The Experimental Studio residencies, established in 2014, offer contemporary artists working in any discipline to benefit from the opportunity of working for a concentrated period of time, supported by a communal environment, including the ongoing exhibition and events programme in the gallery and the opportunity to interact on both a formal and informal basis with other artists elsewhere in the studio and gallery centre, Bamburgh House. Whilst previous rounds of The Experimental Studio gave no brief to the participating artists, the fifth round is inviting responses to The Great Exhibition of the North.

From the GEOTH literature:

The Great Exhibition of the North will be the largest event in England in 2018 and a game-changing moment for the North. It will reveal to the world how the North of England’s great art and culture, design and innovation has shaped all our lives and is building the economy of tomorrow. The dramatic story of the North, told in imaginative and powerful ways, will instill local pride and inspire people to pursue exciting lives and careers in the North. By attracting visitors from near and far, it will transform global perceptions of Northern England and showcase the opportunities and possibilities available to all.

From coal to code, from warehouses to world-class contemporary arts, from steam engines to smart cities, the Great Exhibition will reveal and revel in today’s creative, digital and intellectual revolution. The North creates and exports life-changing ideas, culture and products and we will be celebrating how the inventive and radical spirit of the past lives on today and shapes the way we will all live tomorrow, through the following:

Who we are (e.g. identity, diversity & community) Where we live (e.g. architecture & housing) What we eat (e.g. food & drink) What we wear (e.g. fashion & fabrics) How we are entertained (e.g. sport, film & music) How we travel (e.g. from trains to driverless cars & Hyperloop, including space travel) How long we’ll live (e.g. medical advances, health & wellbeing) How we can live sustainably (e.g. global warming & the environment)
 

The residency will take the form of a 4 week period of use Abject 2 Gallery during June/July 2018 as studio space to develop and install the work, and then a 5 week exhibition in July/August 2018 during the period of the GEOTN.

The Experimental Studio residency differs from the official GEOTN commissions in that it is not restricted to artists from the North of England, and is open internationally.

Residencies are open to artists in any field of practice. There are no restrictions in terms of age or nationality of artists, although applicants should note that this is a non-residential opportunity and any required accommodation must be arranged by the artist. Normal studio access times are Monday-Sunday 8am-11pm.

Fifth Round 2018 residency will include

• Artists’ bursary of £2000.
• 4 week use of Abject 2 Gallery for residency studio space.
• Exhibition in Abject 2 Gallery at the time of The Great Exhibition of The North (July/August 2018).
• Use of facilities and equipment in Bamburgh House.
• Opportunity to work among and exhibit along with other contemporary artists.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria

• Concept and project potential.
• Fitting with the concept of The Great Exhibition of the North.
• Relevant experience of artist.
• Possibility of completing proposal within the required time-frame.

Timeline

• Application deadline – 31/10/2017.
• Artists will be informed of the results of selection on 30/11/2017.
• 4 week studio residency period between June and July 2018 (exact dates negotiable).
• 5 week exhibition during July/August 2018.
   

For more information please visit: 
http://experimentalstudio.org.uk
https://breezecreatives.com/bamburgh-house
https://getnorth2018.com/