UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 in South Africa

UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 in South Africa

Bachelors, PhD, Masters

Selected courses offered by the university

Last Date 31 August 2026

UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 in South Africa

The UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 is an opportunity for emerging and established artists, creative researchers, and arts practitioners to develop an independent arts-practice-as-research project at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa. The programme provides a 10-month residency designed to connect creative practice with research and academic engagement.

Successful residents receive a R12,000 monthly stipend for 10 months, subject to statutory deductions. This amounts to approximately R120,000 before deductions over the full residency period. The programme can largely be completed remotely, although residents are expected to participate in relevant University of Johannesburg activities when required.

The 2027 programme is particularly suitable for artists who want to develop creative work that also contributes to research and knowledge production.

About the UJ Artists in Residence Programme

The University of Johannesburg's Artists in Residence Programme supports creative practitioners who want to explore artistic practice as a form of research. The residency allows selected artists to work on an independent project while engaging with an appropriate academic or creative department at UJ.

The programme welcomes artists from around the world, with preference given to applicants who have a connection with Africa. Both emerging and established practitioners can apply, provided they meet the programme requirements and present a strong research-based creative proposal.

The residency is not simply intended for producing an artwork. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear research question, artistic methodology, project plan, and expected creative research output.

Scholarship Benefits

The major benefits of the UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 include a R12,000 monthly stipend for 10 months, giving successful applicants approximately R120,000 before statutory deductions.

Residents also receive the opportunity to become part of the University of Johannesburg's academic and creative environment. During the residency, they can engage with their host department through workshops, presentations, lectures, discussions, and other relevant activities.

The programme also provides an opportunity to develop an arts-practice-as-research project that can contribute new knowledge and strengthen the applicant's professional and academic profile.

It is important to note that the monthly stipend is not a separate project or seed-funding budget. Applicants should therefore explain clearly how they will manage the resources required to complete their proposed project.

Eligible Creative Fields

Applicants can propose projects in a range of creative disciplines. Eligible areas include:

• Fine Arts and Visual Arts
• Literary Arts
• Music Composition
• Film and Television
• Theatre
• Performance and Dance
• Design

The proposed work should have a genuine research dimension. A proposal focused only on creating an artwork, film, book, performance, or other creative product may not be sufficient unless it clearly explains the research component.

Eligibility Criteria

The UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 is open to emerging and established artists, creative researchers, and arts practitioners from around the world.

Applicants should hold a relevant post-school qualification and demonstrate an appropriate career record and creative productivity. Preference is given to applicants holding Master's or PhD degrees, although these degrees are not an absolute requirement.

Applicants should also be capable of developing an arts-practice-as-research project and demonstrate academic writing ability or potential. The proposed project must be suitable for the residency and capable of producing a recognised creative research output.

Applicants must not be affiliated with another South African tertiary institution in roles such as lecturer or research associate.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the main materials required for the online application. These include a CV, arts-practice research proposal, detailed project activity plan, and information about available and required resources.

The research proposal is particularly important because applications are assessed competitively. Applicants should clearly explain the research question or problem, artistic approach, methodology, expected outcomes, timeline, and resources needed to complete the project.

A strong proposal should also demonstrate how the project fits within the arts-practice-as-research model of the residency.

Selection Criteria

The selection process considers the applicant's professional and creative background as well as the quality of the proposed project.

Important factors include the applicant's career record, creative productivity, academic writing ability or potential, quality of the proposed project, and suitability of the residency proposal.

Applicants should therefore avoid submitting a generic arts proposal. Instead, the project should have a clear research focus and demonstrate why the residency at the University of Johannesburg is appropriate for the proposed work.

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the University of Johannesburg Artists in Residence online application and provide all required supporting information.

Before applying, candidates should select an eligible creative discipline and develop a well-defined arts-practice-as-research project. The proposal should establish the research question, artistic methodology, expected creative output, timeline, and required resources.

Applicants should also prepare a professional CV highlighting their artistic experience, exhibitions, publications, performances, projects, awards, research, or other relevant achievements.

The application should then be submitted through the official University of Johannesburg Arts & Culture application system.

Residency Format

One notable feature of the UJ Artists in Residence Programme is its flexible working arrangement. The programme is structured so that most of the project can be undertaken remotely.

Residents do not necessarily have to remain physically at the University of Johannesburg throughout the 10-month period. However, selected artists may be expected to participate in workshops, presentations, lectures, departmental activities, or other university engagements when required.

This arrangement can make the opportunity particularly attractive to international artists who cannot relocate to South Africa for the entire residency.

Responsibilities of Selected Artists

Successful residents are expected to actively participate in the programme and complete their proposed creative research project.

Responsibilities include producing a recognised creative research output, providing monthly progress updates, participating in selected workshops or presentations, engaging with the host department, and potentially delivering workshops or lectures. Residents are also expected to complete and submit their final creative research output.

The university may request revisions to the creative research output after the residency period.

Application Deadline

The 2027 UJ Artists in Residence programme has an application deadline of August 31, 2026, according to current programme information.

Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and allow enough time to prepare a strong research proposal and supporting documents.

Why Apply for the UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship?

The UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship provides more than financial support. It allows artists to develop their creative practice within a university environment while connecting artistic production with research.

The R12,000 monthly stipend, 10-month residency period, academic engagement, and opportunity to develop a recognised creative research output make the programme valuable for artists seeking to strengthen both their creative and research profiles.

The international nature of the programme also creates opportunities for artists from different backgrounds to contribute to conversations around creativity, culture, research, and African perspectives.

Final Thoughts

The UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 in South Africa is a valuable opportunity for artists, creative researchers, and arts practitioners interested in combining artistic practice with research. Successful applicants receive a R12,000 monthly stipend for 10 months and can develop an independent creative research project while engaging with the University of Johannesburg's academic and artistic community.

Candidates should focus on developing a clear and original research proposal, demonstrating their creative experience, and explaining how their project can generate meaningful creative research outcomes. Since the deadline is August 31, 2026, interested applicants should begin preparing their applications as soon as possible. Apply Now