Manetti Shrem Scholarship

The Manetti Shrem International Residency is a scholarship offered to four gifted and dedicated artist from UC Davis to join the Royal Drawing School for a supported residency for one term.

The four selected artists attend four daytime courses and one evening course each week for ten weeks. Drawing alongside postgraduate students studying on the Royal Drawing School's MA level programme, The Drawing Year, as well as students on the Public Programme. Courses are taught by a distinguished faculty of over 75 practising artists. The Scholars curate their own programme choosing from over different 60+ drawing courses, drawing out of house in London’s streets and green spaces, life drawing, drawing from art in major museums and galleries, as well as intaglio printmaking courses. The artist are provided with a shared studio space alongside Royal Drawing School, Drawing Year Students at Space Studios.

The artists have the opportunity to attend the School’s lecture series, which includes in-conversations with leading contemporary artists and art history lectures. Speakers have included Cornelia Parker RA, Denzil Forrester, Maggi Hambling CBE, Helen Cammock, Walid Siti, Michael Landy RA and former director of The National Gallery, Sir Nicholas Penny FSA. You can watch/listen to past lectures here.

In addition to ten weeks in London, artists complete the residency with a two-week residency at Dumfries House in Scotland. Artists will be provided with a private studio and self-catering accommodation on the Dumfries House estate.

To assist with travel and accommodation costs, the Manetti Shrem Scholars will be awarded a stipend ahead of their arrival in London.

Please note visas are visiting artist's own responsibility.

Artists applying for the Scholarship should show evidence of observational drawing in their practice. The purpose of the Scholarship is to help support an emerging artist and to nurture drawing as their foundation skill.

Applications are closed for the Manetti Shrem International Residency Scholarship. Applications will open again in Spring 2026 for residency taking place in Autumn 2026. Please note this residency is only open to artists nominated by UC Davis. If you have any questions regarding the residency please contact        residencies@royaldrawingschool.org.

The Manetti Shrem International Residency Scholarship is generously supported by Royal Drawing School donors Mr Shrem and Mrs Manetti Shrem.