North Sea Observatory Artist Residency

*Call out to artists for residency opportunity*

The Collection is looking for proposals from artists, groups and collectives to be ‘in residence’ at the North Sea Observatory (NSO), Chapel St. Leonards for a period of 12 weeks from Monday 31 July – Sunday 22 October 2023.

About the NSO: This spectacular building opened in 2018 and is open all year round. A purpose built and accessible marine observatory, it includes exhibitions on the local area, a multi-purpose gallery space, café, public toilets, and car park. It is located overlooking the beach at Chapel Point near Chapel St Leonards.

Following on from the success of pilot exhibitions within the NSO gallery space, The Collection is seeking to develop a lasting relationship with the local community and establish the gallery as a space to access high quality art. The Collection aims to develop and support a programme of future residencies over the next three years.

We are looking for proposals from participatory artists who are interested in responding to the space, the human relationship to the coast, and whose practice centres community participation.

This opportunity is open to all artists, groups and collectives with up to five years of experience and working in the United Kingdom.

N.B this residency opportunity will be uniquely public, with the artist(s) working in an open gallery space, community venues local to the NSO and interacting with visitors to the site. There is no restriction on the artistic practice represented in the space, though we do ask that before applying, you take into careful consideration the environment and the audience demands. The Collection is working with the NSO as part of our Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation programme of activity for 2023 – 2026. There have been a small selection of exhibitions at the NSO, to see more of our programme based at The Collection please visit our website https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/exhibitions-and-events/gallery

What we want from you:

• Join us on a preliminary planning day for the residency, meeting staff and looking at the proposed residency space.
• Artists will be expected to spend time equivalent to 2 days per week for 12 weeks on site undertaking research, delivering 12 high quality workshops with community attendance, creating work in the gallery/studio space. We understand that time and resource limitations mean that you may not be able to evenly spread 2 days per week across 12 weeks, please detail this in your application. We also understand that you may wish to spend longer in the space than 2 days per week; this can be discussed further at point of appointment.
• Produce an exhibition as a result of the 12-week residency and community workshops at the NSO.
• Contribute to the display/ exhibition of the work at the Usher Gallery in 2024.
• Embed bespoke evaluation throughout the residency, capturing community participation, which will help to shape the future of the residency programme at the NSO.

Finance:

• We are offering a single fee of £6,699 for up to 13 weeks (which works out to £231/day). The Collection cannot offer any extra support for accommodation or sustenance.
• We are offering up to £2,000 production stipend for the creation of new work, and materials for workshops. The results of these will be displayed in an exhibition at the end of the 12-week residency.
• The Collection will manage a budget of up to £1,000 to produce the exhibitions at the NSO and Usher Gallery.
• We are offering weekly meetings with the Exhibitions and Interpretation Team.
• We can offer a day working with the Historic Environment Record

Key dates:

• Deadline: Monday 24 April, 5pm
• Feedback: Tuesday 2 May
• Preliminary research meeting: Early June
• Residency period: 31 July – 22 October 2023.
• NSO Exhibition: October to November 2023
• Usher/ Courtyard Gallery Exhibition: Spring 2024

How to apply:

• Name, contact details and address.
• Artists CV – including details of recent exhibitions or publications (no more than one A4 page)
• A selection of images / documentation of your work (maximum 6)
• A brief description of what you propose for your NSO Residency (up to 200 words)
• Details of how the opportunity will benefit your practice (up to 200 words)
• Details of how the local community can be engaged in the development of your work and ideas for potential workshops/engagement opportunities throughout your residency (up to 200 words)
• An estimated budget – how will you use the production stipend?

Please send your application through to thecollection@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Please note:

We are fully committed to the Council’s Equality Policy and will proactively offer opportunities to people from different backgrounds as a contribution to developing and maintaining an organisation where differing ideas, abilities, backgrounds, and needs are fostered and valued and where those with diverse backgrounds and experiences are able to participate and contribute.

Further, candidates who face cultural, social, physical or economic barriers to applying for opportunities in the arts are particularly encouraged to apply. Our selection panel understand our commitment to equality and diversity.

The residency is located in an area with limited public transport links, we appreciate that this may impact the accessibility for this opportunity and, where possible, will make reasonable adjustments to ensure this opportunity is open to all.