Joining AA2A offers a unique opportunity to become part of a well-established organisation with over 25 years of experience delivering residencies at HE and FE institutions. Our extensive network of artists combined with our comprehensive advertising strategy allows us to connect our hosts with a diverse pool of top-quality creatives. Your selected resident artists can become an integral part of your academic community, inspiring creativity, and acting as positive role models for students. 

As well as our residencies, which connect students with artists who have successfully navigated the real-world challenges of creative careers, we also provide hosts with tailored employability resources. Our resources can help bridge the often slightly daunting gap between graduating and making money as a practising artist by focussing on content often not covered by careers departments. 

For particularly keen and ambitious students of our host institutions, there is also the opportunity to become an AA2A student ambassador. 

Pricing

Our residency schemes are subsidised approximately 60% - our pricing demonstrates real value for money.

Read our report: Enhancing Your Institution's Creative Impact: Discover What's New with AA2A for 2024/25

Full AA2A Residency Scheme with Employability Support (2025-26) - £1940 (in-person talk) or £1,710 (online talk). Each residency program we run is subsidised by Arts Council England, meaning we can help run a scheme at a lower cost than doing it yourself.

• Support for 4 to 6 residency placements for artists and designer-makers
• Places for up to 6 Student Ambassadors
• Up to four free sessions delivered by each resident artist*
• Access to a £7,200 Artist Support Fund managed by AA2A (fund shared among all hosts)
• Web profiles for your AA2A residents and student ambassadors 
• 90-minute employability talk delivered to your students 
• Access to AA2A’s Creative Futures employability resources including videos, seminars and digital guide. 

*e.g. talks, demonstrations, exhibiting work - up to two hours long

We estimate a cost of at least £4500-£5000 to set up and run a scheme independently.

Along the way, you will receive help and support from the AA2A team. We have over 25 years of experience running residencies and recognition within the sector which helps us to attract talented applicants to all our schemes.  

To learn more about hosting a scheme, visit our Host FAQ page.