Fine Arts Awards

Fine Arts Awards

Amba Sayal-Bennett, Lor, 2022.
Lara Smithson, Unnamed saint, 2022.
Barbara Walker, Marking the Moment 6, 2020-2022.

Abbey Awards

The Abbey Awards support artists whose primary practice is painting—UK and US citizens or residents—who are ready to deepen, challenge, and evolve their work. These prestigious residencies offer a rare opportunity to live and create at the BSR, surrounded by a vibrant community of artists and scholars.

Each year, we offer:

  • Three Abbey Fellowships (3 months each) for mid-career artists

  • One Abbey Scholarship (9 months) for an early-career artist

Award-holders receive a spacious, live-in studio in our historic building, shared communal meals, and a monthly stipend to support focused, uninterrupted creative work.

At the BSR, artists are given the freedom to reflect, experiment, and grow—immersed in the visual richness and layered history of Rome. Whether developing new ideas or refining your practice, the Abbey Awards provide the time and space to thrive.

Eligibility: Open to UK and US citizens and long-term residents (resident for a consecutive 5 of the last 10 years). There is no age limit.

Applications open each October. Click here to learn more and apply.

Latest Events

Latest Events

ITALY
Women’s Day Roundtable | Femicide and gender violence in ancient Rome: evidence from epigraphy and Roman art
Although historical and literary sources from the Roman age report several cases of femicide, i.e. husbands or lovers killing or having their partners killed, and
11 March 2026
18:00 - 19:30
ITALY
Workshop (IT) | The Politics of Dirt: Garbage, Decorum, and Urban Exclusion from Modernity to Today
Please note that the workshop will be in Italian. Download the programme here. Download the book of abstract here. The Politics of Dirt: Hygiene, Décor,
20 March 2026
10:00 - 17:00
ITALY
Conference | William Gell around the World: Research and Engagement
With speakers invited to look at recent and future projects on the numerous notebooks documenting the travels and research of William Gell (1777-1836), the well-known
1 April 2026
10:00 - 17:00

Search