All applications to the residency are handled through curatorspace (open from 1st October until 15th November), including those where the applicant is requesting an alternative format or other access adjustments. If you have any difficulties or questions, please get in touch so that we can go through arrangements with you. In short: you are still required to make an incomplete application through the form, and if needed, we'll do that for you, so that your name is in the pool with all the others.
If you would like to see the call and the application form beforehand, you can find it here.
Key Information in Easy English
The most important facts about TABOR and how to apply can be found here. If you need further help, feel free to get in touch.
The Callout
Call for book artists to participate in TABOR, a year-long online residency bringing together eight book artists from varied backgrounds to infuse each other’s work, develop their professional practice, and make new work for an online joint group exhibition at the end of the residency.
The artist book online residency (TABOR) is a year‑long online residency offering book artists a sustained peer network, social connection, professional development, and a shared project to work towards.
Residents take an active role throughout the year: weekly social meetings, peer support, and focused professional development sit alongside co‑organising a group exhibition and its accompanying public programme. It is designed to fit around existing commitments and does not require time away from your work or workshop practice, family, or support networks.
Structure of the residency year
Quarter 1
Residents get to know one another through body‑of‑work presentations and regular social meetings.
Quarter 2
The focus shifts to learning and skill‑exchange. Artists teach each other techniques, support one another’s developing work, and choose which workshops to invite from a confirmed list of external experts. Workshops cover topics such as photographing and presenting books, delivering online bookbinding sessions, curation, time management, securing funding, and navigating setbacks.
Quarter 3 +4
In the final two quarters artists turn their attention towards external impact. From September onwards, the cohort designs and delivers outreach activities, culminating in a joint exhibition and public programme, while continuing the familiar peer support that runs throughout the year.
Exhibition and Public Impact
The final group exhibition (alongside with an open call for additional artwork) will take place in an online gallery, and residents will contribute to public‑facing events such as artist talks, panel discussions and exhibition tours. In addition to the online exhibition we will also organise some local, physical exhibitions, and residents will be encouraged and supported in offering similar in their communities.
Programme Team
TABOR is delivered by
Hilke Kurzke — book artist, organiser of Notts Book Arts,
Frances Day — book artist, gallerist in the online gallery Fevered Imagination
Pippa Hennessy — poet and aspiring printmaker, manager for regional, national and international literature-related projects.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from book artists at all career stages and aim to bring together emerging, mid‑career, and established practitioners working across a wide range of approaches to book art.
We are looking for artists who are eager to develop and experiment within the field, who consider book arts part of their current or future professional practice, and who are happy to share knowledge and skills with peers.
Applicants should have created two pieces of book art as a minimum, so that they have at least a rough idea what it is they want to develop in the next year. All stages of experience are welcome, from beginners to professional book artists.
Fees, Expenses, and Payment
TABOR is a paid opportunity. While participation in the residency itself is not fee‑bearing, artists receive fixed payments for their contributions to the programme.
Each resident will be paid for producing a new work for the final exhibition (£300) and for delivering an outreach activity (£150), and will also receive a small payment or reimbursement to support the skillshare they lead for fellow participants.
There is no tuition fee.
We have funding in place to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by participating artists. This includes materials needed for skillshares or workshops, postage for sending work or handouts, and other small expenses directly related to the residency.
Eligibility:
- applicants must be 18 years or older
- applicants must reside in the UK
- participants must be regularly availabe on Thursdays 7pm UK time for group meetings
- participants need a stable internet connection and access to a camera and microphone are required for regular online meetings.
- participants should be comfortable being on camera, willing to contribute actively, and ready to engage in a collaborative learning environment.
(Artistic) Background of candidates:
We are seeking to choose a cohort that is diverse both in terms of professional background and lived experience. One of the eight residencies is earmarked for a book artist with a background in craft bookbinding (sponsored by the Society of Bookbinders) and one for a neurodivergent young adult comes with additional support and mentoring. (See FAQ for more information on those).
Access Support:
We are committed to supporting artists from all backgrounds and circumstances, and we want to hear from you. This form helps us identify the best candidates, but it is not intended to exclude anyone from participating. We recognise that application forms can be a barrier for some artists. If you find this format difficult please let us know: there is a field in the form here to request adjustments; check our website to discuss access support or alternative application formats and get in touch so that we can help you.
FAQ or More information
This has been given its own page here.
The Questionaire
Please note that your application has to be submitted through curatorspace before 15th of November. Please do not send us this information via email, it will not be considered.
That said, for those who want to see beforehand how the questionnaire looks like, and maybe want to prepare their reply offline, you can download the questions here.
Supported Residency
TABOR offers one supported residency place for an autistic/ADHD/PDA artist (18+). This place includes weekly mentoring sessions with Mel from Gecko Community to help the artist participate fully and confidently in the residency. It is intended for someone at an early stage in their creative journey, ideally without a formal qualification such as a degree or apprenticeship. The mentoring provides a space to discuss any access needs related to the residency — for example around executive function, self‑organisation, or social participation — and to explore adjustments that could make the programme more accessible. To find out more, click here.
Society of Bookbinder Supported Residency
One place in the residency is earmarked for someone with an interest in or background of craft bookbinding. If you want to concentrate in your residency year in learning more historic book structures, or dive into another aspect in the area of craft bookbinding and/or history of bookbinding you qualify for this place. To find out more, click here.