Call out for 4 new Artists in Residence
We’re on the hunt for 4 of the most exciting up-and-coming artists in the North East! If this is you, apply for our Artists in Residence programme here. This is a truly unique opportunity to spend 10 months rehearsing and performing in a world-class live music venue, accessing advice from pros in the industry, and receiving financial support for your creative project. Plus, you’ll be a part of our wonderful and supportive Sage Gateshead community! The call out closes on Monday 16 May at 5pm.
We’ve been speaking with some of our current Artists in Residence about their experience.
“Being an Artist in Residence at Sage Gateshead has been amazing. I’ve learned new skills I can take forward into other areas of my work both as a performer and composer, and have been supported and encouraged through a very ridiculous and ambitious new project! I couldn’t have started my new musical without the support of Sage Gateshead and the mentorship garnered through this residency- it’s been ace.” – Martha Hill (Artist in Residence 2021-22)
During the first lockdown, Martha Hill got weirdly obsessed with Dracula, and started writing songs about him, saying “I then decided that, obviously, I should write a musical.” Through their residency with us they’ve been able to access rehearsal space to work on this ambitious project, as well as funding for a writing retreat to Whitby – the home of Dracula! With our support, they’ve been able to really experiment and do something different with their final project. They will also be performing live with musicians from our in-house orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia. Come along and see it – Martha says “dressing up as a vampire isn’t compulsory, but is defs recommended.”
Whitley Bay-based singer-songwriter, and current Artist in Residence, Beccy Owen‘s feedback on the programme is just as glowing.
“I have greatly benefitted from the space, affirmation, freedom, resources and bespoke support I have received. I have begun to strip away my narrative approach to songwriting and my compositional tropes, returning to a simplistic, free-flowing process that combines my love of improvisation with music technology, acoustic instruments, slow-culture, field recordings, spoken word and lens-based media. This has pushed me into new genres and territory and has galvanised me into a more curious, outward-facing mindset.” – Beccy Owen (Artist in Residence 2021-22)
Beccy Owen’s final project explores the interaction between neuroscience, music and sound and how our relationship to bodies of water and other natural phenomena allow us regenerative possibilities. For inspiration, Beccy went on a writing retreat to the peaceful Beadnell on the Northumberland coast, also using our rehearsal space and instruments to develop her project. Beccy has really embedded herself in our Sage Gateshead community and (alongside this project) is co-creating an original song for our 10th Birthday Concert for In Harmony – a world premiere!
Bass trombonist Hannabiell Sanders will also soon be presenting her end-of-residency showcase this summer. She will perform as a soloist, with her duet Ladies of Midnight Blue, and her band Hannabiell & Midnight Blue Collective. We were pleased to support Hannabiell on an extra residency at Snape Maltings with Britten Pears Arts and Hannabiell has regularly accessed our rehearsal space to explore and experiment with weaving narrative, improvisation, and electronics into her music to better express themes of identity, freedom, and protest culture.
Our fourth Artist in Residence, rapper/singer-songwriter Sågaboi, is about to go on a writing retreat in Dalgety Bay, Fife this weekend and continues to work on his experimental take on modern rap, infectious melodies and eye-opening bars with real northern grit. Keep an eye out for his showcase coming soon!
Create music, collaborate with others in the industry and join our Sage Gateshead community as an Artist in Residence from September 2022 to June 2023. Find out more and apply to be one of our 4 Artists in Residence 2022-23 here.