Clive Beardsmore Artist Award

Open call: studio residency and creative coaching programme supported by art collector Clive Beardsmore in collaboration with Ceri Hand

With generous support from Birmingham-based art collector, Clive Beardsmore, The New Art Gallery Walsall is delighted to offer one West Midlands-based artist the opportunity of studio space and a programme of 1:1 coaching delivered by Ceri Hand, an Arts & Business Coach to extraordinary creatives across the world.

About the residency and coaching programme:

The selected artist will occupy the Artists’ Studio at The New Art Gallery Walsall from 13 January – 5 April 2026, for a minimum of 2 days each week. During the residency they will:

• Develop new work in a studio context
• Participate in x4 online Creative Coaching sessions with Ceri Hand
• Host a visit from Clive Beardsmore to introduce their practice
• Deliver one open studio event (date and format TBC) to engage the public with their work

The coaching programme will run from October 2025 to October 2026.

The successful artist will receive:

• A 12-week residency at The New Art Gallery Walsall
• Use of a purpose-built artist studio for the duration of the residency
• Curatorial and technical support from Zoë Lippett, Exhibitions and Artist’s Projects Curator and Simon Bloor, Senior Technician
• Support with access costs, if required
• Access to Gallery resources, including an Art Library
• £4500 artist fee
• £1000 materials budget
• Online exposure via TNAGW platforms
• Professional photographic documentation of your studio work
• 6 x 1-hour coaching sessions with Ceri Hand (equivalent value £2100)
• Lifetime access pass to Ceri Hand’s foundational course ‘Unlock Your Artworld Network’, including live group coaching to help build relationships
• 1 year’s access to Ceri Hand Ltd. membership, which includes:
  o A global community of 250+ artists
  o Monthly group coaching sessions
  o Free Art Surgeries
  o Access to Experts in Residence

The selected artist will also receive access to the entire Extraordinary Creatives podcast back catalogue, featuring key players from across the art world.

Who is eligible to apply?

To apply for this opportunity, you must be:

• An early career artist based in the West Midlands
• Actively engaged in developing your practice, with a demonstrable body of existing work
• Available to give a 2-day time commitment to the residency each week (NB. the studio is available to artists 7 days a week, but hours of access are limited, no evening access)
• Committed to producing new work in a public-facing studio context
• Willing to participate in an online creative coaching programme
• Flexible to schedule coaching sessions within and outside studio hours
• Committed to developing a career in the arts and unlocking networks
• Open to change through the coaching process
• Independent and self-driven, with a growth mindset

How to apply: Applications are by email only. To apply, please send a proposal to hannah.anderson@walsall.gov.uk Exhibitions Coordinator, including all the following: An email detailing your name, contact details, social media handles & website details (if you have one). Full details can be found here.