Timeline

• Residency Dates: 3 weeks within March 2027

• Exhibition Dates: July 2027

Fees

• Residency Artist Fee: £3000

• Residency Travel Budget: £350

• Residency Materials Budget: £500

• Exhibition Artist Fee: £500

• Exhibition Travel Budget: £350

From Island Darkroom

• Dedicated support from Island Darkroom founder, Mhairi Law and our Darkroom Coordinator, Danielle Macleod

• Free and 24/hr access to the Island Darkroom facilities

• Adjoining studio space for the exclusive use of the resident

• Access to Island Darkroom reference library and scanner facilities (shared space)

• Self-contained accommodation next door to Island Darkroom is provided

• Promotion of the artists and their practice will be made through Island Darkroom’s social media channels and newsletter

• Connection to the local community; including - but not exclusive to - artists, tradition bearers, crofters, historians and archeologists.

• Dedicated time and connection with a paired island-based practitioner

• Exhibition opportunity with Hulabhaig, Achmore Isle of Lewis in July 2027

From the Artist

• Independent research and development at Island Darkroom

• Participation and/or lead of workshop/talk/Sharing Ceilidh surrounding themes of ‘Sustainable Photography’ within their work.

• Written account of their stay at Island Darkroom on completion of their residency (see previous Artist Blogs)

• Contribution of work for exhibition opportunity in July 2027.

We are excited to announce this exciting residency opportunity to the artists of the Nordic Analog Network, and delighted to strengthen the ties between the Nordic countries and the Western Isles of Scotland, the sea roads between which have long kept us connected.

Solas an Tuath - ‘light of the north’ in Scottish Gaelic, the indigenous language of the Isle of Lewis. This residency is an opportunity designed to support an established artist through dedicated space, time and community engagement. We invite our resident into a period of research, experimentation and reflection. This residency is structured around professional development and aims to provide space for critical inquiry, with a focus on sustainability and long-term impact. In joining us here at Island Darkroom, you are welcomed into our island community.

Our aim is to facilitate meaningful engagement with reciprocal exchange between the artist and the island, both within the local community and environment. Island Darkroom will help to facilitate these exchanges through providing dedicated time with a paired island-based practitioner, hosting a talk/workshop/sharing session by the artist and through on-going support and conversations with founder of Island Darkroom, Mhairi Law and our Darkroom Coordinator, Danielle Macleod.

This residency is supported by Creative Scotland, the national public body that supports the arts and creative industries throughout Scotland - please visit the Island Darkroom website for more information on this support.

Island Darkroom invites our resident to host a ‘Sharing Ceilidh’ during their stay. In recent times the word ‘ceilidh’ has become synonymous with festive dancing, but originally would have described stories, songs and ideas being shared by a group of friends in any context, but likely in the home.

At Island Darkroom, we have been hosting ‘Sharing Ceilidhs’ where we ask our visiting artist to give a talk and share about their creative work, followed by a round the table discussion where all attendants have the opportunity to contribute should they wish. In this context, we’d ask our residents talk to be centred around ideas and questions of Sustainability within their creative practice, which the attendees can also bring their own ideas to as well.

This event is intended for us to hear about your work as much as to introduce you to some of the artistic community of the island. The structure for this event is not set in stone, and we’d love to hear in your application how you may approach a community event centred around ideas of Sustainability.

After their 3-week residency in March 2027, the artist is invited to exhibit their work at the exhibition space Hulabhaig, also on the Isle of Lewis, in July 2027.

We are structuring the application process for this residency in two parts - the first being the application form via the Nordic Analog Network open call. Our panel of judges will then work this down to a shortlist for interview. Please indicate in your application if you are able to attend an interview online on either Friday 27th or Monday 30th November.

Timeline:

• 20th November: Applications close

• Friday 27th/Monday 30th: Shortlist interviews

• 5th December: Final selection made and artist informed

We ask that all applicants are:

• An established practicing artist (5+ years experience)

• Able to undertake a video interview on 27th or 30th November 2026 (if shortlisted).

• Able to travel to the Isle of Lewis for 3 weeks in March 2026

• Able to undertake professional independent research and development, as well as community engagement events at Island Darkroom.

• Willing to lead a community event centred around Sustainability during the residency

• Able to travel to the Isle of Lewis in July 2027 for exhibition opportunity

Island Darkroom Judging Panel:

• Mhairi Law: Photographic artist and founder of Island Darkroom

• Danielle Macleod: Photographic artist and Darkroom Coordinator at Island Darkroom

• Ben Harman: Senior Curator of Photography at the National Galleries of Scotland

• Matthew Arthur Williams: Photographer and lecturer at Glasgow School of Art.

Through their practice and approach, we’re looking for someone who is going to engage with the island and its community, and can tell us why they think their work will benefit from this residency specifically. We are curious as to what ideas or lines of enquiry will drive their stay on the island. We’d also love to hear how they may approach a community engagement event like a ‘Sharing Ceilidh’.

Island Darkroom hosts a small black & white darkroom, perfectly sized for one. There is also an adjoining studio space for the resident to use throughout their stay.

Equipment

• Black and white film processing equipment and chemicals ( processing tanks for 35mm, 120, 5x4)

• Black and white Kaiser enlarger (lenses and film holders for 35mm, 6x6, 6x7)

• 8x10” contact printers x 2

• Measuring jugs

• Various sizes of trays up to 22 x 18”

• Light box with UV lamp

• A1 drying racks

• Separate film drying cabinet

• Flatbed film scanner

• Light box

• A4 desktop Canon inkjet printer

Chemicals Available

• Film development

• Ilford ID-11 film developer, Stop Bath and Rapid fixer

• Ingredients for caffenol developing

Printing

• Ilford PQ Universal Paper Developer, Stop Bath and Rapid Fixer

• Cyanotype chemicals

Please note

• If there are other chemicals that the artist wishes to use throughout their stay that are not on this list, this can be organised in advance by the artist and sent ahead to Island Darkroom.

• We request that artists provide their own photographic paper.

If you have any questions regarding this residency opportunity, or wish to hear more about Island Darkroom please get in touch:

info@islanddarkroom.com

Website:
www.islanddarkroom.com