Maryam Aisha (top left), Elle MacMillan (top right), Sireen Martin (bottom left) and Mads Washbrook (bottom right), 2025.
Grand Union and Birmingham City University (BCU) run a co-working studio space for artistic research, development and production at our site in Minerva Works, Digbeth. The co-working studio compliments Grand Union’s existing provision of artists’ studios and ceramics co-operative Modern Clay.
From 2017-2020, four recent graduates from Birmingham City University (BCU) arts faculties were selected from an open call to receive free 24-hour access to a shared studio space, along with mentoring across the year with Grand Union Directors, exhibiting artists, curators in residence, and established Grand Union studio holders.
In 2025, Grand Union and BCU re-opened this opportunity. Our current graduate studio holders are Maryam Aisha, Elle MacMillan, Sireen Martin and Mads Washbrook.
Grand Union recognises the importance of providing access to studio and production facilities to young and emerging artists in the city, to encourage new making, nurture talent, and support graduate retention in Birmingham.
This residency opportunity diversifies Grand Union’s studio membership, creating networking opportunities between early practitioners and established artists. The residency also facilitates experimentation and the cross-fertilisation of ideas and good practice across disciplines of Art, Design & Media, in one shared space.