ARTIST RESIDENCY – VIEW FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a socially engaged artist (or artist collective) to work in the Claremont area of Blackpool.
In 2025, artist Stephanie Ridings undertook a six month residency with us. During the residency she researched and explored the real and imagined myths, legends and folklore of the area. We found this a useful way of connecting the seemingly unconnected, creating routes through a large and diverse neighbourhood and generally adding a layer of intrigue and curiosity to the streets that residents walk every day.
In Blackpool there are many urban myths, stories and tales that are centred on the entertainment heritage. But there are other stories to tell, ones that predate this modern history, ones that focus on how people lived on this coast and their connections to the sea and the land.
During 2025 Steph developed the The Crow and The Wood of Wishes: A Claremont Tale, you can read the full tale and see the varied and diverse networks, community, and youth groups that are listed at the back of this publication that were involved in the conversations.
We would now like to commission an artist for the next stage of our work in Claremont. There are a number of opportunities that have arisen through the initial commission phase. There is an active community centre with a community garden and orchard that border onto a park, which is the largest area of green space in the neighbourhood. There is a summer gala that residents are bringing back to life, and a parade that tours the streets of Claremont.
We want to continue to explore myth making in the area, and how these created stories further connect the residents to the streets and their environment.
Budget
Artists fee £5760 (suggested 24 days over 6 months)
Up to £800 for materials.
Total Budget £6,560
Time frame
April – September 2026
Apply
To apply please submit a proposal that outlines:
- Why you are interested in this opportunity
- A background to your practice and why youfeelit to be relevant
- Documentation or links to three examples of past work/ projects that you thinkare relevant to this brief
- CV
Please send your proposal as one document, ideally a PDF, no more than 1,500 words to laura.jamieson@leftcoast.org.uk
Deadline for applications 12pm, Mon 9th March 2026.
Interview date 19th March 2026.
