Hold Residency Programme 2025

We are offering two residency periods (one resident per period):

• Summer: 2 June – 4 August 2025
• Autumn: 1 September – 3 November 2025

The deadline for applications for both residency periods is Thursday 17 April 2025 at 6pm.

Interviews will be held with shortlisted applicants between 22 – 29 April 2025. Successful residents will be offered their place by 4 May 2025.

Residency Location: Hold Creative Spaces, Penstone House, Albert Street, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 9HD

As a resident, you will get:

• A dedicated desk with wall space and trolley/cupboard in a open-plan working studio space, with 24 hour access.
• An exhibition/event at the end of the residency in our gallery (exhibition dates: 31 July – 3 August for the summer period; 30 October – 2 November for the autumn period).
• Opportunities for peer-to-peer crit and/or mentoring as part of a community of working artists with a diverse range of practices and backgrounds.
• Wifi, coffee/tea, and use of communal facilities.
• Coverage of your residency and project on social media, and a page on the Hold website.

As a resident, you will be expected to:

• Undertake an artistically-focused research project, culminating in a public exhibition/event.
• Work on the research project for a minimum of 15 hours per week, and be on-site as much as possible (speak to us if you have particular requirements/needs to help facilitate this).
• Engage proactively with the community of artists working at the studios, and generally make the most of the experience!

If you are applying from further afield, unfortunately we are unable to help with providing accommodation.

Hold Creative Spaces CIC is a working studio space with 6 permanent studio holders and a number of short-term and open access members undertaking a wide range of artistic practices. We host regular community classes and workshops, and have a regular programme of exhibitions in our gallery space. From 2025, Hold is looking to develop a more experimental, playful and exploratory ethos: becoming a hub for research and experimentation, while continuing to work within the community and exhibiting the work of artists of all styles and backgrounds.

Thanet Experimental is a project aiming to provide free exhibition space in Thanet, as well as collaborate to promote art by Thanet residents and those with close ties to the area. We want this to be a testing ground – available for one-off exhibitions and shows, works-in-progress, and for the kinds of work that isn’t going to, or isn’t supposed to, make any money.

In the application form, you will be asked to provide a working title and description for your research project. Before applying, please make sure that you are able to address the following questions in your project proposal:

• Do you have a clear outline for either a new research project, or a new development in your existing work that you would like to explore?
• What will you be able to achieve in two months? Will you be ready to exhibit (even a work-in-progress) at the end of the period? Are you able to dedicate the time you need to make the most of the opportunity?
• What do you hope to get out of the residency and/or a working relationship with Hold? What will you use the time and space for?

You will also be asked to provide a short artists’ biography. As we are open to applications from artists at all stages of their practice: you may have a long CV, or this could be your first proper venture into research and exhibition. Tell us what you think we need to know about you and your practice as it relates to this project/residency.

If you wish to provide media to accompany/illustrate the project, please submit these by email to hello@holdcreativespaces.co.uk with the subject line ‘Hold Residency Programme Media – [your name]’.