ASILI–AMFA ARTIST RESIDENCY
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
The Asili-AMFA artist-centred residency has been created by Asili Creatives in collaboration with Allan McNally Fine Art (AMFA), offering East African artists working exclusively in Africa 4- weeks of time, space and quiet attention to their practice in the picturesque Stinchar Valley in South Ayrshire, Scotland.
The residency is designed as a period of concentrated making, reflection and exchange. It offers an artist time and physical space to step away from everyday demands, develop a premeditated project, experiment with new ideas and create new work.
The residency is rooted in an exchange between East Africa and South West Scotland: bringing an artist whose practice is grounded in Africa into a different landscape, cultural history and artistic community — a new context for looking, thinking and making.
WHO IT IS FOR
The residency is open to East African artists working exclusively in Africa, Artists working across visual art, illustration, design, writing and related creative practices are welcome where the proposed project is suited to the residency setting.
THE RESIDENCY SPACE
Kirkholm Studio-Gallery, in Colmonell, South Ayrshire, is a charming former Presbyterian church surrounded by garden, open countryside and the River Stinchar Valley. It has been renovated to combine historic character with contemporary accommodation space, a working studio and gallery.
THE STUDIO
Allocated working space within the studio, with an easel, trolley, drying racks and flood lights.
Access to basic art supplies.
A gallery available for exhibition, demonstration or workshop activity with the local community in collaboration with the host — or simply as a space to reflect and enjoy.
LIVING & ACCOMMODATION
Private bedroom and private bathroom for the resident artist.
Shared, self-catering kitchen and open-plan kitchen/dining and sitting area.
Heating and Wi-Fi included.
The wider accommodation can sleep up to six guests across three bedrooms, with two fitted shared bathrooms.
THE LANDSCAPE
Colmonell is a rural conservation village in the picturesque River Stinchar Valley in South West Scotland. The surrounding landscape offers coast, river, woodland and hill country as sources of inspiration. Nearby Lendalfoot and Ballantrae offer beaches, sunsets and views towards Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and the Mull of Kintyre in good weather. The Southern Uplands and Loch Trool offer more rugged landscapes to explore.
A few plein-air days can be arranged, if requested.
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
The host would facilitate introductions to the local thriving artist community, Scottish art and literature through visits to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Modern Art Gallery in Glasgow, Kirkcudbright Galleries to view the ‘Glasgow Boys’ display, Wigtown — Scotland’s National Book Town — and the Robert Burns Centre. There are also opportunities to visit two established artists in South West Scotland.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORKING TIME
This residency is intended to be spacious rather than prescriptive. The artist arrives with a project, question or intention, and is given time to follow it. The landscape, studio, local community and cultural visits provide points of encounter rather than a fixed programme.
For Asili Creatives, the residency is part of a wider commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for African artists to develop their practices, build international relationships and encounter new audiences without disconnecting their work from the contexts in which it is made.
WHAT THE RESIDENCY INCLUDES
Four-week residency at Kirkholm Studio-Gallery.
Meet, collection and return to Glasgow Airport.
Private bedroom and private bathroom.
Dedicated studio space with basic art supplies.
Self-catering shared kitchen, heating and Wi-Fi.
Weekly major art gallery visits in Glasgow, Dumfries, South Ayrshire, Wigtown book town and Robert Burns Centre.
Opportunities for plein-air work and visits with established artists in South West Scotland.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email Stephanie Chianda snchianda@asilicreatives.com
A short introduction to your artistic practice.
Your proposed dates in Spring 2027 (March-May)
A brief description of the project or body of work you would like to develop during the residency.
Why this particular period of time and place would be meaningful to your practice.
WHAT TO BRING
Artists should bring any specific specialist materials and equipment required for their proposed project. The studio provides basic supplies, but artists should not assume specialist materials or equipment will be available.
CREATING AREAS OF INTEREST
As part of the residency the following as part of the robust residency experience several local and regional galleries, towns, institutions can be visited. On arrival at the residency, the host will work together with the artist to design a customised programme to ensure that experience is enriching and enhancing to both host an artist as part of the artist exchange.
The following is an example of what the proposed programme could look like:
Declaration of Equality, Respect & Safe Working Environment
The Asili–AMFA Artist Residency is committed to creating a safe, respectful, inclusive and creatively supportive environment for everyone involved. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation or victimisation of any kind will not be tolerated, whether directed towards the resident artist, host, members of the local community, collaborators or visitors. All participants are expected to engage with one another with dignity and respect, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or belief, socioeconomic background, or any other aspect of identity or personal circumstance.
The residency operates with an ethos of transparency, open communication and mutual respect. Both resident artists and hosts should feel able to raise concerns freely and without fear of retaliation or disadvantage. Any concern relating to discrimination, harassment, personal safety, inappropriate conduct, safeguarding or the working and living environment should be raised as soon as possible with Asili Creatives as the residency organiser. Urgent concerns may be escalated immediately. Asili Creatives will acknowledge the concern, review it promptly and, where appropriate, escalate it to the Asili Creatives Board for consideration and proportionate action. Concerns will be handled sensitively, fairly and with appropriate confidentiality, recognising the safety, dignity and wellbeing of all parties involved.
Signed,
Dr. Stephanie Chianda
Founder and creative lead.
Allan McNally
Artist and Residency host
