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The Sheldon Creative Residency invites artists, writers, makers, thinkers, and imaginative mischief-makers to a self-directed, interdisciplinary residency to focus on their work by the sea.
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Get matched →The Sheldon Creative Residency is a self-directed, interdisciplinary residency for artists, writers, makers, thinkers and imaginative mischief-makers looking for time, space and creative company by the sea. Based in our art-filled, family-run B&B in Eastbourne, on England’s south coast, the residency is designed to give creatives a comfortable place to step away from everyday life and properly focus on their work. Residents stay on-site at The Sheldon, with accommodation, ensuite bathroom facilities, breakfast, shared living and working spaces, and access to kitchen facilities for other meals. The programme is intentionally informal and light-touch. Residents are given plenty of independent time to work at their own pace, with opportunities to connect with other creatives in a safe and nurturing space. You might come to write, paint, research, rehearse, edit, design, compose, photograph, experiment, develop an existing project, start something new, or simply reconnect with your creative practice. There is no required final output and no pressure to arrive with everything figured out. For residents who would like to share what they have been working on, there is also the option of taking part in an informal end-of-residency show, presentation or sharing. This is completely optional. Community is an important part of The Sheldon, but we don’t believe in forced bonding. Residents may take part in communal breakfasts, shared meals, conversations, workshops, outings and other activities as the community develops, while still having the freedom to retreat into their own work when they need to.
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We welcome creatives from a wide range of disciplines and career stages. Formal qualifications, awards or an impressive CV are not the most important things to us. We’re much more interested in people who have a genuine creative practice, a clear reason for wanting dedicated time away, and the independence to make good use of a self-directed residency. The residency is particularly well suited to people who are curious, open-minded and comfortable taking initiative. We’re looking for residents who enjoy having their own space but are also happy to live alongside people working in different creative fields, exchange ideas, and contribute positively to the atmosphere of the house. The Sheldon itself is not a traditional studio complex. Working spaces are flexible and spread throughout the building, with communal tables, quieter corners and desks in many bedrooms. We’re particularly suited to creative practices that don’t require specialist industrial equipment, although individual needs can always be discussed before arrival. Ultimately, the residency is for people who want some breathing room around their creative work — whether that means finishing something, starting something, changing direction, meeting people who shift their perspective, or simply giving themselves permission to focus. Come make something by the sea.