Dartmoor Spring Residency – Creative Inspiration from an Ancient Landscape. Sunday 10th March – Thursday 14th March. A fantastic opportunity to spend time with like-minded people in the inspiring location of Dartmoor (Postbridge) YHA nestled on the edge of Bellever Forest in the centre of Dartmoor National Park. This fascinating opportunity is curated to inspire art practitioners, researchers and thinkers alike.

About the Residency

This residency offers an opportunity to spend time in the heart of the outstanding Dartmoor National Park.

We reside at the Dartmoor (Postbridge) YHA, set centrally within Dartmoor National Park. The hostel is surrounded by the open moorland and forest of Dartmoor National Park, with easy access to a network of off-road routes for walking and exploring the ancient sites in neighbouring Bellever Forest.

YHA Dartmoor is a comfortable rural retreat which boasts cosy features including a woodburner and exposed stone walls. The famous Dartmoor ponies often pay the hostel a visit from the nearby open moorland. There are lots of flora and fauna to explore. With a dedicated wildlife garden within the hostel grounds. We can also make use of the grounds for camping if preferred.

We welcome all art forms, with the residency providing an opportunity to immerse in the story of the ancient Dartmoor Landscape, with a large amount of ancient Bronze Age remains on the doorstep. The skies will be dark and there will be the opportunity to stargaze. Carolyn Kennett FRAS, our archaeo-astronomer will be on hand to answer any questions you may have..

We encourage creatives, researchers and enthusiasts of all disciplines; if you know anyone you think would be interested in the residency, please encourage them to apply.

Our residencies have a relaxed environment with plenty of time to immerse yourselves in your practice or research. We encourage everyone to share enthusiasm and relevant research; our overview project theme of ancient Dartmoor landscape which is connected to star stories, astronomy, wildlife, geology, and local heritage.

We are excited about spending creative time at this location as we have access to an indoor classroom, with tables for desk-based work and a large camping barn, which we can use for making and film processing etc. There is plenty of room to make work - we will discuss practicalities at our pre-residency zoom meeting.

Outcomes

We invite you to showcase your work through our networking channels and contribute to our social media platforms. Additionally, if taken up, each artist will have a section on the Mayes Creative website dedicated to their work on this residency.

This residency will be led by Dr Joanna Mayes and Carolyn Kennett FRSA.

Joanna Mayes will be bringing:

*16mm & standard 8 cameras and film for hand processing

* Clear film & found footage to share for drawing and writing on film in the evenings

* Phytogram materials

* Alternative/plant film development & tinting skills/research interest

* Simple developer materials – coffee, washing soda, vitamin C

Carolyn Kennett will be bringing:

* Expertise in ecology, astronomy and the prehistoric (we will be thinking about properties of materials, cycles, alignments and the story of human engagement with sky and landscapes)

* Naked eye and telescope star watching

Practicalities

This hostel offers a range of communal spaces, both indoor and outdoor. We will be adhering to all current Covid-19 regulations and government guidelines. Check out our FAQs and don't hesitate to get in touch using the enquiry form.

The hostel has a well-equipped self-catering kitchen. There are no ensuite rooms in this hostel. 

There are some facilities in the nearby Princetown, including a pub and two cafes and a village store. There are good supermarkets 15 miles away in Tavistock.

The nearest rail station is Newton Abbot which is 16 miles away and the nearest bus stop is within 100 metres of the hostel. There is a daily bus service which runs to this stop.

An access statement is available on the YHA website, but clicking on *more* under Hostel Facilities.

Planned Residency Schedule:

This residency is focused on immersing in Dartmoor’s landscape and heritage, whilst having time to make research/artwork. All activities are optional.

Sunday – 17.00

- Arrival and welcome meeting at 19.00 where you all get a chance to introduce yourself and your practice.

Monday

- 10.00-13.00 Ancient worlds on our doorstep walk, exploring the forest of Bellever looking at the ancient sites adjacent to the hostel
- Afternoon personal research time.
- Evening talk about the prehistory of Dartmoor/stargazing.

Tuesday – 10.00

- Visit to Grey Wethers Circle either by foot or carshare.
- Afternoon -, personal research time.
- Evening - stargazing

Wednesday

- Morning visit to Merrivale and Kings Tor
- Afternoon - personal research time
- Evening - Group Meal at the hostel

Thursday

- Check out at 10 am

The schedule may change due to the weather :)

All residency activities are optional to allow for flexible artist research time.

Price 

£299 - full price per person

£249 – for people staying off-site in their own accommodation

Prices include shared accommodation for four nights in this stunning location and full use of the hostel, which includes a dining/work room with a long table which can be shared as a temporary workspace.

Please note that all accommodation is shared, allocated by gender. We will discuss details with you before your stay to make sure you are comfortable with the arrangements.

Useful links

Mayescreative.com