Residencies

    MERZ is about art as idea, ideas leading to or from an outcome, including exhibitions and films. These are options of work as it progresses on the residency. Residency bookings from overseas are for a minimum of 28 days, while fees are reduced over the Winter months for the MERZ two month ‘hunker down’ residency. Please make a short initial enquiry by email with a link to bio or CV. MERZ will respond and suggest how our local art and natural environment can contribute to your work or plans.

    Just an informal email and we can take it from there.

    Our Recommendations page provides insights by artists on residency experiences at MERZ.

    Our About page provides an outline of the motivations and thinking behind MERZ and its Director.

    The MERZ residency offers a supportive framework with opportunities to engage formally and informally with local artists in the area as well as young people in the community. MERZ is keen to explore how art contributes positively towards climate change, migration and gender awareness. 

    MERZ Self-Funded Residencies in the Bothy, Tadpole and No 5 are available throughout the year. Contact us by email at hello@merz.gallery.

    MERZ – Living Accommodation and Workspaces

    MERZ has grown since 2009 and now includes Museum of Model ArtZIPStudio for local and visiting artists, the art-houses dedicated to Kurt Schwitters and Hannah Höch for short stays (with nearby kitchen, shower and toilet), a second small studio with accommodation (Tadpole), further accommodation with studio space (the house at No 5) outdoor garden areas and the work-shed and yard around the MERZ gallery and Bothy. 

    The MERZ and Museum of Model Art sites are 100 metres apart and span Sanquhar Cultural Quarter, with a nearby cafe at the community arts centre, Tolbooth Museum, bakers opening at 7:00am, greengrocers, small supermarkets, hotels and a newsagents.

    MERZ Self-funded Residencies are priced on a four-weekly basis. Appropriate studio space is available at no extra cost, and is allocated by availability and suitability. An exhibition and film are offered where required. Shorter residencies can be arranged on an individual basis.

    Living Accommodation includes:

    • The Bothy – A self-contained living space for up to four people. A raised double bed and storage accessible by ladder, a fold down double bed at ground level, wet-room plus toilet, living space, kitchen and utilities, TV, WiFi, wheelchair accessible. Studio by arrangement. 

    £1500 per four weeks

    • The Snug – A cosy room in the flat adjacent to the MERZ office  with an elevated double bed reached by ladder, an en-suite toilet with shower, desk, sitting space, TV, WiFi and kitchen and separate entrance. Maximum of two people but more suited to an individual. Would be ideal for a writer/architect/graphic designer/illustrator if no studio (or only a shared studio space) required. CURRENTLY RESERVED FOR TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF

    £1260 per four weeks

    • No 5 – A cosy two/three bedroomed house opposite the Museum of Model Art offering an adaptable space on the ground floor. Currently configured with studio on ground floor and living room upstairs, offering a double bed-room and a bunk-bed single room and bed-settee in living room as third option for third person, TV and WiFi, wood-burning stove. Studio and kitchen with fridge and washing machine downstairs.

    £1680 per four weeks for one or two, £2000.00 for three

    • The Tadpole – Studio accommodation with a raised bed, studio space beneath, kitchen/utility area, en-suite shower, TV, WiFi, wood-burning stove. Suitable for maximum two people. Additional studio space available on request. Fridge additional cooking equipment and washing machine in adjoining kitchen building.

    £1400 per four weeks

    Studios/Workspaces include:

    • MERZ Gallery/Workshop – the stand alone former lemonade factory. Indoor space suitable for printing/drawing/writing/research and for exhibition. Includes a shower room with toilet and sink and a pull-out small kitchen. Electricity provided by solar panels, heating by a wood burning stove.
    • Museum of Model Art – the Museum serves as a workshop and artist gathering place when not in use for exhibitions.
    • Work-shed – On the MERZ site there is tall shed with electricity, power tools and equipment available to use (subject to insurance), suitable for woodworking/sculpting and with a lean-to and yard for outdoor working.
    • ZIPStudio – a shared studio space, gas central heating – suitable for small scale work.

