--- title: Confluence Artists Residency description: UK residency for two mid-career multidisciplinary artists exploring early years arts in Great Yarmouth, with bursary up to £4,050, studio time and mentorship. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/ff27f183-db9f-4252-84c2-47a9b2f15a6e type: program status: closed createdAt: "2026-10-24" updatedAt: "2026-10-26" programType: Residency organization: Magic Acorns organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/magic-acorns deadline: "2026-10-25" location: Great Yarmouth, England, United Kingdom isOnline: false compensationRange: Bursary package of up to £4,050 (studio residency, CPD workshops, travel/accommodation, materials), plus a £200 fee for developing a Stage Two proposal. careerStages: - Mid-career --- # Confluence Artists Residency **Hosted by:** Magic Acorns **Type:** Residency | **Location:** Great Yarmouth, England, United Kingdom | **Deadline:** October 25, 2026 ## About This Program > "Early years arts practice; creative research with babies and young children in Great Yarmouth" ### What is confluence? Confluence is a new artist residency designed to support and mentor future generations of diverse early years artists. Led by Magic Acorns as part of our new Sustain project, funded by Arts Council England. Confluence will take place in Great Yarmouth between March and May 2027. Named after the convergence of the rivers Yare, Bure and Waveney, Confluence is a residency built around the creative potential of meeting points: where artists and babies, practice and research, curiosity and experience come together. We are inviting two mid-career, multidisciplinary artists to merge with us here in Great Yarmouth, to grow their creative research practice within an early years context. The residency centres on a simple but profound idea: making visible the way in which young children and babies know and understand the world and acknowledging them as powerful artists and creative researchers. This is a unique opportunity to develop your practice through collaboration: re-activating your own child-knowing alongside babies and young children, and drawing on Magic Acorns' extensive experience of early years arts practice. You will explore your creative inquiries with young children and families in Great Yarmouth and with partner organisations, supported by training, mentorship and dedicated studio time. New to working with babies and young children? You are welcome to apply. No previous early years experience is needed: the residency includes deep-play training, mentoring and practical support. ### What we're offering - The opportunity to collaborate with Magic Acorns and learn from babies, toddlers, families and early years practitioners - Up to 10 days of studio time - 4 days of professional development workshops - A total bursary package of up to £4,050 - Support for access requirements - Mentorship from the Magic Acorns Directors - Sharing & final exhibition/performance opportunities - Professional video documentation of the residency process ### What we're looking for - A collaborative approach to creative practice - Openness to learning with and from babies, toddlers, families and our team - Curiosity, creativity and a willingness to experiment - Commitment to the residency programme and CPD workshops - A willingness to embrace open-ended processes and outcomes - Your own artistic skills, interests, experience and unique perspective - An interest in socially engaged practice and creative research - A desire to explore new contexts, audiences and ways of working - New questions, perspectives and approaches that can enrich creative work with and for young children ### How to apply There will be two stages to the application process. **Stage One** An open call for artists to complete an Expression of Interest form. Deadline: 25 October 2026 at 23:59pm **Stage Two** 12 Artists will be selected to develop a full proposal. They will be supported with an online proposal development session and a fee of £200 to support developing their application. We want to reduce financial barriers to applying and support artists who may find traditional application processes challenging. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Career Stage:** Mid-career - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** All disciplines - **Note:** We are inviting two mid-career, multidisciplinary artists to merge with us here in Great Yarmouth, to grow their creative research practice within an early years context. New to working with babies and young children? You are welcome to apply. No previous early years experience is needed: the residency includes deep-play training, mentoring and practical support. ### Additional Requirements - Complete the Expression of Interest form - Confirm your eligibility - A short paragraph introducing your artistic practice and what interests you about this residency opportunity ## Compensation & Benefits Bursary package of up to £4,050 (studio residency, CPD workshops, travel/accommodation, materials), plus a £200 fee for developing a Stage Two proposal. **Includes:** Honorarium, Stipend, Travel grant, Materials budget Two selected artists will be offered up to 10 days of studio time to develop their artistic practice and explore new ideas, 4 days of professional development workshops, a total bursary package of up to £4,050, comprising £2,250 for the residency, £800 to attend two compulsory two-day CPD workshops, £600 towards travel and accommodation, and £400 for materials, and support for access requirements. Separately, the 12 artists selected to develop a full proposal at Stage Two are supported with an online proposal development session and a fee of £200 to support developing their application. ## What's Provided - **Travel Support:** Available - £600 towards travel and accommodation. - **Materials Support:** Available - £400 for materials. - **Studio Access:** Provided - Up to 10 days of studio time to develop your artistic practice and explore new ideas. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 24, 2026 - **Deadline:** October 25, 2026 - **Program Start:** March 1, 2027 - **Program End:** May 31, 2027 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.magicacorns.co.uk/open-call-confluence-artist-residency/