Roy Boswell and Xiao Zhiyu Selected for Alumni Residencies in Scotland and New York
Alumni of the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki Roy Boswell and Xiao Zhiyu have been selected for alumni residencies in Scotland and New York. An international expert panel conducted a pre-selection among the applicants. The final choice of resident artists was made by the residency centres based on the panel’s recommendations.
Boswell to Cove Park and Scottish Sculpture Workshop
British-Finnish artist Roy Boswell has been selected for a four-month residency in Scotland, starting on 1 June 2026. The Ecologies in the Making: Sculpting Futures residency aims to support visual artists in exploring and developing ecological methods and contexts in their artistic practice. The residency is divided into two parts: the first two months will take place at Cove Park in Argyll and Bute, and the second two months at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop (SSW) in Aberdeenshire.
The pre-selection jury for Ecologies in the Making: Sculpting Futures included curator and founder of Askeaton Contemporary Arts Michele Horrigan, Head of Visual Arts Emma Nicolson from Creative Scotland, and lecturer in sculpture and site-specific art James Prevett from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki.
The jury commented on Boswell’s selection as follows:
“Selected for their interesting and thoughtful approach to materials, their understanding and exploration of time, sound and physical materials. They demonstrate a clear plan for the residency and bring an understanding of the potential of each site and how the experience would benefit their practice and career. Their documentation of previous work demonstrated potential for interesting future outcomes. We thought this would be a good fit for them at this moment in their development as a professional artist and the opportunity to forge links in an international context.”
Xiao to the ISCP
Helsinki-based artist Xiao Zhiyu has been selected for the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) residency in New York, USA, for 2027. The six-month residency begins on 1 January 2027. ISCP is the most comprehensive international visual arts residency programme in New York. Resident artists at ISCP have access to studio space and are provided with a residential apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The pre-selection jury for the ISCP residency included curator of moving image and performance Lena Essling from Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Executive Director Evita Goze from Kim? Contemporary Arts Center, Riga; and Professor of Contemporary Art Presentation, Curation, and Mediation Michael Birchall from the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
The jury commented on Xiao’s selection as follows:
” The jury were impressed by Zhiyu’s application for the ISCP residency, given the breadth of questions and research that could be developed during this residency period, we feel this is a manageable project to undertake, and one that will continue to support the artists’ development. In particular, this will concentrate on landscapes— real or cinematic—and how they mediate power, mobility, and the idea of freedom. We also feel that this will give the artist a unique opportunity to develop long lasting links with the North American art context.”
International Residency Fellowships for Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts Alumni
Residency programs for Academy of Fine Arts alumni are part of a long-term collaboration between Saastamoinen Foundation and Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts to promote internationalisation. Other residency partners of the Academy of Fine Arts include the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht, LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto), and SPACE in London. Additionally, Saastamoinen Foundation provides a stipend for the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten residency to an applicant accepted through the Rijksakademie’s own residency selection process. Residency application periods are announced through the communication channels of Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts and Saastamoinen Foundation.
Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Arts Helsinki and the Foundation congratulate Roy Boswell and Xiao Zhiyu and wish them rewarding residency periods!