Our residency 2026

This residency runs over five days in September, and selected artists will be expected to attend all sessions. The residency will take place at and around Kilchoan Melfort Trust, in Argyll, with accommodation provided on site. Each of the residency days will start at around 10:00am, and finish at around 5:30pm. There will be at least one snorkelling session each day; and more depending on the weather. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day. 

There will also be time set aside each day to gather in a local community space. This is a chance for you to process and develop your initial responses to your experiences working either collaboratively or individually. You might also take the opportuntity to share practice and learning with your fellow residents. 

Throughout the residency you will work collaboratively as a group; supporting each other in new experiences. There will also be time and space for you to recharge by yourself, or take time away from the group as you need. You might be expected to share a room with fellow residents. Cooking and living facilities will also be communal.

We provide a busy week which is focused around supporting you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence that will allow you to incorporate snorkelling into your practice going forwards. The focus of the week is on this skills development, rather than development of projects or work. The intention is that you will finish the residency 

We have put together this sample timetable for the residency below - we are currently working with our partners across Argyll to put together the final details before the residency. Our timetable is subject to change in accordance with weather and other factors. 

Sunday 30th August

Arrivals and settling in

Monday - Day 1

The first day is designed to help equip you with skills and experience to observe and interpret life underwater. You'll receive swimming tuition with open water swim coach Dan Coyle and snorkelling tuition with local snorkeller, swimmer and artist Lottie Goodlet. You will be guided in marine observation and mark-making with wildlife artists Louise Scammell and Jane Smith. This might include having a go at sketching whilst underwater!

Tuesday - Day 2

We will visit a local, community-led marine restoration project to learn about their work, and the species and habitats they are supporting. With special permission we will then be able to visit some of their sites to snorkel and observe their work first hand. We will gather in the evening for a meal, and to hear a little about the importance of the Argyll Hope Spot from local champion and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker John Aitchison.

Wednesday - Day 3

Rest day; The third day will be a "free day" to allow you to reflect, relax, explore and recover ahead of the final two days.

Thursday - Day 4

We will spend the morning in the company of local ecology educators who can help you to get familiar with the behaviour, lifecycles and names of the species you encounter. In the afternoon we will head back into the water. In the evening we will host a ceilidh; a chance to share stories, songs and poems, led by Gaelic speaker and advocate (and swim coach) Dónal Mac Giolla Chomhgaill (Dan Coyle).

Friday - Day 5

With our new found knowledge and skills our final day will focus on further exploration with a snorkelling trip to a more adventurous location. 

Saturday 5th September

Departures

Afterwards

We hope that you will develop new work from material collected during the residency, and that you share this with your own audiences. We also hope that you feel equipped with knowledge that helps you to return to the water and continue to draw inspiration from the sea. We would like to share your work (credited to you) through our own channels during and after the residency. We continue to support our alumni artists in the development of their practises.

We have been pleased to see our residency alumni continue to develop their marine/coastal-based practices as individuals and as a cohort of networked artists. This year's artists will join this cohort, bringing our network of practicing marine-focused artists to a total of 50.

We are looking for up to eight artists, designers, makers and communicators to take part in this year’s residency. We aim to give at least 50% of places to artists living or working in Argyll & Lochaber, but we welcome all applications. We also intend that at least one of our artists will be of Gàidhealtachd heritage or connection, or be a Gaelic speaker or learner. 

We hope that through our residency you will develop new skills and collect material that will help you to further your own practice. Our purpose in hosting this residency is to create cohorts of creative communicators who will become champions for Argyll's coastal habitats, species and culture. 

All that we ask is that you intend to develop and share your work with your audiences. We hope that after spending time in Argyll's waters you will become a champion for the species and habitats you have encountered. In turn, we hope you are able to bring the wider public closer to the incredible marine species and habitats of Argyll’s coast, in order that they might understand their global importance.

We welcome applications from anyone working in an artistic or creative discipline, and at any stage of their career. We assess applications for their fit to our cause, as well as quality - or potential quality - of work. Our definition of "artist" is open to anyone who makes a creative response or engagement with the world, and can bring an audience of any size to that response. We do prioritise those for whom their creative practice is part of their professional life. Past examples of our artists have included painters/printmakers, poets, jewellers, sculptors, musicians, photographers, writers, tattoo, textiles etc. Our residency is strengthened by the diversity of background, discipline and experience of our residents.

Applicants might or might not have previous experience of working with marine/coastal subjects. We welcome those who are already exploring this passion, and those who are just taking their first steps. We will look for applicants who do or who are interested in expressing curiosity for the natural world in their practice.

We look forward to receiving applications from a wide variety of creative practitioners, and at any stage in their career. 

To help keep you safe and warm, you will need to bring the following equipment;

• Full-length wetsuit - ideally around 5mm thick

• Snorkel and mask

• Neoprene hood

• Neoprene gloves and socks

• Waterproof jacket and trousers

• Several layers of warm clothing 

• Woolly hat 

• Walking shoes/wellies

• Thermos flask with hot drink of your choice

• Water bottle

If selected, our experts can give advice on sourcing anything you are missing. We have a small bursary of around £75 per artist to contribute towards the purchase of equipment. We also work with local charity Adventure Oban who provide a fantastic Adventure Library full of equipment which is free to borrow. Artists will be able to borrow some equipment from the Library over the week. If access to equipment is a barrier to your participation; don't worry - we are here to help.

Please note that we promote low impact and accessible snorkelling activities. This means that we don't use flippers or weight belts. Even if you have or are used to using these items, we ask that you leave them at home for this residency.

Whilst we are not able to provide payment for participation in our residency, we do aim to minimise costs for our artists. There is no fee for participation. We are thankful to our funders and friends at Kilchoan Melfort Trust, William Grant Foundation and Hugh Fraser Foundation for making this possible.

Accommodation is provided free of charge by Kilchoan Melfort Trust from Sunday 30th August to Saturday 5th September. Participants may be required to share rooms.

Lunches and snacks are provided for the snorkelling days (Days 1, 2, 4 & 5). We will host one or two group meals, which will also be provided. Residents will need to bring their own food, snacks and drinks for all other meals. Cooking facilities are provided on-site.

We are not able to provide expenses for travel to or from the residency. However, if travel costs would be a barrier to your participation we will always work with you on an individual basis to find a solution. Please get in touch with any questions!

We provide a small bursary of up to £75 to help with equipment costs, and we hope that you can use this equipment for years to come in your work as a snorkelling artist. For more info see "Equipment".

We want this residency to be a safe and inclusive space where all participants and staff are equal and are treated as equals. We expect everyone involved to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our Code of Conduct here; Code of Conduct