Founded in 2015 by Professor Lucy Orta, Chair of Art for the Environment and member of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, the Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER), in partnership with residency programmes across the world invites the UAL postgraduate community to explore concerns that define the twenty-first century – biodiversity, environmental sustainability, social economy, human rights – and through creative practice, envision a world of tomorrow.
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AER provides a range of fully funded residencies both in the UK and internationally at one of our renowned hosting partners, lasting from 1 to 5-weeks. AER aims to offer a unique experience in a focused and supportive environment with time to research and conduct studio practice, accompanied by mentoring and open-studio opportunities. Our exciting and diverse programme is designed to help young creatives from across disciplines to envision a world of tomorrow and to imagine and create work that challenges how we interact with the environment and each other.
Art for the Environment Residency Programme
An international artist-in-residence programme for UAL graduates to explore concerns that define the 21st century: biodiversity, environmental sustainability, social economy and human rights.
Residency reports
"It was one of the best experiences of my life."
– Naomi Bailey-Cooper, PhD Practice-based Research Student at London College of Fashion. Labverde, Brazil 2017
"My experience during the residency has encouraged me to start thinking through a new visual strategy... together we are forming a group that will start to address our social and ecological concerns in a collaborative practice."
– Rachel Bacon, MA Drawing Alumni, Wimbledon College of Arts. BANFF Alberta, Canada, 2017
"I would definitely recommend applying for an AER residency, it provides a valuable stepping-stone from university to professional practice and has already helped me secure opportunities for the future."
– Annabel Duggleby, Fine Art: Print and Time-Based Media, Wimbledon College of Arts. Hauser & Wirth Somerset, UK, 2017
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Read reports from previous residents who completed an Art for the Environment Residency on UAL Postgraduate Community's stories.
Project Team
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Professor Lucy Orta: AER Founder, UAL Chair of Art and the Environment, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
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Camilla Palestra: AER Curator, Curatorial Associate, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
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Postgraduate Commmunity Team
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An international jury comprised of representatives from each of the hosting partners.
Get involved
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Current residencies are available via the SlideRoom application porthole and shared via Post-Grad stories
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Explore stories and experience from previous UAL residents via Post-Grad Stories
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Thinking of applying? See previous successful applications via Post-Grad Stories
Contact for the project
All general enquiries regarding Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER) should be directed to UAL's PG Community.
Email: PGCommunity@arts.ac.uk
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For partnership enquiries please contact Camilla Palestra.
Partner Institutions
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Nature, Art & Habitat Residency (NAHR), Taleggio Valley, Bergamo, Italy
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The Guapamacátaro Center for Art and Ecology, Michoacán, Mexico
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Yinka Shonibare Foundation (YSF), Lagos and Ijebu, Nigeria