New Residency

This is an open call for an artist who works primarily in writing to work in residence in the North Shields Cultural Quarter (NSCQ) 

Image courtesy of Pete Robinson

North Shields Cultural Quarter (NSCQ) is the Creative and Cultural Zone in North Tyneside. Established in 2022 through the North East Combined Authority. The final year culminates through a series of programmes.

It includes; 

  • Open Quay; Artist Studio open weekend, 26 & 27 September 

  • Riverside Residency; writer in residence programme exploring a town that likes to talk  

  • Lowe!; Eight temporary art installations across North Shields in 2027 that shed new light on the town  

  • Winters Fleet; an awe-inspiring performance spectacle  

  • Saturday Art Club; a partnership with Newcastle College offering young people in North Shields an opportunity to engage with excellence in creativity 

The NSCQ has championed artist development through the work it has done with Helix Arts, the Riverside Residency is an extension of that work. 

The Artist will be hosted in the NSCQ. 

We are looking for: 

  • An artist who primarily uses writing; either for projection, participation or performance 

  • An artist that has connections to North Tyneside (by birth, education and / or current resident) 

  • Someone with experience of working with communities 

  • Someone who uses research to inform practice 

  • Someone who enjoys using reflective practice as a means to monitor and evaluate the experience 

The artist selected will: 

  • Undertake a residency in North Shields 

  • Work with communities, businesses and organisations in the riverside area of North Shields to inform work 

  • Work closely with CCZ Programme Manager to agree outcomes 

  • Develop new work based on the research during that residency  

  • Provide high quality evidence of the work during that residency, as agreed with CCZ Programme Manager 

The successful candidate will need public liability for £5million. 

North Shields Cultural Quarter  

The Riverside area was identified as an area where creativity might inform future development. 

In Place collective were commissioned to research and develop the most appropriate residency for this area. 

The framework that supports this residency is informed by that work. 

Whilst this is the final year of the CCZ funding, we know that the future of North Shields lies within a great cultural and creative community and will stretch far beyond this. 

Image courtesy of Helix Arts

What can the artist expect? 

This is an equivalent 10-month residency, but we know that this might flex depending on the nature of the work. 

The model of delivery is ‘in residence’ and the work will be informed by the research that the artist undertakes during the time. 

We would like to agree a minimum amount of contact time across the residency with the CCZ Manager, and we would also like to support the artist with a mentor, appointed once the artist is selected. 

The contract – the Fees 

Residency Fee: £12000 for 40 days  

Materials and travel costs: up to £4000 

Fee Structure: 50% on signing contract, 25% mid point & 25% on completion 

Outcomes: We are more interested in your ideas and approach at this stage, but will develop any outcomes and outputs as part of the residency process 

The Process

Step 1 (from 28 April) 

  • Submit a short expression of interest to nsculturalquarter@northtyneside.gov.uk

  • Your name 

  • How we can contact you 

  • Why you are applying and your interest in an in-residence in North Shields (no more than 400 words) 

  • CV or link to examples of you work  

  • Access needs (or feel free to send us your access rider) 

 

  • We will review and select based on; 

  • the ‘we are looking for’ section 

  • Experience, relevance and interest in this process and town 

  • Ability to carry out the work in the time and within the fee 

  • Expression of interest closes at 9am 8th June 2026 

  • A shortlist will be selected to an informal interview with CCZ Manager and creative colleague week commencing 15 June 

  • All those submitting interest will be notified on 8 June of the outcomes of Step 1 

 

Step 2 (upon invitation from 8th June) 

  • You will be invited to an informal discussion about how you would conduct the residency with CCZ Manager Ian Read and an invited panel member who will help inform the decision. 

  • We will provide you with the questions being asked in advance 

  • We aim to interview week commencing 15 June 

We aim for the residency to begin shortly after this, but recognise that people’s commitments might mean that flexibility might be required across the first few weeks and / or months 

Timeline 

27 April 2026 Brief circulation  

27 April  Expression of Intertest opens 

8 June 9am Deadline for expression of interest 

8 June by 5pm All applicants contacted regarding next steps 

w/c 15 June  Shortlisted artists attend an informal discussion  

July  Riverside Residency commences