, each other and the environment.

Studio Facilities

We have a range of facilities for artists, makers and individuals to use:

Onsite accommodation, including accessible wheelchair accessible bedroom, bathroom and shared kitchen 
Shared kitchen and lounge
24-hour access to shared open-plan studio
24-hour access to the ceramics workshop, with glaze room and electric kilns
Outdoor wood kiln and atmospheric firings  
Plaster fabrication room 
Metal fabrication workshops 
Forge and Blacksmithing 
Stonework 
Outside yard
Library

Full information on workshops can be found here - www.ssw.org.uk/facilities

Information on 25/26 Courses can be found here - www.ssw.org.uk/courses

Costs

Production Open Access

£360 per week – available for a minimum of 2 weeks. 

Includes access to all the above facilities and technical support, except forge/blacksmithing and stonework which is charged at an additional cost. This cost also includes shared self-catering accommodation and 24-hour studio access. 

Research Open Access 

£260 per week – available for a minimum of 1 week. 

This cost also includes shared self-catering accommodation and 24-hour studio access.

Non-residential Production Open Access  

£300 per week – available for a minimum of 2 weeks. 

Includes access to all the above facilities and technical support, except forge/blacksmithing and stonework which is charged at an additional cost. This cost also includes 24-hour studio access. 

Materials and consumables are available at an additional cost.

A materials price list is available from arts@ssw.org.uk

Minimum Period

1 month

Maximum Period

2 months

Other facilities

Ability to join our Community Making Space programme, including workshops led by local knowledge holders.

Support offered

Use of our facilities is supported by technicians and arts workers, who are skilled in supporting people of all levels and abilities to learn new skills, make work, develop projects and experiment with making in all forms.

Promotional support offered

Website - SSW.org.uk

E-newsletter

Promotional Support Offered

Promotional support may include a blog post on the SSW website, inclusion in our monthly digital mailout, as well as platforming on SSW social media.

Exhibition or other opportunities

SSW encourages and supports process-led practice. We are happy to work with

residents to support future planning for residency outcomes.

Accommodation offered

SSW has 9 bedrooms in total.

On site we have:

4x double bedrooms, with 2 x shared bathrooms
1x ground floor, double bedroom with level access between the shower and toilet.

No. 17 - we have a house 2 min walk from SSW on Main St, which has:

3x double bedrooms
1x twin room
1x shared bathroom with toilet
1x shared toilet
1x shared kitchen
Two of these rooms are ‘family rooms’.

We allocate rooms based on requirements and availability.

Further details about SSW accommodation can be found here -
www.ssw.org.uk/accommodation-2

Alternative accommodation

Should the accommodation on site at SSW be inappropriate for your needs we will recommend alternative accommodation elsewhere in the local area.

Travel

Google Maps location link: maps.app.goo.gl/ZFj3Tq6ejALJJye58

You can get to SSW by train, taxi, bus or car. The nearest train stations are Huntly or Insch, on the Aberdeen to Inverness line, where a taxi can take you to SSW in Lumsden. There is free parking available on site at SSW.

Further travel information can be found on the SSW website:

www.ssw.org.uk/contact

Accessibility

We understand ‘access’ to be what you need in order to be able to participate at SSW comfortably and safely. These needs may be physical, for example different heights of workstations or access to quiet space. They may be cultural, for example connections with different groups or organisations in the area, or space for worship. Needs may include communication requirements (email, text, phone), translated documents or space for your family (bio/chosen), an ally, support worker or travel buddy to stay. These are just a few examples, and we encourage you to get in touch to discuss what we can put in place to support your participation in residency.

We welcome access riders and/or informal conversations about what you need to work and live comfortably on site at SSW prior to arrival. Please contact Anna, Programme Producer by email at arts@ssw.org.uk or call 01464 861 372.

Accessibility Information about each of our spaces can be found on the SSW website here: www.ssw.org.uk/accessibility