Title:
The Don Bachardy Fellowship
Deadline:
20 November 2025
Announcement Date:
not mentioned
Announcement Method:
not mentioned
Organization:
The Don Bachardy Fellowship at the Royal Drawing School enables a gifted and dedicated post-graduate artist from outside the United Kingdom to attend the Royal Drawing School during the Summer Term each year.
The successful Don Bachardy fellow will have the opportunity to absorb London’s vibrant art scene by attending the school’s Shoreditch campus and occupy one of the school’s studios reserved for postgraduate students. The Royal Drawing School and studios are located in the heart of East London’s art, design, and fashion scene.
The fellowship is named after Californian portrait painter, Don Bachardy who studied at the Slade in 1961. Bachardy had his first show at the Redfern Gallery in Mayfair that year and has since gone on to draw and paint over 10,000 portraits from life. The purpose of the fellowship is to help support an emerging artist and to nurture drawing as their foundation skill. Artists applying for the fellowship should show evidence of observational drawing in their practice.
Courses are taught by a distinguished faculty of over 75 practising artists. The Fellow will be invited to curate their own programme, choosing from 60+ drawing courses: from drawing out of house on London’s streets and green spaces, to life drawing, and drawing from art in major museums and galleries, as well as intaglio printmaking courses.
Founded Year:
not mentioned
Language:
English
Duration:
from 27 April to 4 July 2026
Application Guidelines:
not mentioned
Eligibility:
The Don Bachardy Fellowship is open to international artists who have studied at MA level only, please note artists who are from the UK or have studied and lived in the UK are not eligible to apply. Artist who have studied at the Royal Drawing School before are not eligible to apply.
Rewards:
not mentioned
Outcome:
The Don Bachardy Fellow will spend 3 full days per week for ten weeks, drawing alongside students studying on the school’s postgraduate-level programme, The Drawing Year, as well as students on Public Programme courses.
Selection Procedure:
Applications are reviewed by a jury panel according to the following criteria:
• Clarity of artistic vision as articulated in the artist statement and work samples
• Persuasive evidence that the applicant is committed in purpose and practice
• Clear evidence that the artist works at a professional level in their field
• Clear indications of the significance and critical role that the residency will play in the development of the artist's project
• Willingness to work in an urban environment and make the most of the opportunities offered by the residency
• Preference may be given to artists from the US.
Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/royaldrawingschool/
Application Fees:
not mentioned
Participation Fees:
not mentioned
Residency Fees:
not mentioned
Accommodation Fee:
not mentioned
Paid by Artist:
not mentioned
Paid by Host:
The Fellow will have the opportunity to attend the school’s lecture series, which includes conversations with leading contemporary artists and art history lectures. Past speakers have included Cornelia Parker RA, Denzil Forrester, Maggi Hambling CBE, Helen Cammock, Walid Siti, and Michael Landy RA.
Financial Assistance:
To assist with travel and accommodation costs, the Don Bachardy Fellow will be awarded a $5,000 stipend, half of which will be granted on receipt of the Fellowship and the remainder on arrival in London.
Fellowships:
not mentioned
Studio / Workspace:
not mentioned
Accommodation:
not mentioned
Other Facilities:
not mentioned
Location:
19-22 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3SG, UK
Airport:
not mentioned
Driving Instructions:
not mentioned
Contact Information:
admin@royaldrawingschool.org
Email:
admin@royaldrawingschool.org
Phone:
+44(0)20 7613 8568 (9am – 6pm)
Website:
https://royaldrawingschool.org/