Lancaster Arts TEST Residency: On LAND
Lancaster Arts invites proposals for our next TEST Residency: On LAND
20 – 24 January 2025
Lancaster Arts wishes to support a contemporary artist working in any artform and based in the north of England who wants to make open-ended enquiries and explore new territory in collaboration with others, relating to our 2025 theme of LAND. We are interested in a wide range of perspectives and interpretations of this theme, from artists interested in the physical geology of the landscape to those exploring ideas of homelands, borders, boundaries, access and land ownership.
We will catalyse creative collaborations between artists and academics to enhance understanding and interpretations of the theme. In parallel to this artist call out, we are inviting researchers whose enquiries link to the theme of LAND to apply to be part of the TEST residency week. In this way, this residency will enable a phase of exploration, for mutual benefit, taking the form of conversations, mini residencies within an academic department and/or field trips with one or more researcher/s within the residency period, as well as time to reflect and develop ideas with the support of the Lancaster Arts team.
If you have further questions or would like to hear from us directly about the opportunity, we will deliver an online surgery on Thurs 7 November at 11am (see below).
Background
Lancaster Arts is a part of Lancaster University and a combined arts National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) of Arts Council England. Functioning as an innovative, ideas–led laboratory, Lancaster Arts provides a platform for artists eager to push the boundaries of their practice. Notably, the organisation has a long-standing tradition of hosting artist residencies, enabling the exploration of fresh creative practices in the Nuffield Theatre, The Peter Scott Gallery and across the campus and beyond. Please see two contrasting examples: Jenni Jackson and Leo&Hyde.
Every year, Lancaster Arts explores a theme to guide, connect and focus our cross-disciplinary artforms. In 2025, this will be LAND.
“The non-show outcome based residency provided freedom to explore artistic ideas, training and writing without the pressure to deliver a polished performance. This allowed for long-term thinking in the context of the residency and streamlining of ideas”.
Tom Cassani on 2023 TEST Residency: On Circus.
The Residency includes:
- a fee of £1500 for a 5-day residency in the Nuffield Theatre, with the possibility of making use of other spaces. This amount will include accommodation, travel and expenses (including any expenses associated with documentation). Lancaster Arts can help to arrange accommodation on the university campus, if required (accommodation on campus is approximately £60 a night)
- collaborating directly with academics at Lancaster University in mini residencies
- support from across our whole team with particular emphasis on logistical, technical and creative support
- the brokering of relationships with academics and potential external collaborators for the residency
- extra financial support towards access costs. Specific needs will be discussed with the successful artist.
We would like you to:
- participate in a Creative Gathering with artists, academics and the public on the theme of LAND during the residency week
- reflect on your residency with the Lancaster Arts team, including initial reflections at the end of the week, and a later evaluation conversation, with a 6 month check in to understand longer term impact on your practice
- create a short ‘response’ to the residency that articulates your process and learning, such as a blog, a podcast, a video diary, etc. by mid-February so this gives you a chance to share publicly and reflect on the residency.
Criteria for selection:
- a track record of making contemporary art (in any discipline) for at least 5 years
- Identify a question or questions you want to explore relating to the theme of LAND
- a willingness to enter an open-ended collaborative and mutual research process, to see where it takes you and your practice
- an articulation of how a research process such as this could extend or deepen your practice in some way
- an interest in collaborating with us at Lancaster Arts
We welcome all applications. We will prioritise artists of the global majority and/or those whose work is primarily based in the north of England (Cumbria, Northumbria, Lancashire, County Durham, Sunderland, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Merseyside, Yorkshire).
Technical information
This opportunity will take place across the university in research departments, and in the Nuffield Theatre, a ‘black box’ space of approximately 22m wide/deep. The residency will be supported by a Lancaster Arts technician and there is potential for simple lighting, audio feedback, and projection, if desired.
How to apply:
We will be offering an optional online surgery for artists considering an application on Thurs 7 Nov at 11am.
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please complete an application form by following this link. If you are selected for interview, we will ask you to prepare a more detailed plan for how you will spend your residency time.
If you would like to submit your application in a different format for access reasons, please contact us directly.
We will be asking you to address the following questions (Please do not offer more than 200 words per answer):
Experience and interest:
- Why are you interested in the TEST residency: On LAND at Lancaster Arts?
- What aspects of the theme of LAND are you interested to explore, and how does this relate to your ongoing practice?
- What experience do you have in collaborating with non-artists, and what would you hope to gain and contribute to in interactions with researchers?
- How do you think this residency might extend your artistic practice?
- Please identify up to 3 questions you wish to explore through the TEST residency.
Practical:
- Propose an outline budget (including fees, accommodation, travel, expenses, materials)
About you:
- Include a short biography / artist statement (NOT a CV)
- Please provide up to 3 links to further information/clips and let us know how they specifically relate to this application.
Key Dates:
Optional online surgery, 7 Nov 2024 at 11:00.
Application Deadline: Midnight Tuesday, (11:59pm) 19 Nov 2024
Interview shortlisted applicants (online) 4 or 5 Dec 2024
Site visit to Lancaster in mid December
Test Residency: Mon 20 to Fri 24 January 2025 (including a Creative Gathering on the afternoon of Wed 22 Jan 2025).
Please also see our application writing advice on our website: APPLYING FOR OPEN CALLS: HOW TO MAKE YOUR APPLICATION STAND OUT.
Please contact our producer alice@lancasterarts.org with any questions. Please note that we cannot read application drafts.
Don’t forget to fill in our monitoring form here.