Artist in Residence Opportunity at Seacourt Print Workshop

Ards and North Down Borough Council, with support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, is inviting quotations for an Artist in Residence based at Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor. The residency will run for up to 12 months, from April 2026 to March 2027. The quotation process is now open and will close on Friday 20 March at 12 noon.

Seacourt Print Workshop is one of Northern Ireland’s leading arts organisations and the region’s premier printmaking centre. Located in the heart of Bangor City Centre, Seacourt offers exceptional facilities and an extensive track record of delivering artist residencies and supporting artists in their professional development.

Bangor is undergoing a period of significant transformation, including major waterfront redevelopment and the granting of City status in 2022. This residency will explore how an artist can meaningfully contribute to placemaking during a time of generational change. We are seeking a visual artist with a declared interest in observing, interpreting and responding to this evolving urban landscape.

The Council’s annual programme of arts and tourism festivals, as well as community-led initiatives such as Late Night Art Bangor, will provide opportunities for artist-led public engagement throughout the residency. The aim of the residency is to creatively explore Bangor’s changing physical and cultural environment and to involve the public through workshops, talks and events. The residency is intended to foster a deep connection to place and to capture an artistic response to this important period of regeneration.

Applicants must be visual artists who reside in the Ards and North Down Borough. Artists at any career stage, including emerging practitioners, are welcome to apply. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in Bangor and a commitment to engaging the public through high-quality participatory activity that supports the residency’s objectives. The value of the residency is £15,000.

Speaking about the opportunity, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum said:
“We are delighted to offer this residency with the support of ACNI and in partnership with Seacourt Print Workshop. This presents a very exciting and fulfilling opportunity for a local artist to document Bangor’s changing landscape while bringing the community together and capturing their reflections throughout the process.”

Further information and quotation documents can be accessed at:

https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/article/2763/Ards-and-North-Down-Borough-Council-Quotation-for-an-Artist-in-Residence

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 20 March 2026 at 12 noon.