Open for applications: British School of Athens Arts Researcher in Residence

The British School at Athens Art Bursary and Residency is now open for applications from all practice-based PhD students across UAL.

Every year, The British School at Athens (BSA) and Research at Camberwell, Chelsea, Wimbledon offer an arts residency in Greece. The scheme is open to practice-based PhD students at UAL who are supported by a bursary and the provision of a studio and accommodation in Athens. As part of their residency, the PhD students offer an introductory lecture and hold an open studio event in Athens, and offer a closing lecture at Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon colleges upon their return.

This is what W.K.Lyhne, a PhD student based at Chelsea College of Arts and last year’s receiver of the residency, said of the experience:

Why did you decide to apply for the BSA residency?

I applied because of the chance to be in the middle of Athens, embedding only with one’s work and research, is an extraordinary opportunity to develop new ideas. I went to look at animal human hybridity in figurative elements of sculpture in classical Greece.

Tell us a bit more about what the fellowship entailed and your experience as a visiting PhD student.

You’re required to give an artwork to the British School of Athens and give a lecture.  That’s your obligation. But you have the chance to develop ideas with other academics who are not artists - mostly archaeologists - and of course have access to an amazing array of resources: stupendous library, all archaeological sites for free, travel around the area.

How did the different time zone, culture and, not least, weather impact on your time there and your practice in general? 

The time difference is only two hours, and I deliberately went at a specific time in early spring to avoid the intense heat. As far as practice goes, you are alone with your work and thoughts all the time. Wonderful. And also, making that work becomes very important.

If you were to pick just one, what was the best takeaway from spending time at the BSA? 

The chance to see things for yourself. Not as a tourist but as an artist. You combine the synthesised results in your own way - not as books direct you to.

Is there any advice would you give to other PhD students thinking of applying for the BSA residency?

If you can afford the time off from your life and job commitments, apply and go. As far as I am concerned, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. I still bring it into daily work now. For instance - my new show - opening at the Zabludowicz Colllection (taking place in London from 31 March until 25 June) directly refers to all the objects and research threads from my time in Greece.

W.K.Lyhne is a PhD student based at Chelsea College of Arts, but the residency is open to all PhD students across UAL.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form and send to Ellie Pitkin (e.pitkin@arts.ac.uk) Research Manager at Camberwell, Chelsea, Wimbledon by Thursday 4 May, 12pm BST.

The application form is available for download on the UAL PGR Hub.