Supporting artists to grow, connect and be seen
A supported development opportunity for early to mid-career artists.
Fellowship
The Axis Fellowship supports artists to develop their practice with time, funding, mentoring, and peer support.
“The Axis Fellowship has been a much needed space to reflect on my practice and plan for the future.”
Uma Breakdown, 2024 Axis Fellow
In 2026, the Fellowship is part of the Axis Artist Awards. Three Professional Members will receive £4,000 each, one-to-one mentoring, support to share their work through Axis, and regular sessions with the other Fellowship artists.
Applications are made through the Axis Artist Awards.
Professional Members apply once and will be considered for both the Fellowship and the Development Awards.
About the Fellowship
The Axis Fellowship is for artists who are ready to develop their work, test ideas, and take part in a small peer cohort.
It is not just a grant. Fellowship artists work alongside each other, meet regularly, receive mentoring, and share their practice with wider audiences through Axis.
For 2026, the Fellowship runs across:
- October to December 2026
- February to April 2027
What Fellowship artists receive
Each Fellowship artist receives:
- £4,000
- one-to-one mentoring
- regular peer sessions with the other Fellowship artists
- support to share their work through Axis platforms and channels
- the chance to contribute to a public talk, filmed studio visit, interview, or written piece
Who can apply
The Fellowship is open to Professional Members based in the UK.
You need to:
- be based in the UK
- have an active Professional Membership when you apply
- keep your Professional Membership active
- be able to commit time to the Fellowship between October 2026 and April 2027
Applications will open in June 2026
Professional Membership
The Fellowship is open to Axis Professional Members.
Professional Membership is for artists with an active, developed practice. It is by application or invitation.
If you are not currently a Professional Member and want to be considered for the Fellowship, you will need to apply for Professional Membership before you apply for the Axis Artist Awards.
If you are not a Professional Member, you can still apply for a Development Award through the Axis Artist Awards.
Please Note: Artists who want to be considered for the Fellowship should apply for Professional Membership by 14 July 2026 at the latest, to allow time for review and confirmation of eligibility.
Part of the Axis Artist Awards
The Fellowship sits alongside 35 Development Awards of £1,000.
Together, the Axis Artist Awards will support 38 artists in 2026, with nearly £50,000 going directly into artists’ hands.
Development Awards are open to all active Axis members. The Fellowship is open to Professional Members only.
Professional Members will be considered for both through the same application.
If you are not a Professional Member, you can still apply for a Development Award through the Axis Artist Awards.
Previous Fellows
Since launching, the Axis Fellowship has supported artists to develop their practice, build confidence, and share new work with wider audiences.
What Fellows say
“The sessions helped me open new perspectives in my practice.”
Asuf Ishaq, 2024 Axis Fellow
“The reflections are still with me in the studio. The connections grow and the conversations continue to have an effect.”
Hannah Leighton Boyce, 2024 Axis Fellow
“It brought me into the orbit of interesting and challenging practitioners who shared their processes and offered thoughtful feedback.”
Sean Roy Parker, 2024 Axis Fellow
These experiences shape the Fellowship each year and continue beyond the funded period.
We are Axis
An independent charity supporting contemporary visual artists. We work with artists, supporting their practice through funding, visibility, connection and practical help.
As a charity led by artists and funded by our members, everything we do goes back into supporting artists.