Radical Sabbatical 2027: UK Artists' Digital Touch Research Residency in Birmingham
2027 local artist opportunity | Country-specific eligibility | English-language application guide
2027 Radical Sabbatical residencies: touch and technology
Eastside Projects and University Collections at the University of Birmingham are inviting applications for Radical Sabbatical 2027. Two UK-based individual artists will be offered six-month, research-focused residencies beginning in January 2027, with final public sharing in June or July. The theme is touch, including digital touch and technology, haptics, sensory experience, embodied learning, disability, inclusive design, material processes and related artistic research.
Eligibility, fee and creative research
The organizers explicitly state that this opportunity is open only to artists based in the United Kingdom, not internationally based applicants. Each selected artist receives a £3,500 artist fee and a £500 production budget. Participants collaborate with University of Birmingham academic staff and receive continuing project conversations and curatorial support. Applicants should identify one or more academic contacts listed in the call and connect the proposed research to their current practice; proposals about digital interfaces, immersive technologies or haptic interaction may fit the call without the award being restricted to digital media.
Timeline and application
The deadline is Friday, November 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UK time. Interviews for shortlisted artists are planned for December 10, with residencies starting in January 2027. Eastside Projects publishes the official Radical Sabbatical 2027 Artists Callout pack and application instructions on the program page. The project is a research residency rather than a guaranteed exhibition prize; application evidence and reporting requirements are set out in the callout.
About the organizers
Eastside Projects is an artist-run gallery and production space based in Digbeth, Birmingham. Its public programs include 'Digbeth Public Art Works' and the long-term project 'The Chorus'; it also commissions exhibitions and supports artist development. The partner, University Collections at the University of Birmingham, links artists with academic research teams for the residency.
Application information checked
The call title, UK-only eligibility statement, funding, artists’ residency period and November deadline were checked against the official Eastside Projects program information. Applicants are directed to the organizer’s downloadable 2027 application pack and its own instructions, rather than an unaffiliated fee-collection page. Review contractual, accessibility, expenses and personal-data conditions in the full callout before submitting.
Official information and application
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information verified: October 18, 2026.
Our related competition
Aion Laboratory separately organizes the Aion Digital Art Prize, an international competition for eligible digital and media art. This is not a partner of the organizer described above.
Publish an opportunity
Ise-Shima Art offers paid listings of legitimate artist calls and jobs, including translation options. Its application information page is in Japanese.