A programme of hyper-local artist residencies
Land of our Children / Hen wlad ein Plant is a collaboration between Gentle/Radical, National Theatre Wales and Natural Resources Wales. Together, we will support a team of artists from across Wales and across creative disciplines to experiment with a series of ‘hyper-local’ residencies. We want these residencies to help inform how we develop environmental policy in Wales over the coming 30 years.
Why this project?
We are asking ourselves: How can we imagine an equitable and sustainable society that prioritises just systems, healed communities and balance with our natural environment, therefore providing an equal and better life for everyone? What could this look like in the communities where we live? And how can artists steward some of these urgent questions and possibilities?
What are hyper-local residencies?
The starting point for each residency should be your own doorstep. We want you to define the terms of your own exploration, the space you want to encompass: home, doorstep, front garden, your street, adjacent streets, the view from your window, a nearby location, your town or village, or your catchment area.
These hyper-local residencies are opportunities to investigate your chosen locality and engage with the people living within it. It’s a chance to experiment, take creative risks and explore your practice within the context of the location that you identify.
You will work hyper-locally whilst being connected to the other residency artists across Wales, exchanging ideas, practice and ways of working. Before you embark on the residencies, Gentle/Radical will curate a series of held spaces to inspire, ground and connect the cohort, as well as explore the ethics and responsibilities around delivering community-focused engagement work. You will also be paired with a mentor to develop your residency and have a contact within NTW and NRW to help orientate your enquiry.
Who can apply?
We want to support seven Wales-based artists interested in investigating their hyper-local surroundings and actively engaging their community in imagining their future within the limits of our planet. Artists, writers, directors, choreographers, designers, movers, makers, digital creatives – all disciplines of the arts are welcome. We particularly welcome applications from artists who are under-represented within the cultural sector, to include Black and non-Black artists of colour, disabled artists, neurodivergent artists, LGBTQ+ artists, as well as those whose lives intersect across these and other marginalised identities.
All participating professionals must:
- be aged 18 and over;
- not be currently engaged in full-time education; and
- be based in Wales
What do these residencies ask of you?
An approach: We would like to hear how you would approach this specific residency and how it would challenge your practice. We would like to see the beginning of an idea that addresses local and global concerns while engaging people in the process.
Your time: We expect that most residencies will last for 20 days, spread over a few months (July to October 2021). An indication of how this could look is:
- July: 2 days
- August: 3 days
- September and October: 14 days
- November: 1 day
The sharing of your findings: We will work with you to design your residency and also support how you can share your research with us and a wider group of people. The outcome of your creative enquiry can be presented in any form you choose but we expect to see documentation of the creative process and reflection.
Why these residencies and why now?
Natural Resources Wales have just released the State of Natural Resources Report for 2020. We are using this evidence to stimulate a national conversation about the future of our natural environment and develop a shared vision for the long-term management of our natural resources in Wales. These artist residencies are running alongside this work and will inform this vision.
Here is some useful information about Natural Resources Wales priorities in your area: South East Wales, South Central Wales, South West Wales, Mid Wales, North East Wales, North West Wales or the entire coast
What’s on offer?
- Budget
The selected artists will receive a fee of £4,980 for 20 days spent on the residency (pro rata basis of £249/day). We will also make a small budget available per artist for materials, fabrication etc. and we’ll work with you to decide how to allocate it.
- Support & Advice
You will receive artistic and producing support from National Theatre Wales, as well as training and support from Gentle/Radical on working ethically and non-extractively within socially engaged and hyper local contexts. You will also have access to Natural Resources Wales’ knowledge, people and networks.
When will residencies take place?
The residencies will take place between July 2021 and October 2021, with sharing sessions being held in early November.
- Dates for your diary
Mon 26 and Tue 27 July 2021 (9.30am – 5pm) – A series of online introductory sessions
What’s the application process?
- To apply, please download the application form and send it to submissions@nationaltheatrewales.org
- In the form, we will ask for 1 side of A4 text or 3 minutes of audio / video telling us about you, your practice and how your approach for this residency will explore the place where you live, the people and communities that live there, and the future of these relationships.
- We also ask that you complete an Equal Opportunities form.
- We’ll reply to your email to let you know once it has been received safely.
- After the deadline has passed, we’ll send it to a panel made up of NTW, G/R and NRW staff and freelancers. We may give you a call if there are any questions we need to clarify before sharing it.
- If you are shortlisted, we’ll arrange for you to meet with representatives of the panel so you can tell us more about your proposal, in whatever way you think best illustrates what you’d like to do. At this point we would also want you to indicate which community or people you’d like to work with and how.
When’s the deadline?
- The deadline for application is noon on the Friday 9 July 2021
- We will be arranging 30 minutes meetings (online) with shortlisted artists on the 19 and 20 July 2021.
- Successful artists will be informed by the 21 of July 2021.
- If you are selected, you will be required to attend a series of online introductory sessions on the 26 and 27 July 2021 (9.30am – 5pm). Please keep these days available.
Get in touch:
If you want to discuss ideas or ask us a question, get in touch! joseph.roberts@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
This project has been made possible by Arts Council of Wales Connect and Flourish funding.