So the last few posts have been all about the house. Very exciting, I know, but maybe you’re wondering what’s going on with the residency, too?

I’ve spent some time sussing out the legality of running a business from our home. Essentially, we will be a “casual b&b”, meaning we have no more than four guest rooms. We won’t need to file for planning permission for change of use, nor will we need a fire cert for insurance purposes until we go over 4 guest rooms. This is an enormous relief, because while we hope to eventually do those things, this allows us to open our doors as soon as the house is ready!

Fingers crossed, we will be in business for spring 2017. We are delighted to have our first artist in residence secured for February, but you’ll have to wait to hear more about that.   

As the builders work away, I’m hiding out in the caravan, working on the verbiage about our programming, as well as the application process. I’d love to have a conversation around these ideas, and invite feedback here on the blog, on our Facebook page, or directly via email to greywoodarts at gmail. 

• Artist’s, what do you want and need from a residency?
• What kind of support is lacking, or hard to find?
• What facilities do you need?
• How can you best represent yourself in the application process, and what makes this easiest for applicants – and reviewers?

I started by looking at the values I want to support via the residency: Process, Collaboration, Interdisciplinarity, Experimentation, Revisiting/Revising Work, Essentiality

• In this context, I value the plan over the product. An articulate and transparent process – which acknowledges confusion, not knowing, spontaneity, strategy, parameters, etc. – is how we learn about the act of creating, and often about ourselves.
• Collaboration presents many challenges, and I value the process of communication, negotiation, and problem solving as well as the spring boarding of ideas in pursuit of something unattainable on one’s own.
• I believe the message supersedes the medium, and interdisciplinary thinking allows for selecting the best method to deliver a concept.
• I want to offer a place t take risks and try things out – a space where failure is okay, as long as we learn from it.
• I see value in revisiting and reworking ideas. I often see opportunities that focus on new work, but new doesn’t necessarily mean better.
• Work at any stage of development is welcome, but there must be a strong drive to make it. Why does the work feel important to the creator, how is it’s creation essential?

Here are some DRAFT ideas for the application:

Greywood Arts is a multidisciplinary artists’ residency space in a private home in Killeagh, Co. Cork, Ireland. We have four bedrooms and can accommodate up to eight guests. There is a fee for self-catering accommodation, but workspace is always free. We are committed to delivering a service that is accessible to artists, and hope to offer fully-funded residency programs as we grow.

Residencies are open to performing and visual artists working in all disciplines, as well as arts related researchers and groups developing other creative projects. Participants must provide their own tools, equipment, and materials. See facilities descriptions or contact us to assess suitability for your project. We regret that we are currently unable to accommodate individuals with reduced mobility as bedrooms and studios are on the first and second floors (2nd & 3rd floors US).     

At present, we won’t be charging application fees.

Tell us about your project:

• What are you trying to do? (project description)
• How will you do it? How long will it take?
• Why are you doing it? Why must this work be created?
• What is the biggest challenge you are facing with the work?

• Who are you?  And/or your company/members of your team? Bio/CV/Artist Stmt?
• What are your goals for the residency?
• Why is Greywood Arts a good fit for your project?
• What kind of support do you need?

• Would you be willing to engage with the community during your residency? (example: workshop, work in progress showing, exhibition, etc)
• Do you have funding secured for this project? Other residencies?   

• Work samples (How many?)

 

What do you think????? I’m trying to live my values by making the creation process of the residency program a transparent one. Let’s learn and grow together, yeah?

And if this isn’t your cup of tea, no worries, we’ll be back to renovation stories (with pictures) tomorrow!