    Exhibition/Display

    • MERZ Gallery/Workshop suitable for on-going and resident’s public displays and exhibitions
    • Museum of Model Art, Sanquhar – a small museum with an emphasis (as suggested!) on ‘models’, architectural and design or ‘unrealised and imagined proposals conceived in miniature’
    • Sculpture Green – for display of large outdoor work (murals, sculpture and the art-houses) in a publicly accessible part of Sanquhar’s conservation area and Cultural Quarter
    • No 5’s studio is suitable for short term pop-up displays/screenings/exhibitions offering accommodation above the studio/small exhibition or rehearsal space

    The art-houses

    • Three Polish n-126 caravans converted into art-houses (Kurt Schwitters and Hannah Höch) and Soviet era filmmakers. Sitting on the sculpture green the art-houses are suitable for an immersive overnight/short term visit with access to kitchen, toilet and shower facilities. Suitable (comfortably) for two, each art-house was reconfigured by contemporary artists Amy Marletta, Denise Zygadlo, Dougie Sharpe and David Rushton to build on these artists’ legacies into contemporary times from their critical reflections on the crisis in Europe 100 years ago.  

    £35.00 per night (without bedding £30.00)

    For enquiries and further information contact hello@merz.gallery

    MERZ occupies the former lemonade factory in Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

    The site includes the self- contained Bothy residency, the adjoining 60m sq workshop/gallery, a tool shed and store set around a brick paved yard beside a small wooded area. MERZ offers a quiet setting close to the centre of a small rural town in Upper Nithsdale.

    MERZ provides residencies for artists, authors, makers and architects. The Bothy is a flexible living space for two (with a mezzanine for a further two). The workshop/gallery enables artists to make new work and run workshops and seminars.

    Sanquhar is on the rail line between Glasgow and Dumfries.

    The region has a thriving network of artists, makers and authors. Local schools and community organisations are engaged in projects with MERZMERZ involves Summerhall TV, who film arts-news clips and documentaries, social media and TV.

    MERZ is a not for profit centre in the Sanquhar Cultural Quarter. Alongside the gallery and Bothy MERZ supports the Museum of Model Art and ZIPStudio. The fees for accommodation include use of the workshop/gallery or museum and (and filming where required) and compare favourably with artist residencies worldwide.

    MERZ workshop/gallery, Museum, ZipStudio and Bothy and Tadpole accommodations are also wheelchair accessible.

    Just across Sanquhar High Street from the Bothy, and beside the Museum of Model Art and ZipStudioTadpole is our most recent purpose ‘re-built’ self-contained residency. While Bothy is a rural stone building from the 1830s Tadpole is an industrial brick building from the 1890s. Both Tadpole and Bothy are self-contained and close to town and countryside. Tadpole comes with shower, loft-bed and a wood-burner with options to work in the Museum of Model Art, ZipStudio or at MERZ Gallery itself. 

    Snug is a small self contained residency ideal for teachers and trainers on our courses.

    Tadpole, Snug, Bothy and No 5 are equipped with WiFi and multiple TV channels.

    Ongoing Self-Funded Residency Program

    Type of organisation

    • Artist-run

    Residency Conditions

    • One or two months

    Number of Artists resident at one time

    • Bothy, single, couple or a small family (maximum four)
    • Tadpole, single or couple (maximum two)
    • Snug, currently reserved for teaching staff
    • No 5 small family with studio space

    Expenses paid by artist

    • Travel
    • Accommodation
    • Supplies/materials
    • Food

    Application

    • Email enquiry – no application form

    Selection procedure

    • To engage with the artist thinking of applying to explore how best MERZ can support their interrests and ambitions

    Description of gallery, museum and residency buildings

    • MERZ 19th century brick paved former Aerated Water factory
    • Museum of Model Art & ZIPStudio in restored 19th century brick and stone industrial building 
    • Historic rural town in Upper Nithsdale in South West Scotland
    • Bothy
      • Self-contained building
      • Kitchen with fridge/freezer, washing machine, cooker and hob
      • Living and sleeping area
      • WiFi with TV reception
      • Wet room with shower etc
    • Snug
      • Self-contained diagonally above the Museum of Model Art and adjacent to staff-flat and office
      • Kitchen with fridge, oven and hob
      • Loft bed sleeping area with living area with desk and easy chair beneath 
      • WiFi with TV reception
      • En-suite shower & toilet
    • Tadpole
      • Self-contained studio/living 
      • Flexible kitchen and living-work space with further domestic facilities in adjacent kitchen
      • Loft bed sleeping area with living area with desk and sofa 
      • WiFi with TV reception
      • En-suite shower & toilet
    • No 5
      • Self-contained two/three bedroom house 
      • Kitchen and living-work-studio space 
      • Living room/third bedroom
      • WiFi with TV reception
      • Shower & separate toilet

    Workshop/Gallery/Museum and Pop-Up Cinema/Gallery/Studio 

    • With toilet, shower and kitchen area

    Activities happening in the workshop/gallery spaces

    • To be arranged with the artists in residence following booking