Berwick Visual Arts and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival are pleased to announce applications are now open for our annual artist's residency. The residency is for a six month period beginning in April 2017 and is an opportunity for an artist with a moving image-based practice practice to create a new work. A bursary of £8000 as well as private accommodation and studio space in Berwick-upon-Tweed are available. The outcome of the residency will be premiered at Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival between 20th and 24th September 2017.

1.0 Introduction

Now in its fifth year Berwick Visual Arts and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival are committed to working in partnership to support a unique residency opportunity building upon the success of our joint artists in residence to date. Previous artists include – Cecilia Stenbom in 2013, Katie Davies in 2014 whose film ‘The Lawes of the Marches’ was screened in International Short Film Festival Oberhausen’s prestigious competition programme and Paul Rooney in 2015.

Lucy Parker was last year’s artist in residence and said the following about her residency experience:

This time outside of my usual work environment enabled me to explore my interests in community and social dynamics in a different environment, I developed a stronger understanding of the political structures of a smaller town  (differing from my experience of London).  The people in Berwick were extremely welcoming, open and supportive.  I spent time visiting a number of groups and getting to know individuals, some participated in 'Persuasion' the film I produced. Aside from developing Persuasion it was great to spend time on the coast and visiting neighbouring areas as well as Edinburgh and Newcastle.  The festival at the end of the residency was a great experience in sharing the film viewing experience of some incredible films with other film enthusiasts and people I had met in the town.’

2.0 Eligibility

The residency is open to artists currently resident in the UK and Europe, or who have permission to work in the UK.

Applicants should also be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to their artistic practice through a strong track record of creating new work through projects, exhibitions and commissions.

The applicant artist must have been out of college (BA graduate) for a minimum of 3 years, or have fully completed an MA and/or PhD.

The residency offers the successful applicant a short intense period to focus their practice on one area of work or project. Applicants must be able to work under their own initiative, be able to effectively plan and deliver an end outcome for the residency with the budget and timescale available and have the ability to communicate and engage effectively with a wide range of people.

3.0 About the residency 

The residency is an opportunity for a moving-image artist to create a new work in Berwick that could benefit from any one of the following:

• the possibility to spend six months in Berwick to produce new work at a crucial development point within their practice, with Berwick Visual Arts and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival’s support.
• an interest in investigating the context of Berwick and the wider county of Northumberland
• an interest in working in response to the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival 2017 programme theme ‘Ultramarine’

Currently at an early research stage, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival in 2017 has the concept of Ultramarine as one of its inspirations. Berwick’s identity, economy and history are defined by the town’s border location and coastal geography. Literally meaning ‘beyond the sea’, Ultramarine has a wide spectrum of possible interpretation, linked to but not limited to: the deepest shades of blue (lapis lazuli, International Klein Blue), the final film of Derek Jarman, The Sea is History by Derek Walcott, Bluets by Maggie Nelson as well as the ocean in relation to colonial and post-colonial histories and our contemporary moment.

Artists' proposals should demonstrate an initial concept, project or way of working that responds to any of these possibilities and indicate how this project will be delivered. We are aware that proposals will naturally evolve once the successful artist is resident in Berwick.

4.0 Practical Information

The residency is for a six month period and the successful applicant will be required to produce an outcome for exhibition at Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival between 20th and 24th September 2017.

The residency start date is to be agreed between the artist, Berwick Visual Arts and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival, but it is anticipated it will commence in early April 2017.

The artist will be expected to live and work in Berwick for the residency period. Berwick Visual Arts will provide a small studio space for the artist in The Maltings Theatre and Cinema and accommodation for the duration of the residency.

The accommodation consists of a one bedroom flat, five minutes’ walk from Berwick-upon-Tweed train station, and a ten minutes’ walk from The Maltings Theatre and Cinema.

The selected artist will also be expected to provide up to four talks or presentations about their work over the course of the residency.

5.0 Funding

The funding available for the residency is up to £8000.  This figure is based on a residency period of 6 months spent living and working in the area. This figure is inclusive of artist’s commission fee, material costs and production costs for the final outcome.

Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival will provide support for the exhibition of the final outcome during the festival period.

The funding available remains the same when applied to artist collaboration, where 2 or a group of artists work as one practice.

Both organisations can also support the artist in residence in apply for further funds to support the development of the new work.

6.0 Application process

Artists are asked to submit their proposals by completing the application form provided.  

Prior to interview applications will be assessed with the following criteria:

•Eligibility – see point 2.0

•Artistic merit of examples of previous work submitted.

•Strength of written proposal. 

•Impact and benefits to artists own practice.

•Impact and benefit to Berwick-upon Tweed, Berwick Visual Arts and / or Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival.

APPLICATION DEADLINE is Friday 9th December 2016 at 5pm (UK Time)

Shortlisted artists will be invited for interview on Wednesday 18 January in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed for those artists who are based in the UK. Artists not based in the UK will be invited to undertake an interview via Skype.

For more information about Berwick Visual Arts go to www.berwickvisualarts.co.uk

For more information about Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival go to www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com or view the Festival's 2016 catalogue here.