The Maltings (Berwick) Trust and Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy (CRE) and Institute for Creative Arts Practice have an ongoing programme of commissions and artist residencies that supports the exchange and sharing of knowledge between the artist and researchers to inform critical responses to contemporary rural issues.

We are now inviting applications for a new research commission opportunity to take place during 2024. The commission is an opportunity for an artist whose practice explores ideas around wellbeing and rurality to collaborate with the above two research centres and additionally, for this commission, the University’s Population Health Sciences Institute.

We wish to appoint an artist working in any visual art form to actively collaborative with researchers at CRE & the Population Health Sciences Institute alongside Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) groups and relevant communities in Berwick and Northumberland to research, document and respond to the theme of wellbeing in rural communities.

We are particularly interested in working with an artist to research and explore themes around place and wellbeing, including the relationship between farmers and animals and its impact on wellbeing, the impact of cultural values, and the impact of seasonal work on rural people.

This, however, is not an exhaustive list, and we welcome suggestions of other themes to explore within the context of rural wellbeing.

Applicants should have an established, accessible, and socially engaged visual arts practice that explores, or has the potential to explore, themes of wellbeing and rurality and can demonstrate this through a track record of creating new work through projects, exhibitions and commissions.

They should also demonstrate an interest in collaborating with academics to support the development of their practice and a willingness to share knowledge and experience with others.

The research period begins from 1 May 2024 and we are open to discussion about the duration of the research commission and frequency of contact over this period, but we expect the research to be complete by 31 March 2025.

A bursary of £12k is available for the successful artist to undertake the research.

An online briefing session for interested artists will take place via Zoom on Monday 29 January at 6pm. This will be an opportunity to meet staff and researchers from The Maltings and Newcastle University’s research centres and ask any questions you may have about the commission.

If you would like to attend please email galleries@maltingsberwick.co.uk with ‘Online Briefing’ in the title and a Zoom link will be sent to you on the day.

Please read the full research commission brief here before applying.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 26 February.