Since 2017, Broken Grey Wires (BGW) has curated contemporary art exhibitions in UK galleries featuring acclaimed award winning artists such as Pipilotti Rist, Bobby Baker and
Bill Viola. We also champion incredible emerging artists, such as Marcelina Amelia, Zayd Menk and Sophie New.
BGW is rooted in personal experience. In 2015, after a long-term mental health crisis, our director wanted to develop an organisation embedded in lived experience, that confronts inequitable systems preventing disabled artists from accessing opportunities in the arts. We believe that art is a vital tool for understanding mental illness. We create spaces for connection, expression, and inclusion.
Marginalised artists in the UK will be at the centre of this residency programme. We will prioritise working with artists who face barriers to engaging in the arts due to disability, race, class, gender, sexuality, mental health illness, neurodiversity, or care responsibilities.
The UK Disability Arts Alliance’s 2021 survey of disabled arts practitioners highlights significant structural barriers and precarious working conditions for disabled artists, underlining ongoing challenges with inclusion in the mainstream arts sector. A 2021 international study found that 87% of arts venues and festivals (including galleries) did not include disabled people at all in their programmes or processes, highlighting severe underrepresentation of disabled artists.
We are addressing these biases through the development of a versatile residency programme that will offer a supportive, inclusive, and creatively ambitious environment. With this approach, we aim to spark broader conversations about art as a driving force for social change.
This project aims to strengthen connections between local artists and organisations, while working to develop opportunities for local and visiting artists.
What is an artist residency?
Artist residencies are temporary opportunities that allow artists to focus on developing new work or exploring new ideas. They provide dedicated time and space to experiment creatively within a supportive environment.
A residency is more than just access to a studio. It is a structured period where artists can concentrate on a specific project, research, or direction in their practice without the usual everyday distractions.
The outcome of a residency is not necessarily a finished piece of art. Instead, the emphasis is on the creative process itself. Artists are encouraged to experiment, be curious, take risks, and learn new skills as they develop their ideas.
⭐️ Note that (very friendly!) dogs will often be on site, including in the studio space.
⚡️ We are over the moon to announce the three artists to be chosen to partake in the very first Broken Grey Wires artist residencies.
- Vincent Quirk @vincentquirkart
- George Grace Gibson @georgegracegibson
- Niki Colclough @nikicolclough
During the open call process we got 42 incredibly impressive submissions and we've noted how important it is that marginalised artists have access to specialised programmes.
More information about programme plans and our artists coming soon!