Artist in Residence
Team Afri-Co-Lab are inviting an artist to take up space in the lab for a two week residency in January 2025.
We will be giving you the keys to our home, for you to make your home and explore whatever you want, with no need for an outcome.
HOW TO APPLY
Team ACL know how important space is, to make, create, wander, dream etc and we want to make space for that amongst our peers. Afri-Co-Lab in its current form, had its first iteration as a residency in London as part of Yinka Shonibare’s – Guest Projects Africa! Without that month we might not have created the dream that became Afri-Co-Lab. So we are experimenting with different ways we can support local artists and communities. This residency is a pilot which we hope to repeat in the future.
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What is the residency?
We are handing over Afri-Co-Lab space to an artist for 2 weeks for a residency with no specific outcomes. The time is for you to think, develop and experiment to start 2025 in a positive and expansive way.
We will give you the space from Sunday 12th to Sunday 26th January 2025. You will get a £500 artist support fee and £200 materials budget to support your time. We will also offer you the Shop Front Window as a display space so you can share some of your work, findings, ideas, process etc if useful - this is an offer we can discuss if you are given the residency.
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Eligibility:
This residency is for: artists aged 18 or over, of any creative/artistic discipline from the LGBTQIA+ community, living or working in the East Sussex county. Please see FAQS for more details.
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How?
Please apply via our google form application. The deadline for applications is midnight Sunday 1st December. HOWEVER we may close applications early if we reach 100 applications this is because we have a small team reviewing applications. The successful artist will be informed between Wednesday 11th December and Friday 13th December.
The Questions are:
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Tell us about yourself (you as person, your practice, achievements, goals, dreams desires) 500 words or less
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What you would like to do (how do you envision spending your time in the lab, what ideas do you want to explore) 300 words or less
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Why would you like to do this residency (we want to know what it will mean to have this time, how will it impact your work and life- this can just be about resting, or looking at the sea- remember this residency is not necessary about tangible goals) 300 words or less
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Share examples of your work: 1 weblink or 10 images or 1 video or sound file (we will only watch/listen 10mins max so leave clear instructions if you want us to see a certain bit)
MEET YOUR PANELISTS
Anna Maria Nabirye
My name is Anna-Maria (she/her). I am a Black, Ugandan-British person born and raised in London, living in St Leonards. I work as an actress in mainstream theatre, film and television, as well as in devised, collaborative, experimental and political projects. I direct projects, short films and shows in drama schools here and in the USA. I also make my own work which varies from community workshops, plays, short films, experimental art films, zines, documentaries and projects that live in galleries. Amplifying diverse representations of the experiences of Black women is at the heart of everything I do.
João Conceição
João Conceição is a curator born in Lisbon, Portugal, and is currently Assistant Curator at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea. They have previously worked at Gasworks, London, and Chisenhale Gallery, London, and hold a Masters in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Recent curatorial projects include: Liminal Languages, Appleton, Lisbon (2022); Queering Landscapes, a film programme in partnership with Queer Lisboa at Deptford Cinema, London (2019); In a State of Alterity, Painel Gallery, Porto (2017); and As in, us viewing the objects. the objects viewing each other. and then the objects, Chalton Gallery, London (2016).
Esther Collins
Image by Rosie Powell
Esther Collins is Head of Learning at Towner Eastbourne. Since joining in 2020 she has delivered artist residency projects in the building including Jennifer Binnie and Christine Binnie, Rita Evans and Leap Then Look, and the Open Plan programme with Sophie Chapman. Outside of the gallery she has supported artists to develop new public art commissions, delivering weekly workshops with early years and projects in Secondary Schools. In her former role at Cubitt Artists she managed multi-year artist residencies in care settings, large-scale outdoor public events, public commissions and symposiums. She has previously worked at Stour Valley Arts, the National Portrait Gallery and Turner Contemporary. As a freelancer she has delivered various community engagement projects for Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Cement Fields, HS2, Bow Arts and [SPACE].
Joseph Constable
![image001[30].jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a84f86_59bfe78722b049e19aced2ad56e7dd73~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_752,y_165,w_685,h_854/fill/w_210,h_262,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/image001%5B30%5D.jpeg)
Joseph Constable is a curator, writer, and producer based between Hastings and London. He is currently Head of Exhibitions at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. Previously, he was Associate Exhibitions Curator at the Serpentine Galleries in London. Constable holds a Masters in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art, London. Awards and residencies include Shanghai Curators Lab 2019, Writer in Residence at Jerwood Arts (2019), and in 2015, he was the winner of the NEON Curatorial Award, in collaboration with The Whitechapel Gallery, London.
Nene Camara
Lilly Babirye
Originally from London, Elaine Mullings now lives and works in East Sussex. Her art practice centres on sculpture, installation and printmaking. Following 14 years as a television producer and director at the BBC, she left broadcasting to pursue her passion for visual art. She holds an MFA Sculpture from the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. While there, she won the Red Mansion Art Prize and the resulting residency in Beijing, PRC has had a lasting impact on her practice. Since then, she has won several national and international art commissions and continues to exhibit work locally and in London.
