Artist Development

We run programmes that support artists in Brent to develop their practice and advance their careers.

A diverse group of artists gathered around a table full of printed zines and pamphlets

Free Artist Studios

We offer free studios to make being an artist possible for the community we support.

At a time when spaces for artists and communities to gather and create is increasingly under threat, Metroland Cultures is committed to maintaining a studio resource that prioritises collectivity over profit.

Through our free studio programme, we prioritise those who are nurturing cultural and community infrastructure, creating resources for others, and ensuring that cultural production remains embedded in and accountable to the communities it comes from.

Peer-to-Peer

Peer-to-Peer is an artist support programme for 10 artists, who are all based in, or connected to, Brent. It was developed in response to conversations with artists across the borough which highlighted three things:

a scarcity of financial support
a lack of opportunities for peer support
the difficulty of gaining visibility as an artist in Brent

The programme provides ten peer-group learning sessions, a bursary, mentoring and the opportunity for a group project. In addition, many of the Peer-to-Peer group have gone on to residencies in Metroland Studios.

The 2022/23 Peer-to-Peer group included: Ocean Baulcombe-Toppin, Bill Daggs, Heiba Lamara, Becky Lyon, Yasmin Nicholas, James Jordan Johnson, Nilik Khimani, Bediah, Arsalan Isa, and Dita Hashi.

The 2024/25 Peer-to-Peer group was: Amanda Colares Silva, Eileen Perrier, Francesca Telling, JAYKOE, Krystyna & Sabina (Kasia Kuzka and Mateusz Piekarski), Daisy Jones, ESEA unseen (Kim Chin + Sue Man), Rose Nordin, Zish, and Ngo Chun Tse.

Curators in Residence

We work with partners to offer residencies at Metroland Studios. Available to international curators, our residencies offer a chance to learn about, and from, our approach at Metroland Cultures. The intention is for resident curators to take home ideas and best practice that they can put into place within their own communities.

This includes a residency in partnership with Delfina Foundation and Te Tehui in New Zealand. Thank you to British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and Kent Gardner for their support and for making this residency possible.