Our residency programme brings together exciting artist practices with our world-leading research, unique campus facilities, and vibrant regional partnerships. Often cross-disciplinary, the programme has drawn together artists, photographers, scientists, academics and local community groups to explore themes of nature, technology, climate change, social action, wellbeing and more.
Find out more about our past and present residencies below. For the latest updates (and announcements of future calls for new resident artists) follow us on Instagram at @uos_artcollection or join our quarterly mailing list here.
Current Residencies
2025: Hayley Suviste
in partnership with the University Acoustics Laboratory & From the Other
Manchester based sound artist and composer Hayley Suviste is in residence at the industry-leading University Acoustics Laboratories from January to June 2025.
For this residency she will take inspiration from the local River Irwell – once known as the ‘hardest worked river in the world’. The river draws together narratives of industrial heritage, ecological resilience, and cultural significance, albeit in the face of ongoing challenges around urbanisation and pollution. New work will premiere at Sounds from the Other City Festival in 2025.
2025: Dr Yan Wang Preston
in partnership with RHS Garden Bridgewater
Acclaimed artist Dr Yan Wang Preston has been selected as the first artist-in-residence at the RHS Garden Bridgewater, in a new programme led by the University of Salford Art Collection.
From 2025-2026 Preston will make new work in response to the history, geology and ecology of the site; culminating in an exhibition in Salford in 2026.
2023-2025: Mishka Henner / Emily Speed
Energy House 2.0 Residencies
The University of Salford Art Collection is currently hosting two artist residencies at Energy House 2.0: the unique, world-leading energy performance facility at the University. Mishka Henner was awarded the first of two 18-month artist residencies in early 2023 and Emily Speed was awarded the second residency in summer 2023. Both artists are developing new work in response to Energy House 2.0’s research, exploring themes of the climate crisis, net zero research, and the future of housing.
Both residencies have been made possible through funding from the Friends of Energy House 2.0 Community. In partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool and Castlefield Gallery, Manchester.
Artists
Mishka Henner
Mishka Henner makes work that challenges conventional perspectives, and asks us to consider our relationships with the world, technology, and the consequences of human activity. His residency explores the connection between our everyday lives and the global impacts of changing climates.
Find out more here
Emily Speed
Emily Speed examines the relationship between the body and architecture; considering how a person is shaped by the buildings they occupy. Her work bring together ideas around the human body, fashion, clothing, interior design, architecture, and personal domestic life. What will our lives look like in the ‘future homes’ of Energy House 2.0?
Find out more here
Resources
Spring 2025: Energy House 2.0: Mishka Henner & Emily Speed Exhibition
In Spring 2025 we launched an ambitious exhibition of new work by artists Mishka Henner and Emily Speed, in partnership with the Castlefield Gallery, Open Eye Gallery and Energy House Labs.
February 2025: Energy House Party
In February 2025 we staged a one-night-only exhibition of work by Emily and Mishka at the Energy House facility – with works installed in and around the test house facilities.
Find the exhibition handout here
December 2024: Podcast
In this special edition of Talking Salford Podcast, both Mishka Henner and Emily Speed talk about their practices, projects, careers, and the work they are doing in collaboration with Energy House 2.0. Watch on Youtube here – or find on your preferred Podcast platform.
Previous residencies
2021-2022: Gwen Riley Jones
Socially engaged practice residency
Gwen Riley Jones joined the Collection as a socially engaged photographer in residence in 2021, in partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool. Her residency began with an open brief as part of our wider work to increase the accessibility of the Collection. Over the course of 16 months, she worked closely with youth groups from across Salford, using the Collection as a catalyst for conversation and activity; which culminated in a co-curated exhibition at our Gallery.
Residency blogs
- Introducing Gwen Riley Jones
- Blog Dec 2021
- January Artwork of the Month 2022
- Salford Youth Council Introductory Blog Spring 2022
- May Artwork of the Month 2022
- Planting for the Planet at RHS Bridgewater 2022
- Can Art Help Stop Climate Change Blog June 2022
- Salford Rediscovered Blog June 2022
- Salford Youth Council Selecting Artwork Blog Sept 2022
- LOOK Photo Biennial 2022 Showcase Nov 2022
- Throwback Thursday Refelction on ‘What is Not Art’ Jan 2023
- From the Vault: ‘I Feel Triangle’ Blog March 2023
- Download: Photowalk for Wellbeing
- Gwen Riley Jones Wins National Green Impact Award 2023
- Ongoing: Sustaining Photography with Lizzie King
Publication
Exhibition
Exhibition: Some Days I Feel Triange with Salford Youth Council 2023
2021: McCoy Wynne
Pilot residency at Energy House 1
Artist duo McCoy Wynne were selected as artists in residence at Energy House following an open call in late 2020. Energy House is the world’s first full-size, two-bedroom, brick-built Victorian terraced house constructed inside an environmentally controllable chamber, located on campus at the University of Salford. McCoy Wynne worked closely with the University’s unique research facility throughout 2021, responding to a specific retrofitting project. The resulting series Are You Living Comfortably? was acquired by the Collection as a legacy of the residency.
This artist residency was co-commissioned in partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool.