Sustainable Darkroom Futures Residency: Funded Research Open Call

The Sustainable Darkroom has opened applications for its Futures Residency, a six-month hybrid research and development programme exploring what a genuinely sustainable future for photography could look like.

The residency is looking beyond individual sustainable photographic techniques to consider the wider systems that shape photography — from darkrooms and commercial labs to waste management, technology, architecture, policy and infrastructure. The programme is seeking five UK-based artists to develop ambitious, original research projects that question and reimagine how photography is made, supported and experienced.

The residency is run by the Sustainable Darkroom in partnership with the Northern Centre of Photography and the Photography Research Group: Bridging Photographies, Cultures, Communities at the University of Sunderland, with support from Arts Council England and The Grocers’ Charity.

What kind of projects are they looking for?

Applicants are encouraged to think beyond established approaches to sustainable photography and propose new systems, ideas or models that could create longer-term change.

Potential areas of research include:

• Darkrooms and commercial photographic labs

• Waste and recycling systems

• Galleries, universities and photographic institutions

• Architecture and civil engineering

• Legal and political frameworks

• AI and digital technologies

• Analogue and digital photographic technology production

• Other philosophical, structural or systemic approaches to photography

The organisers are particularly interested in speculative, conceptual and unconventional ideas. A fully functioning prototype is not required by the end of the residency: possible outcomes could include prototypes, blueprints, test images, written research papers or other forms of visual and research documentation.

The call specifically distinguishes between established sustainable processes and genuinely new systemic ideas. For example, a proposal about making a plant-based photographic developer would not fit the brief, whereas research into a solar-powered system for treating used photographic developer could.

What does the residency provide?

Each of the five selected artists will receive:

• £3,400 towards research, development and the final project outcome

• A six-month hybrid residency

• Bi-weekly online seminars with invited experts from different fields

• Bi-weekly project-specific mentoring

• Access to facilities and technical support at the University of Sunderland

• The opportunity to develop and test prototypes

• Participation in an exhibition and symposium in Sunderland in October 2027

• Travel and accommodation support for the exhibition and symposium

• Inclusion in an online publication featuring the final research documents

Two of the five places are reserved for residents of Northern England, from South Yorkshire to the Scottish Borders. A further two places are reserved for artists with disabilities, and applicants may meet both criteria.

Who can apply?

The residency is open to UK residents. Northern England applicants can apply even if they currently live elsewhere in the UK, but they will not be considered for one of the reserved Northern artist places.

The programme also includes two access places for disabled artists who would otherwise be unable to participate without significant additional support. Applicants can outline their access requirements in the application form, and support is available with the application process where required.

What is expected from selected artists?

Participants will be expected to engage with the residency programme, including the online seminars, mentoring and mid-point presentations. They will also need to develop material for the final exhibition and symposium in Sunderland.

Each artist must produce a minimum 2,000-word written project report for inclusion in an online book. The final exhibition can include prototypes, visual materials, blueprints and other forms of research output.

The residency culminates in an exhibition opening on 14 October 2027, followed by a symposium on 15 October. The exhibition runs until 5 November 2027.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the Google Form provided by the Sustainable Darkroom. Audio and video submissions are also accepted, with a maximum length of 10 minutes.

Applications will be assessed according to the project's relevance to the themes of the open call, the originality of the idea and the strength of the applicant.

Application deadline: 23 October 2026, midnight UK time.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed between 2–9 December 2026. The residency programme begins in April 2027, with seminars and project development sessions continuing through June.

Applicants with questions or who need support completing the application can contact the Sustainable Darkroom at sustinabledarkroom@gmail.com.

Read the full open call and application details

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to have a finished prototype or functioning project to apply?

No. The residency is designed to support research and development, and the organisers explicitly welcome speculative and conceptual proposals. Possible outcomes include prototypes, blueprints, test images and written research. A functioning version of the proposed project is encouraged but not required.

2. Is the residency open to people outside the UK?

No. The residency is currently open to UK residents only. Northern England applicants living elsewhere in the UK can still apply, although they will not be considered for one of the reserved Northern artist places.

3. What support is available for disabled applicants?

Two places are reserved for artists with disabilities who require significant additional support or access provisions to participate. Applicants can describe their requirements in the access-needs section of the application form. The organisers also invite applicants to contact them if they need support completing the application.