The residency will last 4 weeks, and will include transportation to London, meals, equipment and materials, accommodation, and a private workspace in East London.

The residency will take place in 2026 or 2027.

The artist will be hosted in a private studio located in Zone 2, a few minutes’ walk from Bow Church Station, containing a workspace, bedroom, two bathrooms, a kitchen, private outdoor area, and access to a communal rooftop terrace. Benefiting from high ceilings and natural light, the studio will be supplied with equipment such as computer, paper, materials, softwares and more. Beyond the primary studio, artists will have access to additional facilities through the network of partners.

The Cluster Illustration Artist-in-Residency Programme offers a four-week mentorship tailored to each artist’s career trajectory and aspirations. Participants engage in one-on-one sessions with a diverse array of professionals – including industry leaders, collectors, makers – online, in person or within their private East London studio.

The winner of the Cluster Illustration Residency will receive a complimentary exhibition space at the Illustrators’ Fair in December 2026, providing a platform to present their work.

Vienna Design Week is the official partner of the 2026 Cluster Illustration Artist-in-Residence Programme. As part of this collaboration, four shortlisted artists and the residency winner will have the opportunity to showcase their work during the festival in a dedicated exhibition curated by Cluster.

The residency winner and all four shortlisted artists will also exhibit their work at Cluster’s new Shoreditch space in London in December 2026.

In addition, the Cluster team will select 25 artists from the full pool of applicants to be featured across Cluster’s online platforms and special editorial showcases.