SYLLABUS VIII
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS 

Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, New Art Exchange, PS2, Spike Island, Studio Voltaire and Site Gallery invite applications from artists for Syllabus VIII.  

Syllabus is a codesigned learning programme in its eighth year, supporting ten artists across ten months.  
Syllabus offers time for artists from across the UK to discuss ideas, work, life and approaches to practice, while building community and taking risks. Syllabus creates an environment of mutual learning and exchange between the artists that is responsive to each cohort. 

Beginning in June 2025, Syllabus VIII will be built around a series of six intensive in-person weekend gatherings and an online programme. The ten selected artists will collaboratively develop the curriculum, with curators and artists from partner organisations, the Syllabus Coordinator, and Syllabus VIII Artist Advisor, Wingshan.  

Artists will benefit from:  

• The opportunity to rethink individual practices through an intensive programme of in-person gatherings and an online programme, hosted by the partner organisations. 
• Working together to collaboratively shape and develop a reflexive, experimental, and collective learning experience. 
• Critical conversations about ideas and work in progress with a supportive, national network of artists, curators and organisations. 
• Becoming part of a new network of artist peers. 
• Introductions to, and connections with, arts organisations, communities in cities across the UK and access to new networks, expertise and resources.  
• Two gatherings at Wysing Arts Centre and gatherings at Eastside Projects, New Art Exchange and PS2. 
• An online programme. 
• A gathering with this year’s guest partner, Site Gallery.  
• Two 1-2-1 mentoring sessions with Syllabus VIII Artist Advisor, Wingshan.   
• Two 1-2-1 mentoring sessions with a partner organisation. 

To support participation in Syllabus VIII, artists will receive: 

• A bursary of £1,250 for accommodation and travel. 
• A £75 budget per artist to support learning on the programme, e.g. books, or exhibition entry fees. 
• An access budget available upon request.

CONTEXT 

Syllabus offers an alternative learning model where artists can practice together. We organise the programme in a way that is responsive to artist needs, not outcome driven, and encourages deep work.  We hope the programme can be contribute towards a life-affirming sector. 

We are developing the programme to ensure it is as artist-led as possible – this work is ongoing. 

BACKGROUND 

In 2021, Freelands Foundation agreed a landmark £500,000 grant to fund Syllabus as part of its multi-million-pound commitment to support the work of organisations addressing racial inequality in the arts. With this grant, the future of Syllabus is secure for the next chapter.  

Find out more about Freelands Foundation here. 

We relaunched Syllabus in June 2024 with a newly expanded programme, including bursaries for artists, access costs for artists, an online programme, an annual guest partner, robust evaluation and a dedicated Syllabus Coordinator. 

Read about the current cohort Syllabus VII here. 

STUDIO AVAILABLE - JOIN OUR ARTIST COMMUNITY! 

We are currently inviting applications for a low-cost accessible artist studio at Wysing. Leases are open ended, with annual check in’s from WACS team. Alongside the studios which are accessible 24 hours, onsite facilities include free Wi-Fi, access to Wysing’s ceramics studio, rehearsal space and music recording studio at a subsidised rate, kitchen and meeting area, and ample parking. There is also the opportunity to apply to an annual Test Space professional development bursary which is only available to Wysing Studio Artists. Studio artists are regularly invited to meet artists who are part of Wysing’s national and international residency programme at social times, such as lunch times, to informally network. This studio is especially suitable for artists with access requirements. 

The studio is on the ground floor with ceiling-height windows providing good natural light, electricity, under floor heating, and wi-fi. With access to a shared toilet and sink on the ground floor.  Please note this studio is carpeted and has inbuilt storage units, so would suit an artist with a dry studio practice. 

Cost per month: £133.00 inc VAT per calendar month, plus bills. 

A deposit of £110.83 is required 

Floor area: 17.5m² 

ABOUT WYSING STUDIOS 

Wysing Arts Centre provides affordable, subsidised studios to artists who support Wysing’s vision, mission, and values. Studios are leased to artists who want to use the opportunity to be at Wysing to move their practice forward. Currently, leases run for five years with the option to extend for up to three years as part of Wysing’s Associates programme.  

There are 20 artist studios at Wysing, which is 10 miles outside the city centre. Public transport infrastructure is very limited. There is free parking on site. The studio buildings are spread across several blocks. Two blocks have heating, one does not; prices are calculated accordingly. The studios are subsidised by Wysing’s core funding from Arts Council England, with the cheapest being £91.20/month (£5.57 per square foot) and the most expensive being £343 (£7.60 per square foot). 

