Overview
Air, Sea and Soil: SOUNDINGS and SURROUNDINGS is an international group residency programme situated in the Orkney Islands, devised around the interconnected relationships of air, sea, and soil. Rooted in Orkney’s remarkable natural, archaeological, and cultural landscape, the residency invites creative practitioners to explore sound, space, environment, and place through interdisciplinary and socially engaged approaches.
The programme takes place in the Birsay area of Orkney and includes accommodation, shared studio facilities, and visits to Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Sites. It is led by artist, educator, and curator Tracy Mackenna (The Museum of Loss and Renewal), alongside a group of multidisciplinary Orkney-based contributors.
Aims of the Residency
The residency aims to develop experimental and inventive approaches to place, responding to the intersections between art, culture, materiality, technology, and environment. Individual experience is understood not as central, but as interwoven within broader ecological, historical, and social systems.
The programme supports the sharing of knowledge and creative strategies that are both globally interconnected and hyper-local, digital and analogue. Through collective inquiry, the residency seeks to establish an international network of practitioners engaged in place-based research and practice.
Key Focus Areas
• Interdisciplinary creative practices
• Sound, space, light, and environment
• Site-specific and socially engaged approaches
• Experimental, semi-structured programme formats
• Technological and conceptual innovation
• Collective learning, peer reflection, and co-learning
• Relationships to land, place, and deep time
• Alternative theories, readings, and critical discourse
• Imagining futures and engaging with contested histories
The programme fosters a supportive, caring, and non-hierarchical environment that values both individual practice and collective exchange.
Who Can Apply
Open to international creative practitioners and researchers working across all creative disciplines, particularly those with a strong interest in:
• Sound
• Space
• Environment
• Visual practices
The residency group will consist of approximately eight participants.
Programme Includes
• Subject-specific sessions led by facilitators
• Contributions by Orkney-based experts
• Collective and individual (mentored) working sessions
• Working sessions at archaeological sites
• Museum, gallery, and festival visits
• Guided walks
• Collective critical evaluation and forecasting
Accommodation
• 5-star self-catering accommodation
• Single rooms
• Fully equipped, including Wi-Fi
• Located in the historic village of The Palace, Birsay
• Situated on the St Magnus Way pilgrimage route, near the Atlantic Ocean and significant archaeological sites
Workspace
• Shared studio spaces
• Includes both “clean” and “dirty” working areas
Fees & Practical Information
• Residency Fee: £1,350 GBP
(Includes residency programme, accommodation, workspace, and collection/return from nearest airport or ferry point)
Payment Schedule:
• 50% deposit payable within three weeks of acceptance (non-refundable)
• Remaining balance due eight weeks prior to the residency start date
Application Process
Applications must be submitted via the online application form:
Please note that feedback on unsuccessful applications cannot be provided.
Residency Dates
• Residency Period: 27 June – 4 July 2026
• Application Deadline: 1 March 2026
Location
Palace Village, Birsay
Orkney, Scotland (KW17 2LX)
Additional Notes:
• Participants are responsible for travel, insurance, visas, and personal expenses
• Travel guidance is provided (Kirkwall Airport and Orkney Ferries)
• No external funding is available for fees, travel, or production costs
• Letters of Invitation can be provided to support independent funding applications