LDC Residencies 2023
28-30 July 2023 Start Your Graphic Memoir
An Immersive Residential Weekend Workshop
with Dr Nicola Streeten
Have you a story you think will work as a graphic memoir?
Are you unsure where and how to start? Or have you made a false start and now feel stuck?
Have you been distracted by the demands of daily life?
Join award-winning graphic memoirist Dr Nicola Streeten in the peaceful surroundings of The Grange, a former rectory in Norfolk, for this fully structured weekend. You will receive tuition and full accommodation as part of this enjoyable creative time with a small group of like-minded participants.
Nicola will guide you through a series of practical drawing, writing and planning exercises. These will be complemented by presentations and private time for you to reflect and develop your ideas in response to prompts. By the end of the weekend, you will have confidently made a start on your graphic memoir and created a personal timeline for your next steps.
Everyone is welcome to join. No experience is necessary, just bring your ideas! Basic art materials will be provided.
The Grange provides:
· A private room with a desk.
· Wifi in all rooms and throughout the house.
· All linen and towels are provided.
· Toilets, shower, and bath are shared access.
· Use of the communal kitchen, a library with an extensive collection of graphic novels and art books and living room with workstations as well as access to the extensive gardens and grounds.
· Meals: Vegan/vegetarian breakfast, lunch, dinner. All food allergies and needs will be discussed in advance to ensure options for you.
· Breakfast and lunch will be provided for you to help yourself to.
· Hot drinks available for you to help yourself to throughout your stay.
· The evening meal will be communal, and we ask for all participants to commit to joining.
Outline Weekend Schedule
Friday
4pm: Arrival at The Grange to settle in and look around. Enjoy a communal evening meal followed by introductory illustration presentations from everyone in the group.
Saturday
10-12: Workshop
12-4: Lunch and free time to prepare for the afternoon workshop.
4-6pm: Workshop
7pm: Evening meal followed by presentation and discussion.
Sunday
10-12: Workshop and planning next steps.
12-2pm: Lunch
2pm Departure from The Grange
Cost: £225 to include facilitation, meals, accommodation. Attendance is limited to 6 participants in single occupancy rooms with shared bathroom facilities.
LDC Residencies at The Grange, Norfolk
Applications now open
These are longer residencies and are unstructured. They are run on a Pay What You Can basis and are suitable for artists working on a longer project or looking for time to develop an idea in a supportive context as part of a small group of like-minded people. Please see below for further information. Should you still have questions, please do not hesitate to email Dr Nicola Streeten nicolastreeten@yahoo.com
The residency dates below are now fully booked.
If you would like to be added to the waiting list email nicolastreeten@yahoo.com
Applications for 2024 residencies will be open in October 2023
LDC Residency Dates 2023
17-23 April
9-14 May
17-23 July
7-13 August
APPLICATION PROCESS
The residencies are open to everyone (they are not women only).
Please email one A4 page (word doc or pdf) to Nicola Streeten to include the following:
A short artist bio with your website and social media addresses.
What you propose to focus on during your residency
Any additional info that will help us envision your project
What you hope to gain from a residency
Indication of 2 or 3 preferred dates and length of residency, please check calendar for availability
Please indicate your preferred dates if you are applying for an LDComics residency.
The deadline for applications:15th of each month.
Decisions are made on a monthly basis and all applicants will be emailed the outcome of their application by the 25th of month of submission.
Successful applicants will be asked to make payment of a 50% deposit to reserve your place on the residency with a second instalment payable one week before your residency begins. We will be happy to email you a formal invitation letter upon request if this supports your application for funding towards the residency.
Email your application to Dr Nicola Streeten nicolastreeten@yahoo.com
DEADLINE for applications: 15th of every month (at midnight UK time)
About The Grange
The residencies are hosted at The Grange, Great Cressingham, Norfolk. This is the headquarters of LDComics as well as being home to Dr Nicola Streeten and artist spouse John Plowman. The LDC residencies will be run as part of a wider residency programme called The Grange Projects. The LDC dates will have a specific focus on comics and graphic novel projects.
The Grange provides:
A private room with a desk.
Wifi in all rooms and throughout the house.
All linen and towels are provided.
Toilets, shower and bath are shared access.
Use of the communal kitchen, a library with an extensive collection of graphic novels and art books, and living room with work stations as well as access to the extensive gardens and grounds.
