Kampala-based arts centre invites artists, researchers, and architects to engage with sustainable construction and community-led design through a new self-funded residency programme.
32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust has announced the launch of its first-ever self-funded residencies, inviting applications for 2026. The new programme offers artists, researchers, architects, and curators the opportunity to rent studio space at 32° East while engaging directly with the centre’s ongoing sustainable construction project in Kampala, Uganda.
Residencies will run for up to 12 months from January 2026, with all proceeds contributing to the completion of Phase II of 32° East’s purpose-built art centre.
Studios on an Active Site
The residencies are designed for practitioners interested in rammed earth, sustainable building, architecture for community, and the intersections of art and construction. Participants will have access to an active construction site, where they can observe and participate in sustainable building processes, including compressed earth brick-making in collaboration with Localworks and Newmakers Bureau.
While the studios will operate adjacent to construction activities, all necessary safety measures will be in place. Residents will have multiple opportunities to engage with the site’s development, gaining first-hand experience of how contemporary art and architecture can coexist with environmental responsibility.
Context and Focus
Phase I of 32° East opened in March 2023 and has since been recognised in international architectural publications for its innovative use of materials and community-centred design. The building has received awards for integrating functionality, sustainability, and cultural purpose.
With Phase II underway, the self-funded residencies aim to create space for dialogue and experimentation around questions of land, ownership, and the future of sustainable spaces for art. The programme welcomes proposals that address these ideas through research, material exploration, or community-based practice.
Residency Features
Residents will receive access to:
- A private studio with 24-hour access
- An on-site library focused on African art and visual culture
- Mentorship from 32° East, Localworks staff, and past residents
- Technical resources, including computers with Adobe Creative Suite, scanners, projectors, cameras, and digital printers
- Weekly critique sessions and professional development meetings
- Opportunities to connect with 32° East’s network of over 100 members, visiting curators, and cultural practitioners
- Paid accommodation for international participants
Residencies are flexible in format and intended to support professional growth — from concept development to research or production.
Applications
Applications for the 2026 Self-Funded Residencies are open from 15 October to 15 November 2025 (11:59 PM Ugandan Time).
Applicants must submit the online form available via 32° East’s website.
32° East 2026 Self-Funded Residencies take place from January 2026 in Kampala, Uganda. For full details and the application form, visit www.32east.org.
