I'm looking for a studio

Step 1

Introduction

NUCLEO creates space for the artistic development of professional visual artists. One way we do this is by renting out artist studios in Ghent.

You can apply for a studio at NUCLEO via this website. First read all the steps below, ending with step 7, your application.

Step 2

Registration

To register with NUCLEO, you’ll need an online account. During the registration process, we’ll ask you to briefly explain why you’re looking for a studio. We’ll also enquire about your artistic background.

Once your registration is confirmed, you can send us your details and application dossier.

NUCLEO is primarily targeted at professional visual artists and collectives. We welcome all visual practices: painters, sculptors, conceptual artists, people with hybrid practices, and so on.

‘Professional’ means that you have the intention of practising your artistic activities in an occupational capacity, developing an artistic career and – if possible – making a living out of those activities.

Artists who are just starting out receive special attention at NUCLEO. After all, the demand for workspace is highest among recently graduated artists, since they lose their studios at school when they graduate. Add to that the fact that their financial situation is often very precarious at this stage.

Other artistic disciplines (such as performing arts, literature, …), cultural entrepreneurs, and cultural organisations may also exceptionally be given a place, but visual artists are given priority.
Cultural entrepreneurs and organisations are welcome when they are active within the contemporary art ecosystem and regularly collaborate with artists or arts organisations. A strong connection with the contemporary art field is essential. Their vision and philosophy must align with NUCLEO’s way of working and offer added value for the artists who use a studio at NUCLEO.

Step 3

Your application dossier

Send us your application dossier.

Your dossier must contain four parts:

A comprehensive CV listing the main details of your practice and placing an emphasis on the last two to three years. List any solo and group exhibitions you participated in, commissions, awards, publications, any sales, and so on, always mentioning the date and location. You may also include secondary activities such as teaching, consulting and committee roles.
Visual documentation with at least 20 images of your work from the last 2 to 4 years, indicating the title, year, dimensions and media used.
A text to contextualise your artistic practice. In no more than 500 words, describe the guiding principles of your work and practice, and how they are expressed. In the case of collaborative work, be sure to describe your own contribution clearly.
Your motivation for using the studio, the expected intensity of use, the motivation for your application, any concrete plans you have regarding upcoming artistic projects …

If your application dossier is complete and successfully submitted, you will receive an email confirmation. Your application is then ready to be assessed by the committee.

Step 4

The committee

Your application dossier will be assessed by a committee of independent experts from the visual arts field. The current committee consists of Simon Debbaut, Hanna Ilczyszyn and Cedric Verhelst.

They will screen your dossier according to NUCLEO’s criteria:

In the case of visual artists, your artistic practice must fit within a contemporary frame of reference, with the aspects of research and reflection playing an important role. The artworks are realised in various media and attest to a critical relevance. The visual quality of the work prevails over the purely aesthetic or technical. The quality of the work, the professionalism of the practice and the ambition and motivation of the applicant are decisive in the assessment. The applicant’s perspective on their artistic development plays an important role. Any concrete plans for artistic projects may be included in the assessment.
In the case of cultural entrepreneurs, their practice must be intertwined with the contemporary art field. Regular collaborations with artists or arts organisations are essential. Their vision aligns with NUCLEO’s way of working, and their presence strengthens the practices of the artists at NUCLEO.
The same criteria apply to cultural organisations as to cultural entrepreneurs.

After the committee has discussed your dossier, you will receive an e‑mail whether it has been approved or not.

Step 5

The waiting list

If your application is positively evaluated by the committee, you will be placed on our waiting list. We then check with you what your minimum expectations are for a studio. As soon as you reach the top of the waiting list and there are studios available that meet your requirements, we will invite you for a studio viewing. You are then free to decide whether the studio is suitable for your needs.

Step 6

Extension

Your place on the waiting list expires after two years. If you wish you renew for another two years, we will ask you to submit a new application dossier.

Artists who already have a NUCLEO studio are asked to submit a new dossier every five years. This is to reevaluate the need for the studio, among other reasons.

Of course, the duration that you can keep the same studio will also depend on the term of NUCLEO’s own lease with the owner of the premises in question.

Step 7

Start your application

Now you’ve been briefed on everything you need to know, you are ready to start your application.

If you still have questions, be sure to check our FAQs below.

How long is the wait for a studio?

The waiting time for a studio is difficult to predict. It can range from a number of weeks to over a year. It all depends on the number of studios at our disposal, the amount of demand and your requirements. The temporary nature of the studio buildings can also bring about shifts in availability.

What does a studio cost?

Each studio has a monthly cost. This amount comprises all fixed costs and energy costs. This means there are no year-end bills. NUCLEO monitors meter readings on a monthly basis in order to keep an overview of costs.

The price of a studio is determined based on various parameters, such as the number of users of the studio, the level of comfort and the state of the space, the location and the expected lease term of the building. Prices currently range from €100 to €350 per person per month.

Thus, a small studio without heating in a building where we can only stay for a few months is the cheapest option, while a large, heated studio in a building where we can stay for several years is the most expensive. Studios in buildings with a guaranteed period of use of several years or more are priced higher than comparable studios in buildings with a shorter period of use.

How long can I stay in my studio?

NUCLEO’s studio management model is based on the temporary use of vacant buildings. The exact duration we can stay depends on the owner’s future plans for the building. NUCLEO monitors this closely and keeps all users informed in the event that these plans become more concrete.

We are usually able to arrange use agreements with an indefinite duration, the only formal certainty being two months’ notice in the event of the agreement’s termination.

It is possible that you would have to move studios or end up back on the waiting list in the event that a building’s use is set to change.

If you wish to stay with NUCLEO for more than five years, we ask that you submit a new application dossier to the committee every five years.

I want to end my studio contract. How do I do that?

You can end your studio contract by sending NUCLEO a registered letter or an email.

The two-month notice period starts from the first day of the following month, unless stated otherwise in your contract.

In the event that NUCLEO finds a new candidate for your studio before the end of the notice period, you will no longer have to pay the usage cost for the notice period.

Can I share a studio?

NUCLEO encourages studio sharing in cases where the space and the artistic practice lend themselves to it. All users must still be approved by the committee.

In certain buildings there are sharing studios where we match people according to the needs arising from their individual practices. We have a large sharing studio with offices, for example, and a warehouse where sculptors work side by side.

How do I switch to another studio?

You can always let us know if you are looking for another space. Let us know your minimum requirements so we can put you back on the waiting list.

How can I be sure that I’m on the waiting list?

You can always check your status on this website. When you’re logged in, your status is displayed at the top left of the screen. In the same place, you can see how long is left until you have to submit a new application dossier.

There’s a technical problem in my studio. What should I do?

You can change a lightbulb yourself, but please contact NUCLEO in the event of other electrical or technical defects, the loss of your key, and other problems.

I’m looking for a studio