Cove Park's Cubes – converted shipping containers nestled next to a pond with trees.

October 2025

Cove Park's 25th anniversary programme continues this month with two performances by the Palestinian composer and pianist Faraj Suleiman, recipient of the inaugural Bagri Music Award. Although the first event at Cove Park on 1 November is now fully booked, tickets are still available for the second performance at The Mackintosh Church, Glasgow, on Saturday 8 November. Everyone is very welcome and we hope to see you there.

Artists are travelling to us from across Scotland, the UK, Belgium, France, Honduras, and Lebanon this month. Our Awarded Residencies continue with visual artists Omid Asadi and Debjani Banerjee, music theatre collaborators Sarah Chew & Colum Findlay, and cultural producer and independent curator Karon Sabrina Corrales. We're also very pleased to welcome the recipient of this year's Loch Long Crime Writing Residency, Claire Wilson.

Cove Park's national and international Partnership Residencies include Faraj Sulemain (a collaboration with Bagri Foundation and MARSM), with theatre maker, writer, and performer Barbara Pauline Claes and poet and artist Lies Van Gasse (Flanders Literature), with artist, curator, and editor Yasmine Rifaii (British Council), and with poet, artist, and editor Cameron Wilson (Comhairle nan Leabhraichean / The Gaelic Books Council).

Open Residencies continue with group residencies for the Edinburgh-based theatre company Magnetic North and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in addition to individual residencies for artist and filmmaker Kirsten Adkins, artist, freelance producer and self-taught sound maker Sarah Calmus, writer and youth worker William Devine, choreographer, performer, and maker Thomas Goetz with actor, musician, dancer, and singer Kristin Wei-Chen Wong, writer and theatre maker Dr Alice Langley, artist and researcher Shona K. Noble, and artist David Osbaldeston.

We are delighted that former resident and Cove Park Associate Sean Wai Keung travels to Australia this month for a four-week residency at Varuna – The National Writers’ House of Australia. As part of this ongoing residency exchange, supported by The Bridge Awards, Sean will also take part in the Blue Mountain Writers' Festival programme.

Read on for news of our forthcoming events with composer and pianist Faraj Suleiman, the announcement of the British Council Residency and the Creative Kernow Residency, calls for applications for RSA Residencies for Scotland and for Cove Park's Autumn Micro and Subsidised Winter Residencies, and details of two forthcoming Saturday Studio Workshops in October and November with artists Ruth Kirkby and Rhona Warwick-Paterson. We're also pleased to share news of our membership of CO-ORDINATES, details of Space Hire at Cove Park, our newly launched Friends programme, and the limited edition print by Matthew Arthur Williams commissioned for our 25th anniversary.

Image: The Cubes at Cove Park (photography, Tracey Bloxham).

A man sitting at a Yamaha piano on a stage with blue hued light. There are two people playing the violin and the cello also on stage.

Bagri Music Awards - Faraj Suleiman
Debut Solo Performances in Scotland

We are delighted to announce a new two-year partnership with the Bagri Foundation to launch a vibrant programme of residencies bringing acclaimed international musicians to the UK.

The Bagri Foundation works within a network of leading cultural organisations that champion artistic excellence and provide extraordinary artists from across Asia wider visibility on the global stage.

The inaugural Bagri Music Award recipient is Faraj Suleiman. Widely regarded as a leading contemporary jazz pianist and composer, Faraj's music is deeply influenced by his Palestinian heritage and Arabic culture. Trained in classical music, Faraj incorporates both Arabic/Eastern melodies and rhythms and jazz traditions in his compositions. Embarking on a major European tour in autumn 2025, Faraj will make his Scottish debut at Cove Park on Saturday 1 November (now fully booked) before performing in Glasgow at The Mackintosh Church on Saturday 8 November as part of the Bagri Music Awards presented by Cove Park and the Bagri Foundation.

To join the reserve list for tickets for the Cove Park event or to book tickets for the Glasgow performance, please visit Cove Park's Ticket Tailor page.

Faraj's residency and performances in Scotland are developed in collaboration with MARSM, the London-based event producer and dynamic digital platform amplifying the vibrant musical culture of the Arabic-speaking world.

Image: Faraj Suleiman (courtesy of MARSM)

Black and white portrait of a woman looking directly at the camera with views of the city of Beirut in the background.

British Council Residency 2026

We are pleased to be taking part in a new programme designed to support artists affected by conflict from Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine, and Ukraine through residencies at leading cultural institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This month, we welcome Lebanese artist Yasmine Rifaii for a four-week residency.

