Metal is excited to announce a call out for its 2022/2023 Artist-in-Residence programme, offering 12 opportunities to creatives who live and/or work locally to us. The offer is for a short period of focused research and development time for a new/existing project, or for a body of work that is already in development.
The opportunity is open to artists working in any artform and whilst it is not compulsory, we do have a particular interest in artists and ideas that respond in some way to Place – for example, through connections with people, passions, histories, landscape or other uniqueness of the places and communities that we are part of.
Individuals, collaborations, or collectives can apply and must be based in one of our local areas:
- Peterborough or Cambridgeshire and surrounding villages
- Liverpool City region (all boroughs)
- South Essex (Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea Borough, Thurrock)
If you have an queries, please contact the Metal site closest to your location (contact information below)
In response to the success of our hybrid model of residency, we will continue to offer this going forward. Artists can choose to work from home or in their own studio supported by Metal staff online, from our Metal spaces, or a combination of the two.
Metal’s Offer:
Each selected artist will receive a fee of £1000 paid in two instalments.
You can access up to 20 days of:-
● the facilities in our buildings including studio and rehearsal space
● staff time to support your research (e.g. mentoring and feedback sessions, brokering relationships with communities or support with funding applications).
You will also have the opportunity to participate in our other programmes including Metal New Artist Network (MNAN) and Future Network. We also offer sessions where the selected Artists-in-Residence can meet and share ideas and thoughts as part of a peer-to-peer network.
Examples of previous residencies:-
● Ryan Gilmartin developed an immersive video installation by remixing live and archival footage from the 50’s & 60’s to create an audio-visual experience about space and the moon.
● Artist and Filmmaker Amber Akaunu used the residency to create an open call out for people with afro hair to share their “Afro Hair Ritual” for a new film work.
● Sadie Davidson, an award-winning slam poet used the residency to explore her first memoir style novel
Feedback from previous artists in residence
‘My residency with Metal took place over the first lockdown. My plans completely changed, the residency was from home. The level of support I received was enormously helpful. I’ve never had the experience of working with an organisation that so completely believed in artists. It was life saving at a very difficult and stressful time.’
‘I felt really well supported. For months ahead of the residency, I was given access to the team at Metal in order to develop contacts, network, research, and to receive help with applying for ACE funding. The actual time spent in physical residence was divided into a series of visits and so it felt much longer than a month. I loved the opportunity to host a networking dinner party, and met some really interesting people in a way that was much more informal.’
‘I did not expect it to kick off so much connection and interaction locally, which has been an absolute joy.’
‘It gave us money and time to develop an existing project. It was well supported, and Metal really put the artist at the centre of the residency which opened many other doors for us.’
‘It was extremely helpful to be surrounded by an organisation who clearly believed in what we were doing. Our confidence when talking about our work has improved so much more!’
‘The residency allowed me to pilot ideas and test out research models ready to apply for an Arts Council Project Grant.’
How do I apply?
In the application form we ask you to share with us:
- How you will use this opportunity (your research idea); how it will develop your practice; and what relevant help you think we can provide (300-500 words)
- Your biography with examples of your previous work (images, videos, audio files, written texts)
- Your CV (optional)
- Audio or video files are welcome as an alternative to a written application, but must be within 8 minutes.
If you have any other questions or you would like to suggest a way to make this process more accessible, please get in touch with your local site administrator.
To start your application, click HERE.
Closing date: 5pm, Monday 11 April 2022
Notification: All artists will be notified of the outcome by the week commencing the 2 May
Residency period: All month-long residencies will take place between May and October 2022. There will be a second residency call out in August 2022, these residencies will take place between October 2022 – March 2023
Number of Residencies available: 12 in total (4 at each location: Liverpool, Peterborough, Southend) another 9 will be available in the second call out in autumn 2022.
Offer: £1000 fee, use of Metal facilities and resources, staff time