Each year Longhouse commissions a number of artists wishing to explore their own practice through a dedicated period of research and self-enquiry. Action Research plays an important role in artists’ professional development as it provides a unique opportunity for artists to discover new contexts of work by giving them the time and space to reflect on their own practice. As People, Identity and Place are key components of the public realm, we deemed these appropriate themes for the Action Research commissions to be based around.

Longhouse does not define or set an object-based outcome for the individual Action Research projects. The outcome of each project is agreed by the artist through consultation with Longhouse in accordance with the overall aims, objectives and outputs of the Action Research programme.

The commission supports research and development for a period of up to approximately nine months. Artists at different stages in their career can apply for the Action Research and details on how to apply for the 2008/ 2009 Action Research commission will be available on the Longhouse website in May 2008.

Copies of the 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 Artist Action Research publications can be requested by clicking here. A new publication that documents the latest Action Research projects from the 2007/08 programme will be available in spring 2008.