By taking part in an AA2A residency you are agreeing to the following terms. This agreement is between you and the host institution of your residency.

Access times and dates 

Dates and times of access are outlined in the 'scheme details' document for each AA2A host, provided on the application page. Appropriate extensions should be offered if there are any significant delays starting your scheme.

Access timetable and booking of facilities

The scheme entitles each artist/creative to at least 100 hours of access to workshops and supporting areas (excluding time spent at the university shop, library or using social facilities). You are expected to be on-site for at least 80 hours so that students benefit from seeing you work.

You will agree on your normal pattern of access with your host institution either verbally or in writing. Any access outside these times may need to be agreed with the relevant members of staff. If your availability changes during the residency, you should inform your scheme coordinator so that your access dates and times can be renegotiated.

If you are not able to use any facilities booked, please contact the department as soon as possible.

If the host institution is not able to offer the access you expected, you can reapply for any AA2A scheme the following year.

Monitoring hours

AA2A asks all artists-in-residence to keep a record of the approximate number of hours worked at their host institution. You will be asked to submit your total hours at four points during the year via a short online form (two of these submissions will be through the evaluation forms).

DBS Checks & References

AA2A schemes hosted by colleges (those with students aged under 18) will normally require artists to undergo a DBS check. Hosts are expected to cover the cost of these checks. DBS checks are not usually required for AA2A residencies at universities. Referees are not required on the AA2A application, but hosts may seek references at their discretion.

Agreed access areas  

Other supporting areas AA2A artists can use are listed in the 'scheme details' document for each AA2A host, provided on the application page.

Artist Support Fund

Although access is free, AA2A can't provide financial support to all artists. However, we can cover some expenses for low-income artists, those on benefits associated with a low income or artists with a disability through our Artist Support Fund (ASF). Usually, this money is paid in two instalments, both as advance payments for expenses you expect to incur. It can be used towards, travel, formal childcare, and materials, which you would not otherwise need. Applications are made by completing a simple online form on the AA2A website. If artists do not make reasonable use of their agreed access hours or fail to engage with the scheme, they may be required to return any unspent funds. Artists must keep receipts for their expenditures as AA2A may be required to account for how the fund has been used.

Equal opportunities support 

AA2A aims to support artists with disabilities by allowing them to apply for up to £700 via the Artist Support Fund. This is to cover costs associated with their disability that are incurred by the residency.

Artist's web profile

For all artists accepted onto the scheme, a webpage will be created for you and AA2A will upload some of the information you provided as part of your application form (photo, statement, website, Instagram), so that students can more easily identify you and your expertise. Profiles will remain on the website for two full years after you finish your scheme before being archived.

AA2A reserves the right to use artists’ profile pictures for marketing purposes. If you would prefer us not to use your image in this way, email andy@aa2a.org to opt out.

Student contact

AA2A aims to improve student benefit from the scheme by allowing universities to recruit AA2A 'Student Ambassadors'. As AA2A artists you are encouraged to contact any Ambassadors we recruit and interact with students generally. Students may occasionally approach you and we would hope that within the spirit of AA2A, any reasonable requests can be met.

In your application, you will outline how you propose to interact with students outside of informal, day-to-day interactions. Your host can request you do up to four sessions from any of the options you selected during your application, e.g. technical demonstration. You are not required to do anything you did not select in your application, although you can be asked. Your host cannot guarantee they will be able to provide formal opportunities for interaction.  

General AA2A placement rules

• During an AA2A scheme, artists operate as associates of the university/college and are expected to abide by the host's codes of conduct and behave as a guest.
• Institutions cannot always offer continuous working or storage space and artists may only leave work on the premises by agreement with the relevant staff.
• Artists will normally be working alongside students and there may be occasions when the needs of students must take priority over that of artists.
• Artists must have an appropriate induction into safe working practices in the department and must be able to work with minimal technical support and adhere to any Health and Safety requirements.
• While present in the institution, artists will normally be covered by the institution’s public liability insurance, provided they have received appropriate inductions or have been assessed by staff as competent to use facilities.
• The institution cannot accept responsibility for the loss or damage of artists’ property while on the institution’s premises.
• Artists must comply with host protocol regarding off-site use of library resources or equipment and will be liable for any loss or damage. Some host colleges/universities do not allow resources and equipment to be taken off-site.
• Although every effort will be made to accommodate artists, there can be no absolute guarantees that all facilities will be available or kept continuously in working order.
• Artists can only accept one AA2A place at one host institution during their participating year and cannot reapply for further years on the AA2A scheme at the same or other institution until two full years has passed (exception applies for 'rollover artists'). So, if you were on a scheme in 2023/24 the earliest you could return is 2026/27.
• Artists are not obliged to take any part in any of the University’s internal grievance or disciplinary procedures (e.g., as a witness to an incident).

Evaluation

Artists must complete the two evaluation forms provided by AA2A's national team, one early in their scheme and one at the end. Several reminders will be sent to artists who do not comply with this requirement. Failure to complete either evaluation form may affect future applications to AA2A.

AA2A's Role

AA2A Ltd is a social enterprise (‘not for profit’) organisation, providing national support, promotion and evaluation for the host institutions' AA2A schemes. AA2A's role is as a broker between artists and the host institution.

Host-Specific Rules

In addition to the general AA2A terms and conditions, each host institution may have its own specific rules that artists are expected to follow. If any of these present a problem, artists are free to withdraw from the scheme without penalty.

Ending a Residency Early

If, for any reason, an artist wishes to end their placement early, they are requested to do so in writing to the institution’s AA2A Coordinator and cc. mags@aa2a.org. Hosts also reserve the right to end a placement at any time if they feel it is no longer appropriate or viable. In such cases, the host institution’s decision is final.

Internal and external mediation

If you are not happy with any aspect of the scheme, please talk to the institution’s AA2A Coordinator or contact the AA2A team, who may be able to resolve any issues informally. If this is not possible, AA2A can act as an intermediary between an artist and their host institution, if requested to do so by either party, and will manage a more formal mediation process if needed.

Mailing list

All AA2A artists will be automatically subscribed to our mailing list as it will contain information relevant to the programme. Artists are free to unsubscribe at any time.

Data Protection

You can view our Privacy Policy here - https://aa2a.org/privacy-policy/

Last updated: 5th August 2025