Uncommon launches annual residency programme for artists, opening with Yellowzine

The residencies will aim to nurture diverse creative talents in-person at their Farringdon, London offices. They will pair creative individuals and businesses with shared ambitions and interests to create purposeful work while fusing skills and knowledge across industries. The partnership of different creatives working from different worlds will allow for mutual learning as well as refresh process, perspective and thinking.

The first confirmed residents involved in the programme are online and print platform Yellowzine founders and siblings, Aisha and Oreoluwa Ayoade, who will work with Uncommon for one week a month over the next six months. Their work spotlights visual art from African, Caribbean, Asian and Hispanic creatives across the UK.

Oreoluwa Ayoade said: "We are huge admirers of Uncommon and their work. We're very excited to have this opportunity to join their residency programme and can't wait to see what collaborations it will bring."

Yellowzine was initially conceived in 2017 as a space for these creatives to express themselves freely after launching in response to the ongoing racial inequalities in the creative industries – something the founders both experienced personally.

The recently-launched fourth issue, titled New Traditions, looks at how creatives are moving away from their traditions to create their own. Featuring artists across mediums – such as collage makers, illustrators, audio-visual artists and photographers – the magazine collection is a celebration of their work.

The Yellowzine offering is split into four sections: a physical print magazine, live events and an 8-week creative mentorship scheme, connecting artists with clients and collaborators and providing them with guidance to excel in their careers.

Talking about the growth of Yellowzine, Aisha Ayoade adds: "In the past four years, we've been able to achieve some amazing things and build a community that we hadn't anticipated being on the cards as a magazine. At this time, it feels like we're on the cusp of a new chapter, and we're ready to elevate the platform to the next level."

Of the collaboration with Yellowzine, Tom Griffin, chief operating officer at Uncommon, says: "The studio residency programme is our way to get close to the exciting talent we admire. A chance to learn from each other and collaborate beyond the boundaries of our industry. The editorial space is something we've always been excited by at Uncommon — and we are big admirers of the platform and community that Yellowzine have built. We can't wait to see what we make together."

To order a copy, visit yellowzine.bigcartel.com. Or you can follow them on Instagram.