Responding to a growing demand for critical dialogue in the North of England, and the desire to see art writing acknowledged as a creative practice in its own right, Corridor8 initiated its first residency in partnership with The Tetley (Leeds) in 2016, supported by Arts Council England, Leeds Inspired, Leeds Art Fund and Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. The success of the programme, which supported an early-career writer to develop her work in collaboration with writers, artists, curators and editors, led to a number of ‘micro’ residencies in the same year, with Leeds Arts University (formerly Leeds College of Art) and serf artist studios among them. Corridor8 has since partnered with Castlefield Gallery and The International 3 in Manchester (2017) and Humber Street Gallery in Hull (2017/18) to deliver main residency programmes, with further conversations currently taking place with organisations across the North.
Larger residency programmes include a public events programme (a writer-led participatory event, a workshop and a publication launch, developed in conversation with partner organisations), a printed publication with contributions by new and established writers, and a mentoring scheme for the writer-in-residence. Micro residencies allow a writer to spend a shorter amount of time in an organisation or venue, producing a feature-length piece of writing for the Corridor8 website (print optional). Each residency is a chance for an organisation to deepen and enrich their programming through critical and creative dialogue.
To find out more, browse our current and past residencies. Contact Lara Eggleton if you’re interested in hosting one of your own.
