The Residency

I often find myself in conversations with people who are looking for space, time, resources, funding and, most importantly, permission to be creative. “Being creative” as a statement already makes it into something else, othered, no longer a natural part of daily life. It’s easy to be encouraging and say things like, “Well, just do it! What’s stopping you!”, but “life” gets in the way, as it always does, manifesting itself as other priorities, doubt, fear, and other similar emotional states and postures.

Why should I wait for someone else, or an institution, to determine my value?
Why should I have to translate what I do into something else in order for it to be understood, and accepted?

But also, why should I be alone with all of this?

I might have an answer. Welcome to The Residency. You are invited to be a resident artist. Resident in your body, your home, your streets and parks, seas and skies. Gather your tools, instruments and materials. No space inside? Take it outside. Organise yourself performances, exhibitions, readings and R&D sessions. Use what is there, learn what you need (and don’t need), then find it, or get rid of it. Document and share. Invite everyone in. And you will see, you are not alone. All you need to do is find the energetic center where everything connects, and spend more time there.

Congratuations. You have earnt it through your years of practice-based research. This is a lifetime residency, and it starts now, exactly where you are. So settle in, lay out your pens on your desk, and get to work. It’s your job. And everything you need will follow.