Two of the Porthmeor Studios (Studios 5 and 9) and Anchor Studio in Newlyn are used for artist residencies.
This includes the Porthmeor Residency Programme, as well as a number of partnership residencies, and one-off collaborations. Current partnership programmes include Freelands Foundation Residencies, the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust Residency for Emerging Artists, Tate St Ives Artists Programme, TAF (The Arts Family), and Falmouth University.
Our selection process for residencies varies depending on the specific residency programme, partner, and funder. If there is an open call for applications, this will be posted on our Instagram @porthmeorstudios, in our newsletter, and on our website.
These same three studios are also available for artists to apply to rent, with an open call for this approximately twice a year. More information on this process can be found on the apply for a studio page on our website.
The Porthmeor Artists Residency Programme
The programme was inspired by events in 1959 – the year when emerging artist Francis Bacon rented Studio 3 for six months to work towards his debut show and American painter Mark Rothko visited to share ideas with studio tenant artists Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron and Terry Frost. This combination of a unique artistic heritage, a collaborative spirit and a sense of place is the foundation of our Programme which provides space for artists to develop new work without the pressure of exhibiting.
This world class Residency Programme was started in 2017, and has welcomed artists including Danny Fox, Tamara Henderson, Veronica Ryan, Jonathan Baldock, Lubaina Himid MBE, Steven Claydon, Michael Dean, Sir Richard Long, Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings, Afra Al Dhaheri, Tate Collective, and Mike Nelson. The programme has been generously supported by Arts Council England Catalyst, The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust, The Porthmeor Fund, The John S Cohen Foundation and a two generous donors who wish to remain anonymous.
Our Partners
Freelands Foundation Residency Partnership
In 2023 – 2024 this residency opportunity offered winners of the Freelands Painting Prize a month-long residency in St Ives, Cornwall. Taking place in March, June and October, six recent graduates undertook month-long residencies, two artists at a time. The artists shared the historic Studio 5, inhabited by artists including Ben Nicholson (1949-1958) and Patrick Heron (1958-1999), and more recently Veronica Ryan (2018) and Lubaina Himid (2019). They were assigned a studio mentor, and offered accommodation, travel expenses and a grant for living and materials costs. There was no set objective or expected outcome and the successful artists were invited to spend the time focusing on their practice, using the time and space to develop their work.
In 2025, in partnership with Freelands Foundation, we launched the Two Together Residency which invited artists based in Devon or Cornwall to apply in collaboration with a UK-based artist from outside the region. More information can be found on the Freelands Foundation website here.
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust Residency Partnership
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust have been supporting a residency for emerging artists at Porthmeor Studios since 2017. The residency partnership between the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust and the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust supports a three-month residency for an emerging artist in Studio 9 at Porthmeor Studios, St Ives. There is no set objective or expectation for the residency, instead the artists are invited to spend the time focusing on their practice, using the time and space to develop their work. This residency is currently by nomination or invitation to apply. The recipients of the residency award are: Katie Schwab (2017), Amélie Esterházy (2018), Daniel Sinsel (2019), Saelia Aparicio (2020), Ebun Sodipo (2021), Noorain Inam (2023), Rae-Yen Song (2024), Rebecca Moss (2025).
The Arts Family (TAF)
In 2025, The BSJW Trust and The Arts Family (TAF) partnered to offer a one month residency to winners of the TAF Emerging Artist Award. The Arts Family (TAF) is now in its Fourth Ediiton of the TAF Emerging Artist Award South-Asia. The award is open to artists from the age of 25 to 45 years and under of South Asian origin i.e. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and the diaspora. Their aim is to support talented emerging artists from these regions. Find out more about TAF and the award here.
Tate St Ives Artists Programme
Tate St Ives have been using Porthmeor Studios for their Artists Programme since 2003, when Partou Zia was their first artist in residence. The Artists Programme supports the development of diverse artistic practices, providing a productive environment that values experimentation and risk, discussion and debate. Artists on this programme include: Partou Zia, Ged Quinn, Kerstin Kartscher, Nick Evans, Jonty Lees, Linder, Marie Toseland, Nicolas Deshayes, Lucy Stein, LUX, Torsten Lauschmann, Lucy Joyce, France-Lise McGurn, Jessica Warboys, Morten Norbye Halvorsen, Rana Begum, Allard von Hoorn, Outi Pieski, Cansu Çakar, Ahmet Doğu İpek, and Emilija Škarnulytė.
Falmouth University Residencies for third year Fine Art BA Students
In 2024 and 2025 Porthmeor Studios partnered with Falmouth Univerity to offer short residencies to students in the final year of their Fine Art BA.
Falmouth School of Art’s Transition Porthmeor Residency
Porthmeor Studios has also hoted the Transition Porthmeor Residency programme for the School of Art at Falmouth University, in which selected recent graduates were offered a short residency soon after their graduation. Transition Residency artists include: Elin Barker, Maisie Blackburn Scott, Nicholas Popham, Hana Omori, Rachael Baskeyfield, Joanna Hulin, Anna-Karin Waara, Charmaine Honeychurch, Polly Maxwell, Lulu Richards Cottell, Demelza James, Rob Davis, Jo Owst, Lily Thomson, Edward Spencer, Sophia Rosenthal, Sofia Fernandes, Samuel Morris, Holly Doran, Olivia Brelsford-Massey, Ella Squirrell, Aleksander Grzybek.