Created by Stills, Edinburgh in partnership with Fondazione Fotografia (Fondazione Casa di Risparmio di Modena), AiR was a pilot progamme of residencies and exchanges held in 2010; it included six artists-photographers (three from Scotland, three from Italy) to work with curatorial and critical support to develop their practice by exploring the theme of 'Small Country / Small Communities.'

AiR presented a unique opportunity to conduct a series of discussions throughout the residencies, which would take place during the process of making new work. In my role as artist-writer, I conducted a series of exploratory interviews with the artists during their AiR residency. The interviews were informal and structured in relation to their work-in-progress. As an artist myself, I thought the AiR residency exchange presented a unique opportunity to talk to other artists. Usually when we hear artists speak about their work, it is in the context of a final public exhibition, rather than during the process of developing new work. Therefore the interviews and meetings with each artist during this residency scheme were crucial as a way of focusing on their thoughts, working processes and aspirations rather than speaking about works that are completely resolved. My report, and extracts from these interviews was incorporated into the publication.