Nene Camara (they/them) is a performer and creative producer, they have created and produced performances with/for schools, theatres, festivals, cabarets, club kids, friends, and for their own enjoyment. They are intensely interested in platforming the creative practices of communities that are often under-resourced yet still offering unique perspectives, finding exciting and intricate ways to continue artmaking.
Hello there. My name is Lilly (she/her), and I started my life journey in Uganda, moving to the UK as a refugee with my family. I'm a textile artist/fashion designer learning my craft at Westminster University and refining my skills through the fashion label - AFRORETRO which I co-founded. If you are ever in Hastings, you can find me in the Lab that is Afri-Co-Lab. There, I support the local community to dream creatively and freely, developing and delivering a programme of creative experiences for the East Sussex community.
IMAGES OF THE SPACE
FAQS
What Do you mean by artist?
This is an age old question often argued about by everyone. We are wanting to take the broad approach. If you think you are an artist/creative you most likely are- so try us. We are not limiting this to a specific medium more about what might work in the lab. So performance, theatre, live art, fine art, interdisciplinary, film, visual art, sculpture, photography, social practice, literary, community…. the list goes on!
Why only LGBTQIA+ artists?
As a Community Interest Company we have set certain parameters for the work we do. We have also committed to work and support particular communities facing marginalisation. The LGBTQIA+ community is one of those communities we have committed to focus on - so for this year's residency we have decided to offer this opportunity to that community. Afri-Co-Lab works hard for all our local communities, so please join the mailing list to find out about other ways we can support your creative journey and about our programme at the lab.
Why are we doing this?
We are an artist led organisation so know first hand that space and resources are a premium that not everyone has access to, despite it being really needed for us to be our best creative-selves. We struggled to find a space for many years and now we have one we want to share the love.
What does the space look like?
Please see the images above. You can also pop in on an Open House Wednesday between 11am-5pm to see what it looks like in real life. Our address is 3 Marine Court, St Leonards-On-Sea, TN38 0DX
What can I do in the space?
As long as the space can be returned to its original form and we do not upset the neighbours we are quite flexible. We have 2 businesses next door with a shared bathroom sink area so we ask you to be mindful about that, as well as late night noise as we are above a block of flats. We do not have any water access in the space and also have wooden floors- so messy work (painting, clay, printing etc) can happen but it will just need to be planned for. Also we have some limitations in terms of fire risk assessment and our lease. If you are not sure please email us on info.africolab.uk@gmail.com with RESIDENCY in the subject line.
What are the Afri-Co-Lab space operational hours?
Whilst in residence Afri-Co-Lab will be open for use between 10am - 12am. We may need to access the lab to access the office. We will do this before 10am or otherwise organised with you.
Privacy?
The space will be yours for the 2 weeks and we are moving all programming from the lab. We may need to enter the space (to collect some paperwork) We will try to do this before 10am if this is not possible we will call/speak to you to arrange a time that suits.
What support do you offer during the residency?
-Introduction to the space -Email support -2 in person catch up We will give you an agreement for your time with us which will lay out both our responsibilities. We will have a zoom or in person meeting before the end of the year to help you plan and think about your time- and anything we can support with prior to your residency We will then be available over email to answer any questions in the run up. We will give you an induction to the space and area on your first day. We plan to pop in twice during the residency to see how you are going and reflect on anything you might like to talk about We will be available on your get out day
What are our expectations?
That you return the space as you found it. We would also love to share what you have been up to and shout about your time with us. So helping us create a blog post or instagram post about your time. We would not expect but welcome you into other ACL activities and programme opportunities.
This is a pilot experiment
As this is our first ever artist residency we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. We will hold a post residency feedback session with one of the team to find out how things were for you?
Noise & Neighbours
We have neighbours so noise will need to be limited and worked out with our neighbours. But they are a friendly lovely bunch.
Feedback
We recognise this is really important for all applicants. So we will be able to give feedback on your application - this is not necessarily feedback on your work. As this is open to all disciplines it would be unfair to compare work. We envision there will be many many suitable and exciting candidates so getting or not getting this residence is in no means a reflection on your work, or how we value or see your work. If you would like feedback on your application please request this by 31st December. We will endeavour to send it out asap but it may take up to 4 months.
The decision making process
We will accept up to 100 applications or when the deadline closes? Which ever is sooner. Our panel will be given 20 applicants each, closest to their discipline/expertise. They will shortlist their 20 to 3. The panel will then have time to review all shortlisted applicants. The 5 panellists will meet to discuss all shortlisted applicants and make a decision on the final residency awardee. If the panel is split we will vote and the applicant with most votes will be awarded the residency.
What is your decision criteria?
We will be asking the panel to consider: -Who feels exciting? -Who would best make use of the space and time at this moment in their practice? -Who aligns with your idea of Afri-Co-Lab
When will you make your final decision?
We plan to inform the successful artist between Wednesday 11th and Friday 13th December.