China Artists Residency Programme (SIAP)

China Artists Residency Programme

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is pleased to announce a new programme the China Artists Residency, in association with the Chinese Consulate (Belfast) and the following organisations:

• China Animation Comic Game Group (China ACG Group Ltd)
• School of Experimental Art and Technological Art, Central Academy of Fine Arts
• Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University.

We can offer up to a 30 days residency in Beijing.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants to the China Artists Residency Programme are as follows.

• For the pilot year, Digital Arts is the selected artform for the residency. This year’s Residency Programme is for Digital Artists working within the arts sector in Northern Ireland.
• Employees of statutory bodies , undergraduates and postgraduates are eligible to apply but they must prove that the funds which they are seeking are for work/costs which are not properly the concern of their employer and/or are not related to their work or academic study. They must submit evidence of this in the form of a letter on headed paper from their Head of Department.
• In the case of post-graduate students, the letter must clearly state the title of the student’s PhD thesis and include a declaration by the Head of Department. This declaration must state “The project for which funds are being sought does not form part of any academic work undertaken in relation to the above-titled PhD nor will it be assessed as part of any academic course”.
• Applicants undertaking a Masters or a PhD must also include a separate statement which provides information on how the project applied for differs from their Masters or PhD work.

Eligible applicants must also:

• Have made a contribution to artistic activities in Northern Ireland for a minimum period of 1 year within the last 3 years.
• Live in Northern Ireland
• Be at least 18yrs old and not in secondary education.

How much funding is available?

The value of the residency is £5,000 which covers:

• Accommodation in Beijing
• Return Travel to China
• Travel Insurance costs and vaccination costs, if applicable
• The cost of the Visa which the artist must arrange
• Daily stipend of £25

How to Apply

You must apply using our online system. We will not accept applications in hard copy or by email. 

If you are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent, University of Atypical can provide support with completing your application. Due to the time needed to match you with the best advisor, it is likely that advice sessions will not start before Thursday 31 July. Please contact University of Atypical as soon as possible to ensure sufficient time for the support process. Phone: 028 90239450; Email: access@universityofatypical.org.

• Online applications may be edited, saved and returned up to the closing date.

• You must submit all mandatory enclosures associated with the application at the same time as your application, ie. they must be uploaded to your online application prior to its submission. These enclosures are listed on the Attachments page within the online application and are detailed below.

• Please ensure that you leave sufficient time to upload all documents to the system as there can be long delays as the closing deadline approaches and the system will shut down at 12noon precisely on the closing date, 21 August 2025. If your complete application is not fully uploaded when the system closes, your application will not be accepted.

• If you submit your application by the closing deadline, you will receive an automated email advising that your application has been successfully submitted to the system. If you do not receive this email, your application has not been submitted.

• Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive the application form and uploaded enclosures by the closing time and date.