Wysing’s studios are suitable for artists who:  

-See time at Wysing as a developmental opportunity 

-Are committed to a creative practice, and to using their studios regularly 

- Are at a critical point in their careers, when they could benefit from being part of Wysing’s studio artist community with the ability to make full and active use of Wysing’s resources 

-Exhibiting or engaging in opportunities (exhibitions, projects, residencies, workshops) locally, nationally and internationally 

-Keen to allow visitors to the site access to their studio, for example school and university groups and curators  

Studio Meetings 

Wysing Art Centre’s curatorial staff will provide up to two formal review meetings per year to artists with studios. This is an opportunity for critical feedback, professional development, and mentoring. These meetings also include a review of how the studio is being used. 

TO APPLY 

Our studios will suit artists who will benefit from having an affordable studio, and who would actively contribute to our artistic community and Wysing’s networks.   

All applications go through a selection process overseen by Wysing’s programming team.   

We will consider studio share proposals, including artists who apply individually as we may connect them with existing studio artists.  

We will ask you for the following:  

-Your name, address and contact details. 

-Whether you would like your application to be considered as part of a shared space. 

-A statement on your practice (300 words). 

- A description of why you would like a studio at Wysing, why access to Wysing’s resources and facilities will benefit you at this moment in your career, and what you would bring to the centre and its community (500 words). 

- Information relating to your personal circumstances, if you feel these have acted as a barrier to you benefiting from similar opportunities or practising as an artist in the past. This might include information on your financial circumstances, your cultural background, gender or sexuality, or details of any access needs. 

-Whether you have any access requirements.  

-A recent CV and up to 5 images of your work or other relevant material. 

Wysing is committed to equity. We acknowledge that certain areas of society are not proportionally represented within the arts sector; we are doing what we can to correct this. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background. We welcome applications from all backgrounds including, but not limited to, those who identify as from marginalised backgrounds based on any protected characteristic including age, racialization, gender identity or sexuality, disability or long-term health condition, pregnancy, maternity or marital status, religion or belief, and class background or class identity. 

Deadline: Monday 6th January, 11am

We are currently inviting applications for new members of our Ceramics Studio at Wysing in Cambridgeshire. Our public access programme offers members access to the studio for a 1-day membership (8hrs per week) or a 2-day membership (16hrs per week) with a monthly subscription.

About the Ceramics Studio

Our ceramics studio was originally founded in 2014 by Grantchester Pottery and has a range of equipment including moulds, wheels and two kilns. Historically, the space has been used primarily by Wysing studio and residency artists, but we'd like to invite people who live locally to enjoy the space too. 

The studio will be open to members from10.00am to 8.00pm Tuesday - Friday and10:00am – 6:00pmthe on Saturday – Sunday. You can access the studio for either up to 8 or 16 hours per week depending on your membership. 

The room can support up to a maximum of 5 people working at any one time. 

Some basic materials will be available to buy at cost in the studio, but you can also bring and store your own clay at Wysing as part of your membership. 

If you'd like to come and see the space before applying for membership, please get in touch to arrange a visit by emailing info@wysingartscentre.org. 

About Wysing

Wysing believes in the transformative social and personal benefits of art and creativity, and that a more just world can only be achieved if everyone has equal access to the time and space needed to imagine it. Wysing provides accessible opportunities and resources to think and create, outside the habits of daily life. We support artists to develop their talent; we advocate for the immense value they have in the world, and we work to create the conditions necessary for them to have sustainable careers.

Membership Options

1-day Membership 

£140 per month, paid by direct debit on the first day of the month. Cancel any time with 30 days notice.

£800 for six months, paid upfront

£1,500 for one year, paid upfront.

2-day Membership

£210 per month, paid by direct debit on the first day of the month. Cancel any time with 30 days notice.

£1200 for six months, paid upfront

£2250 for one year, paid upfront.

About How We'll Select Members

The studio will not be staffed by a technician during all of the public access times (although we will have technicians working regularly on firings). Given this, we're expecting all members to have a good level of understanding and experience of working with clay - this includes knowledge about the health and safety within a ceramics studio and the responsible handling of toxic materials (i.e. glazes). 

Although we have four wheels in the studio, we won't be able to get through the firing requirements if we have too many throwers. So we'll need to balance our memberships to include a range of practices. 

How to Apply 

Please use this form to send us some further information about your experience of working with ceramics, the kind of work you make and any information you want to share about how membership to the studio will benefit you and your practice. 

If you would prefer to submit your application in audio or video format instead of written format this can be uploaded.

The application currently has a rolling deadline - you can apply anytime. Spaces are limited, so applications should be submitted as soon as possible to avoid disapointment.

What Happens After I've Applied

The Wysing team will take a look at your application. If you've been selected, we'll be in touch with you to let you know how to book the space and to arrange a health and safety induction first of all. You should be able to access the studio a month after being selected.