Hampshire Cultural Trust, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is delivering a major redevelopment of the Allen Gallery in Alton, Hampshire. This includes refurbishment of the Grade II Listed building and reinterpretation of its nationally significant ceramics collection.
As part of the project, Hampshire Cultural Trust invites an artist working in painting or ceramics to develop a creative response to the works in the Allen Gallery collection, with a particular focus on the contributions made by William Herbert Allen (see below), producing a body of work of which items will be selected for a temporary display upon its re-opening in early 2027. Hampshire Cultural Trust may acquire an object, by agreement with the artist, to include in its permanent collection.
The artist is invited specifically to consider WH Allen, whose historic bequest and whose role as artist and educator are a key element of the vision for the Allen Gallery. The residency offers an opportunity to explore his work as an artist and collector, his personal motivations and/or his passion for the natural world, heritage crafts and industry.
What we are looking for:
- A fresh eye on our collections, with new and alternative interpretations of the ceramics and other objects we care for.
- Creation of inspiring artworks – whether exploratory or more finished – that help shine a light on the Allen Gallery Collection and its history.
- Delivery of creative activities (e.g. talks, demonstrations or workshops), bringing your skills and energy to our community programme (2 activities to be delivered during the residency period).
- We are interested in dynamic responses that explore the specialist nature of the collection and/or support the public in engaging with this valuable resource.
Deadline: 15 May 2026. See below for details on how to apply for this opportunity. This opportunity is open to any artist working painting/fine art or ceramics. Further opportunities will be available in 2027. We welcome submissions from all artists working in painting or ceramics, and will acknowledge receipt of every application.
Further information:
The Project Curator and team will provide access to WH Allen's pieces from the collection (these will be in storage in Winchester) as well as his many paintings and sketches.
Examples within the ceramics collection from WH Allen’s bequest include a candlestick dating back to the mid 17th century, as well as tin-glazed earthenware plates made in the United Provinces, Netherlands, in the late 18th/ early 19th century. Further items not part of the gift but which are significant for their links with W H Allen and the nearby town of Farnham are important to our collection, such as the Wrecclesham Pottery Owl Jugs.
More information on William Allen, his work and the bequest can be found here: https://collections.hampshireculture.org.uk/topic/wh-allen-1863-1943
Contract fees and budget
The total fee available is £3250, including all expenses. This is broken down as:
- Artist fee and associated costs
- Community engagement activity costs
The fee will be inclusive of:
- Artist time
- Materials
- All production/fabrication costs
- Any subcontracted specialist works
- Delivery of objects to site
- Participation in required meetings with the project team
- Community engagement costs (inc fees and materials, activities will be developed with the project team to build on the residency work and draw inspiration from the collection)
A payment schedule will be agreed with the selected artist, typically aligned to key project milestones.
The artist will be required to hold current Public Liability Insurance for the duration of the residency, which must cover relevant activities as agreed at appointment.
Ambition and rationale of the work
The ceramics displays in the Allen Gallery will undergo a significant transformation throughout 2026. As part of its reopening, the gallery will invite visitors to experience the collection in new ways and learn more about the stories behind the objects. Feedback has shown that visitors enjoy seeing historic work alongside contemporary work and are drawn to the diversity of materials and processes – we hope that a residency will offer new ways in which to understand the collection and its significance in the 21st century.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:
Applications will be welcomed from all UK-based creative practitioners. Hampshire Cultural Trust is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). We believe that a culture that actively values difference and people with different backgrounds and experiences brings invaluable insights to the workplace, enhancing the way we perform and the way we work.
Our aim is to be inclusive, valuing and respecting diversity and developing our ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve and work with, now and in the future.
Our EDI strategy has been created with input and collaboration from colleagues from across all areas of the trust and supports the delivery of our vision: to create inspirational cultural experiences in Hampshire that enrich and transform lives.
If you have any specific queries or requirements with regards to your application please contact the project team at allen.gallery@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.
Application process and deadline:
To apply, please supply:
- Your CV, including your full name and contact details.
- A brief statement setting out your reasons for applying and how you might approach the brief (300 words max).
- Up to 3 images of your work that reflect your creative practice. Please also include any website or social media links to your work in your CV.
Deadline for return of applications: Friday 15 May 2026
All information is to be submitted to the Allen Gallery Project Team at: allen.gallery@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk If you need to get in touch in relation to your application please leave a message on 01962 454677.
