What is a Metal residency?
A Metal residency is designed to give artists and creatives a protected period of time, space, community and support for research and development. The residency might involve working on a new idea or existing project that is already in development. We don’t prescribe outcomes.
Who are the residencies for?
The opportunity is open to artists working in any artform at any stage of their career. Individuals, collaborations or collectives can apply.
You must live or work in, or have a strong connection to one of our local areas:
- Liverpool City Region (all boroughs)
- Peterborough or Cambridgeshire and the surrounding villages
- South Essex (Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock)
We are looking for people who: will be excited to immerse themselves in the residency and the community it offers; will specifically benefit from a residency that doesn’t prescribe outcomes at this time; will contribute to a cross-disciplinary cohort; are engaging with the issues of our time.
Though it isn’t compulsory, we are particularly interested in working with artists and ideas that respond in some way to connections with people, passions, histories, landscape or other aspects of the places and communities we are part of.
We value different perspectives and experiences and welcome diversity in all its forms. We particularly encourage applications from global majority, LGBTQIA+, disabled and/or working class people who are underrepresented at Metal – though each of these groups is represented in Metal’s leadership – and in our sector.
(NB: Residencies with our Liverpool site have involved a slightly different format this year, inviting artists to make connections outside of the arts sector to build new partnerships and to bring residencies into different contexts. Keep an eye on the Call Outs page if you are based in Liverpool City Region.)
Where will the residencies be? What are the spaces like?
Everyone gets a warm welcome when they arrive at Metal. Our historic buildings are deliberately domestic in feel and are usually busy with artists and communities meeting, making work or dropping in. In Liverpool, we’re situated at the renovated Edge Hill Station, which is the oldest passenger railway station in the world, in Peterborough we work from Chauffeurs Cottage which was the original gatehouse property to the cathedral and in Southend at Chalkwell Hall with stunning views over the Thames Estuary. Our spaces are step-free and accessible. Artists can choose to work from Metal’s sites, in their own home/studio/space supported by Metal staff online or a combination of the two. We have also facilitated residencies in community settings and across our regions if that is of interest to your work.
What does the residency include?
The residency is for 1 month (up to 20 days) with:
- £1000 bursary – paid in two installments;
- Studio and rehearsal space at either Edge Hill Station (Liverpool), Chauffeurs Cottage (Peterborough) or Chalkwell Hall (Southend);
- Overnight accommodation at Chalkwell Hall with views over the park and the Thames Estuary, if needed (Southend only);
- Bespoke support from the lovely Metal team. We are often surprised by the opportunities and lines of enquiry that pop up during residencies and we are as responsive as possible to each individual artist and residency.
- Support might include:
- Mentoring and feedback sessions;
- Dramaturgy and producing advice;
- Introductions and brokering relationships with communities, individuals and other organisations;
- Support with funding applications;
- Joining a cohort of other artists in residence. There will be an evening for all the Artists-in-Residence to meet, share ideas and thoughts;
- The opportunity to participate in our other programmes, including Metal New Artist Network (MNAN), Future Network/Lucky Dip artist socials and our community dinners.
Some of our summer 2023 residencies:
Fasiha Ashiq is a Peterborough based artist, telling stories through illustration, painting and paper cutting. Learn more about her residency with us at Chauffeurs Cottage here.
Connor Turansky is visual artist and educator who creates interactive experiences, builds worlds, and designs mechanical contraptions. Learn more about his residency with us at Chalkwell Hall here.
Feedback from previous residencies:
Access
The Metal team will work with you on an access document before the residency begins to try to remove any barriers to fully participating in the programme. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
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 and video files are welcome as an alternative to written applications (maximum 8 minutes long).
Want to find out more before applying?
We host online an Q&A session for anyone who is interested in applying for a residency with us. This is a chance to hear about our residency programme directly from the staff who will be supporting you, to meet team members from each site and to ask any questions you might have about our residencies. We will share details about this session when our paid open call residency opportunity is live.
In 2023, we are redeveloping our residency programme. If you have sugggestions for making this process more accessible, please get in touch.
Application feedback:
Metal is a small team, but we appreciate that making an application takes work, time and energy so we always try to give feedback where it is wanted.