Organised by British Council in partnership with Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and Arts Council of Wales/Wales Arts International, the programme brings nine artists and cultural professionals to arts organisations renowned for their expertise in supporting artists across diverse art forms, from contemporary art to literature and film. Each residency lasts between four and twelve weeks, and is tailored to meet the specific requirements of both the host organisation and the visiting creative professional. In addition to Cove Park, the other host organisations include: ACME Studios, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Delfina Foundation, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Literature Wales/Tŷ Newydd, Moniack Mhor, Pier Arts Centre, and Ulster University/Belfast Film Festival.

This initiative builds upon the Scotland – Ukraine Arts Residencies, a successful pilot held in Scotland in 2023 during the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture, and through which we welcomed Ukrainian cultural manager, theatre producer, and curator Veronika Skliarova. More details about this programme are available here.

Image: Yasmine Rifaii (photography, Malak Mroueh)

Portrait of a man in an art studio. He is holding a wooden plank with two ceramic bowls.

Creative Kernow Associate Residency 2026

In collaboration with Cornish cultural organisation Creative Kernow, we are delighted to announce that the second Creative Kernow Associate Residency has been awarded to Simon Bayliss.

Simon is a potter, with a background in contemporary art and dance music. His ceramics are mainly made using a wheel in the slipware tradition. Within exhibitions, these have sometimes accompanied video, poetry and performance, referencing queer-rural identity and art histories of St Ives, where he is based. Simon has been invited by Dr Peder Clark to respond to his academic research on the social history of ecstasy use in the UK, culminating in a solo exhibition in Cornwall and Glasgow in 2026. At Cove Park, Simon will be working on a music video and developing the curatorial aspects of the exhibition.

Simon's two week residency will take place in March 2026 and our partnership builds upon the first Creative Kernow Associate Residency in 2025, awarded to visual artist Melanie Stidolph.

Image: Simon Bayliss (courtesy of the artist).

Cove Park's artist studio with views of Loch Long through the large window.

Call for Applications:
RSA Residencies for Scotland, 2026

We are delighted to be one of 19 organisations taking part in RSA Residencies for Scotland 2026 and to share news of the open call for applications to this programme.

RSA Residencies for Scotland is an artist-led scheme providing valuable research and residency opportunities for artists. It forges important networks with centres of artistic excellence across Scotland, ranging from traditional residency venues to specialised production facilities.

Open to visual artists at all stages of their careers, the emphasis is on enabling a period of research, development and production, as well as on the acquisition and exchange of new skills and experiences. Artists can apply for funds of up to £5,000 and are responsible for managing their own residency, in discussion with the partner venue.

The deadline for applications (via the RSA's website) is 18 January 2026.

Image: Arran, Bute, & Cumbrae Cubes (photography, Ruth Clark)

The side of Cove Park's Jacobs Building on a frosty day at sunset. There are views of Loch Long and a low cloud cover.

Open Programme
Autumn Micro & Subsidised Winter Residencies

As part of our ongoing commitment to provide subsidised rates for our Open programme, we are delighted to once again launch our seasonal Micro Residencies and offer short, subsidised four-night residencies in October and November 2025.

Micro Residencies are an ideal opportunity to meet an upcoming deadline or to focus upon new projects and research. The short time frame can also suit other work/life commitments or caring responsibilities. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here.

Our popular annual programme of Subsidised Winter Residencies will run between December 2025 and March 2026. This year, we have included an additional month at a reduced rate. These Residencies are self-directed and run in weekly increments and begin on a Monday and end on a Sunday. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here.

Image: The Jacobs Building in Winter.

A person's hand holds an orange-red ink roller over a letter press.

Saturday Studio - Letterpress with Ruth Kirkby
25 October 2025

Ruth Kirkby is a former Cove Park resident, artist, designer, and letterpress technician in the Caseroom at The Glasgow School of Art. Join Ruth to discover the fascinating art of letterpress printing, a relief printing technique that revolutionised communication in 15th-century Europe and shaped print for over 500 years. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore traditional and DIY approaches to letterpress.

For more information, and to reserve your free place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page.

Image: Courtesy of Ruth Kirkby.

Stock image of a person holding a ball of clay.

Saturday Studio - Clay for Quietude with
Rhona Warwick Paterson
29 November 2025

Take a quiet moment to slow down and enjoy the simple and grounding act of working with clay. In this relaxing workshop, artist and former resident Rhona Warwick Paterson invites participants to explore the sensory qualities of clay - its texture, temperature and weight through playful, mindful making. Participants will learn simple hand-building techniques like pinch pots, coiling, and imprinting with natural textures.

