We are passionate about supporting ambitious creative practitioners to get ideas off the ground, so each year, we invite applications to our funded Residency Programme. Through an open call, we seek ideas that blend creativity and technology. Drawing robots, bionic limbs and distinctively different theatre are just some of the awesome projects we have supported.

Our Residencies make a real difference to practitioners. We offer a bespoke programme, work space at the Pervasive Media Studio, a network of peers, plus financial, technical and critical support. It is a fantastic opportunity to make work, make connections, build profile and rapidly progress thinking.

So who are our latest residents?

First, say hello to sound and radio artist Magz Hall, founder of the award-winning Resonance FM and Radio Arts. Hall’s work explores the artistic potential of radio, specifically it’s use outside of conventional settings. She has produced a series of discreet radio art installations, broadcasts and actions which consider alternative futures for the FM as an overarching theme. For this residency, Magz will focus her research on the contested and protected radio airspace, above us in the sky. ‘Skyport,’ is a multimedia sound installation that will explore flight paths, ownership of airspace and how to keep flights safe from interference from wireless devices and pirate radios.

Our second recipient is award winning Brighton-based artist Victoria Melody. Victoria makes theatrical shows, performance interventions and films that shine a spotlight on Britain’s pastimes, passions and tribes. In the past she has become a pigeon racer, northern soul dancer, beauty queen and police officer. Victoria has recently been diagnosed with ADHD - which means she has a lack of dopamine - and as a consequence is bored by most things, becoming preoccupied instead with finding rewards. Through research she realised her ability to make people laugh released dopamine, so during her residency she will explore if comedy can be an alternative to medication by attempting to become a stand-up comedian. She will work with a neuroscientist and EEG headset to discover out more about her brain and what happens to it when you are funny.

Our third Winter Resident is Javaad Alipoor, a writer, theatre maker and director based in Manchester. As well as running his own theatre company, he is also Resident Associate Director at The Crucible in Sheffield. He makes work on different scales, building cross-platform digital and hard end community work into everything he does. His most recent work, the critically acclaimed theatre piece, The Believers Are But Brothers, has toured internationally. During his Residency, Javaad plans to use lo-fi immersive ideas to create a piece of work that not only uses play and storytelling but also Alternate Reality Game techniques. The project will explore conspiracy theories, in particular theories surrounding child sexual exploitation, how these theories spread and change how the public think about politics.

All three residencies will run from November 2018 until February 2019, and the artists will openly share their progress via blogs and talks in the Pervasive Media Studio. We will also host a free Public Sharing here on Tue 26 Feb 2019. Watch this space for ticket information and the latest news from our exciting, eclectic new Residents!

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