Meals: Vegan/vegetarian breakfast, lunch, dinner. All food allergies and needs will be discussed in advance to ensure options for you.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided for you to help yourself to.
Hot drinks available for you to help yourself to throughout your stay.
The evening meal will be communal and we ask for all guests to commit to joining.
Guests are invited to help with the cooking, everything will be provided to enable this.
Resident’s Responsibilities
Transport costs.
Material costs.
We ask that you arrange to have individual insurance in place (available from a-n.co.uk https://www.a-n.co.uk/about/insurance/ ) to cover work, equipment or materials belonging to you and your activity at The Grange.
Costs
Neither LDComics nor The Grange Projects receive funding towards the costs of hosting residencies and we want to ensure the residencies are affordable for all interested artists/creatives. All residencies are offered on a Pay What You Can financial contribution. Our suggested contribution is a nominal £350 per week or £50 per night. All participants are expected to make a monetary contribution of some sort. This may be supplemented with support in kind, such as help with maintenance of house and grounds, undertaking an agreed number of hours per residency. We appreciate and rely on all participants’ goodwill in embracing the value system that has the potential for an exciting new model of artist activity. Please see the FAQS below.
Accessibility
The Grange is a rambling old building, with no ground floor bedrooms or shower facilities. If you have a physical or mental health condition please contact us to discuss how we can best support you with your individual needs.
Transport
The nearest train station is Downham Market and pick-ups and drop offs can be organised for your residency. The Grange is a 40 min drive to Kings Lynn and a 10 min drive to Swaffham a small town that has a full range of amenities; post office, pubs, doctor, chemist, supermarket etc. There are local bus services from Swaffham but access to a vehicle would be advisable for off site visits/meetings. However for non-drivers help with transportation will be offered where possible.
MORE ABOUT THE GRANGE
For more detailed information about The Grange and to see pictures visit THE GRANGE PROJECTS
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the LDC Residencies women only?
No everyone is welcome to apply.
When is the deadline for applications?
The deadline is the 15th of each month. all applications are acknowledged upon receipt and you will be notified the outcome by the 25th of the month you apply.
How far in advance to I need to apply?
Ideally as soon as possible please check the calendar here for available dates.
What is the minimum length of time I can come for?
Minimum stay of 2 nights.
What is the maximum length of time I can come for?
One week, however, you are welcome to return for a second week during the summer.
What is the Suspended Coffee Campaign?
“A suspended coffee is the advance purchase of a cup of coffee for someone who needs it, no matter why” www.suspendedcoffees.com
What is the difference between Pay What You Can and Pay What You Want ?
Pay What You Can is non judgemental. The activity relies on a collaborative approach where kindness is at the centre. Our intention is that everyone can give and receive in the same spirit, in whatever form that takes. In order to ensure a rich diversity of participants we will rely on mutual support. Pay What You Want suggests a judgment on the quality of service or goods you receive. Whilst The Grange offers basic comfort, the real offer is the coming together of artists and creatives. The quality of this relies on all participants commiting to the process and ethos.
How do I decide how much I can pay?
We are leaving this entirely up to you. We trust your judgment. We will not ask for proof of your disposable income, but ask instead that you believe in the basic concept – which is to be part of artist led creative activity that has benefit beyond the individual.
What is the minimum amount of monetary contribution I could pay?
Since all your meals and board will be included in your residency, we recommend you consider the amount you would usually spend on food in a week as a guideline.
Why do I have to make a monetary contribution?
We receive no funding and the project can only run if we work on this together.
What is the £350/week or £50/night amount based on?
We have spent one year living at The Grange and hosted a number of pilot residencies in the summer of 2022. This is the minimum amount needed to cover our basic running costs during residencies.
Can I just pay the suggested contribution?
Yes.
Can I pay more than the suggested contribution?
Yes, all extra contributions will be used to defray the costs of fellow artists.
Can I help with the gardening even if I pay the suggested contribution?
Yes.
What do you mean by the supplementary support in kind?
Can you give me an example of a combination of money and support in kind.
FOR EXAMPLE
If you were able to pay £150/week and work in the garden for 10-12 hours/week, this will make up your full contribution.
The details will be discussed and agreed on an applicant by applicant basis.
What if I have mobility/health issues and I’m unable to garden?
We have a variety of tasks and will agree on an applicant by applicant basis.