The heart of the workshop is a quiet, focused making time where hands lead and the mind rests. This workshop offers an antidote to making objects and instead the focus will be on process as a mindful, tactile reset for nervous system regulation, creativity, and connection—perfect for individuals, families, and anyone seeking a moment of calm.

This workshop takes place on Saturday 29 November, the day after Black Friday, and a perfect time to pause, reflect, and take part in the Fair Saturday Festival, a global movement that celebrates culture, community, and creativity over consumerism.

For more information and to reserve your free place, please visit our Ticket Tailor page.

Image: Courtesy of Rhona Warwick Paterson.

A lush, forested area with large trees covered in moss.

Cove Park joins CO-ORDINATES

We are delighted to announce that Cove Park is a founding member of CO-ORDINATES, a growing network of residencies, institutions and artist-run spaces operating in remote or peripheral locations across Europe.

Linked by their comprehensive approaches to ecological wellbeing, members of CO-ORDINATES aim to cultivate environments of critical inquiry, site-specific engagement and spatial experimentation. For artists, writers, theorists and researchers across disciplines seeking to work in such environments, CO-ORDINATES serves as a starting point for exploration and discovery.

This network is initiated by the Kemmler Foundation and co-funded by the European Union.

Image: Argyll Rainforest, Glen Creran, 2021 (photography, Julie Young)

Image of a Screenprint on Fabriano Rosaspina paper, hand dyed with Hibiscus

77°F
A New Limited Edition Print by
Matthew Arthur Williams

To mark Cove Park's 25th anniversary, we are thrilled to announce a new limited edition print by visual and sound artist, photographer, DJ, and former resident Matthew Arthur Williams.

Commissioned by Cove Park and produced in collaboration with DCA Print Studio, 77°F connects to the artist's recent work and ongoing interest in process-led practice, collaboration, and landscape. The screen printed image is on hand-dyed and deckle edged paper and each of the 30 available prints has a unique finish and texture. Further information on this work is available here.

This edition is available for the launch price of £300 and can be purchased via Cove Park's Shop.

77°F is accompanied by a commissioned text on Matthew's work by artist, writer, and former Cove Park resident Emmie McLuskey. This text reflects on Matthew's recent work and his collaborative practice. Copies are available at Cove Park and from our website via the Resources page.

We would like to thank Marion Ferguson and Katie Ravenscraig (DCA Print Studio), Emmie McLuskey, Maeve Redmond, and of course Matthew Arthur Williams.

Image: 77°F, Matthew Arthur Williams, 2025, Screenprint on Fabriano Rosaspina paper, hand dyed with Hibiscus, 62 x 47cm (photography, Patrick Jamieson)

A group of people gathering in a large open room with bookshelves in the background.

Friends of Cove Park

Cove Park is proud to have a growing community of supporters who believe in the vital work we do to promote national and international cultural exchange and ensure our local rural community has access to innovative and creative learning opportunities as well as protecting the biodiversity of our site.

By becoming a Friend of Cove Park, you will help us to enrich arts, culture and creativity in Argyll and across Scotland, support the global exchange of ideas through our artist residences and save the natural heritage of Cove Park as a space for everyone to enjoy. Wherever you are, you will know your donation is making a vital contribution to the work of Cove Park and our support of artists. If Cove Park and our work means something to you, please consider becoming a Friend today. Learn more and join here.

If you are based in the United States, you can join our American Friends of Cove Park, our tax-effective annual giving programme.

Image: The launch of the Scotland/Japan residency exchange programme at Cove Park, October 2018.

Image of a cosy woodburning fire place and a large open window with rural views.

Space Hire 2025

Space Hire welcomes arts organisations, companies, and community groups to Cove Park for meetings and away days. Recent Space Hire participants include: The Common Guild, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean / The Gaelic Books Council, Glasgow International, Missing in Architecture (Glasgow School of Art), The Mount Stuart Trust, Rhubaba, Scottish Opera, and the University of Glasgow (Contemporary Art & Curation).

Our new Space Hire pack contains more information with images of our beautiful spaces and what we offer.

Please submit an enquiry form or contact Nicola Jamieson directly for more information and to discuss your specific requirements.

‘Mount Stuart Trust had a brilliant Away Day at Cove Park. We had a dedicated meeting room, fabulous views, and everything we needed: screen, refreshments, and lunch. I can honestly say that it was one of our most productive strategy meetings. So important to get away, and I can’t think of a better space.’

Sophie Crichton Stuart, Chair, The Mount Stuart Trust

Image: Jacobs Building wood burning stove (photography, Studio Gently)