Who we are
EMBASSY is an artist-led organisation based in Edinburgh that seeks to support early career artists through the facilitation of exhibitions, commissioning opportunities and events. EMBASSY was established in 2003 and since then has been run by a rolling non-hierarchical committee. In September 2022, EMBASSY updated its governance structure, in order to make changes to allow the role of the operational committee to be fairly paid. The gallery is now seeking to continue its legacy of DIY and collective organising, whilst working under a more sustainable and accessible structure.
The operational committee takes responsibility for curatorial projects and all aspects of running the gallery. They are then supported by a Board of Trustees, a primarily advisory role, to provide support and guidance to the organisation. We work collaboratively to support one another to develop new skills and take the lead on projects. Previously EMBASSY has hosted exhibitions, residencies, workshops, international exchange projects and performances. EMBASSY is a non-hierarchical working environment, and as such everyone holds a shared responsibility in all areas of work to ensure a collective involvement in decision making. We describe EMBASSY as a ‘learning environment’ in which together we give and receive support to one another and the practitioners we work with.
EMBASSY is Company Limited by Guarantee, with charitable status.
Company Number: 259872. OSCR Charity No: SC035780.
What we do
EMBASSY commissions artists and cultural practitioners to produce new work. This includes artworks, exhibitions, performances, screenings, and dialogical events. As of 2025, EMBASSY presents commissioned exhibitions in February, April, June, August and October, with Biscuit Tin, our annual artists moving image festival, happening in December. EMBASSY has a number of regularly programmed events, such as the Sunday Lecture Series, Neighbourhood Watch and Members’ Crits, which are organised by the committee. More information about these can be found in the Programme section of our website.
In the months without commissioned exhibitions, EMBASSY is open to community takeovers by our members. These can include short exhibitions, workshops, reading groups and talks. If you would like to propose a community take-over event, please read the information in the Membership section of our website and complete the form. Members are also invited to submit to our annual Members Show and participate in bi-monthly Members Crits.
You can subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page for updates on our exhibitions, events, and opportunities.