Residency

The Akoje Residency is a non-profit charity designed by Maro Itoje and Khalil Akar to create an exchange between different countries in an artistic form, elevate each nations’ art industry and provide funding for their art infrastructure.

The Akoje Residency aims to become the largest art residency in the world, providing pathways for artists to extend and develop whilst encouraging cross-cultural engagement, collaboration and creativity throughout the network. The works produced at the residencies will be offered to museums and public collections, with proceeds funding the residencies themselves and community-led endeavours in the artists’ home nations. The Akoje Residency is committed to working directly with artist communities to provide better opportunities for local artists and create local jobs.

The Akoje Residency x King’s Foundation Artist in Residence Programme will offer up to 8 funded residencies a year, designed to afford opportunities for African, Caribbean and diaspora artists to develop and extend their usual practice. Via the interdisciplinary and experimental provision of workshops, materials and skilled craftspeople, these artists will have the opportunity to develop their craft, create new works and hone new skills. They will be invited to share their unique artistic perspectives with a wider audience through talks, open studios, and exhibitions, sharing and celebrating different cultural heritage through the visual arts. The Programme will be held at Coachford Cottage within the Dumfries House estate, consisting of two high quality, self-contained artist studios and accompanying two bed luxury cottage. Artists at the residency will be able to make use of various workshops provided on the estate including stone work and screenprinting. The artists will each have a tailored programme based on their needs that would also include visits to Highgrove Gardens and various London locations such as the Garrison Chapel that may enhance their practice.