Language:
English
Founded:
2016
Duration:
From a weekend to 6 weeks
Paid by host:

The organizers supply in-kind support facilitating the artist's stay. They can help arrange workshops, presentations and collaborations with local artists or organisations.

Paid by artist:

The Mothership has been an endeavour in sustainability, so far with no funding applied for and an exchange between artist-host and artist-guest resident for costs of the space. Currently the fee to contribute towards overheads and costs for staying here is £100 per adult per week for the studio, £50 for the caravan. For stays of less than a week, it’s £30 per adult per night for the studio, £10 for the caravan. BUT please do not let these costs put you off from applying as negotiation is always possible! Past residents have successfully had contributions from the university where they work, and by using crowdfunding strategies.
Upon being accepted, residents are asked to send the total sum to Unincorporated Collaborations via BACs. Details by email. Your dates will then be confirmed. The fees may be substituted by contributing to gardening at £10 per hour. In this case, you will be refunded the funds via cheque at the end of your stay.
All travel, domestic, catering and work production expenses will be borne by the artist.
Firewood is available to buy at cost between October and May.

Application guidelines:

This is a rolling opportunity so please apply as soon as possible. Please send your CV/Bio, a short letter including 1 referee, along with examples of your work. There is no application fee. Questions that the organizers would like you to answer in this application are:

  • Why are you interested in coming here?
  • What would you like to work on?
  • What would you like to share with our community?
  • Your ideal dates?

Send your application by email to [email protected] with the subject line to read “Mothership” and please have patience for a response as this may take some time.

Covid-19 update: Due to global circumstances, the residency is currently closed.

Deadline:
Ongoing
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unincorporated collaborations

unincorporated collaborations

The Mothership
Description

The Mothership is for artists seeking a rural retreat, with access to farmland, woodland, the west dorset coast, and potentially some collaboration or exchange about practice. Residents are invited to work however they want, without pressure to produce anything particular. Work is selected on the basis of current practice and there are no expectations of a product although an invitation to contribute into the community is extended. The residencies range in length from a weekend - 6 weeks and can be scheduled suiting the individual's schedule.
Residents live and work in a large, purpose-built ‘eco-studio’; with wood fired heating, kitchenette, and a compost toilet and shower. There is also the option of staying in the Buccaneer caravan for your residency. This is a small trailer-type caravan with electricity and a wood burner.

Outcome

Artists are invited to contribute back to the place and community in several ways. e.g.

  • open studio event
  • connecting with local individuals or organisations such as the Architectural Association at Hooke Park, The Dorset Wildlife Trust, the nearby primary or secondary school, participation in local events – agricultural show, village fete, arts centre, food festival
  • skill sharing sessions with the local artists and their families
  • giving a talk about their practice with Force8 Collective

Artists are asked to write a post for the Mothership Tumblr blog. This enables a cross-fertilisation between the diverse individuals who have been resident at different times.

Accommodation Information
  • Studio: Residents live and work in a large, purpose-built ‘eco-studio’; timber frame and straw bales with wood fired heating, kitchenette, and a compost toilet and shower. The studio is located in the same building as Anna’s studio, and next door to a family house. The studio space is one large room, so can house an individual, couple or potentially a family, they have hosted a group of 5. There is lots of outside space. Children are very welcome.
  • Caravan: There is also the option of staying in the Buccaneer caravan for your residency. This is a small trailer-type caravan with electricity and a wood burner. Compost toilet, washing and shower facilities are shared with the studio building and the drinking water tap and washing up facilities are outside, ‘camping-style’. The caravan has two small double beds in it and plenty of storage space within the one living space.
Technical Information

Free wifi is not provided. Visitors can tether to the local 4G mobile network, via their own smart devices if they choose.

Location

The Mothership is in an area that has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB and a Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI. It is part of a smallholding, located on the edge of ancient woodland, 1 mile from the village of Powerstock (pop. 300 with a primary school and village pub) and 5 miles from the town of Bridport (pop. 14,000 with amenities, 2 theatres and art centre), and 6 miles from the sea (West Bay, Chesil Beach). There are 2 other families on site as well as the studio, a number of animals and pets. Local events/activities/businesses include – charity fundraisers, agricultural shows, forestry, care work, tourism, fishing, farming, artisan food and drink and art venues dealing mostly with painting and crafts.

Contact information

Copse Barn
Dorset
DT6 3TQ
United Kingdom

Email
me [at] annabest.info
Website
http://annabest.info/residencies/