Magnetic North Blog

Space/Time at Cove Park, photo by Eoin Carey

During the week of 11^th May, we’ll be trialling an online version of our Space/Time retreat.  Usually Space/Time is a residency in a rural location – previously venues include Cove Park in Argyle and Bute, The Old Brewery in Cromarty, Lyth Arts Centre near Wick, Findhorn in Moray, and the Swallow Theatre in Dumfries and Galloway. This is because being away from your regular surroundings is an important element in allowing people to focus on themselves without distraction.  Clearly this is not currently possible, so - like everyone else – we’re having to work out how to do things differently.

People are often intrigued by the idea of these retreats and ask what they’re like. It’s quite hard to explain what the experience itself is like as each person’s experience is different – though participant Rob Young has done a very good job in a previous post – but I can describe what the structure is and what the ideas behind it are.

Magnetic North is delighted to announce the artists who have been selected to take part in our next Space/Time retreat.  This edition of Space/Time is presented in partnership with Dance North Scotland and will take place at Findhorn, Moray.

Space/Time is a paid creative retreat for experienced artists from different disciplines that asks the question “How does an artist keep developing?”.  It aims to refresh participants through a stimulating examination of creativity. During the residency, we explore how creativity can be nourished and how artists can continue challenging themselves to develop.  The residency combines facilitated dialogue - built around a series of self-generated questions - with time for individual reflection and work as well as time to cook and eat together. It is led by Nicholas Bone and Alice McGrath.

Applications are now being accepted for our next Space/Time retreat, which will take place in Findhorn, Moray from 10-15 March 2020. 

Space/Time is part of Magnetic North’s Artist Development programme and is a creative retreat for experienced artists from all art forms which asks the question “How does an artist keep developing?”

 The residency aims to refresh participants through a stimulating examination of creativity. During the residency, we will question what creativity is, how it can be nourished and explore how artists can continue to challenge themselves to develop.

Led by Nicholas Bone and Alice McGrath, Space/Time combines facilitated dialogue - built around a series of self-generated questions - with time for individual reflection. Cooking and eating together is an important part of the residency.

This Space/Time retreat is presented in partnership with Dance North Scotland and will take place at Findhorn, Moray.

You should consider applying for Space/Time if you:

• feel the need to reflect on your creative practice in a supportive atmosphere
• have been working as a professional artist for at least seven years
• have questions about how to balance the pressures of work and life
• want to talk with others in a similar position
• need time for individual reflection and thought.

It is hard to describe exactly what happens at Space/Time, but watching this short film may help: https://www.magneticnorth.org.uk/space-time

Participants are paid a fee of £500 for attendance, we also pay travel expenses within Scotland. Food and accommodation is provided - food is vegetarian, in line with our Carbon Management Policy.

Find out more on the Space/Time page of our website here.

Photograph by Eoin Carey, taken at Cove Park in October 2018.

Magnetic North help experienced artists. Why would they do that? Isn’t that like offering to help an elite athlete cross the road? Or polishing a Formula One car?

Before we can even begin to have this conversation, we must first look at what an experienced artist does. The myth is that they sit around all day, thinking self-indulgent thoughts then pouring them out onto canvas, or the page, or in a little dance. If their work is good, they will leave the grubby Art World behind, for the glitzy world of Meeja. That’s how we know if they’re ‘worth’ something. Because they’re rich and famous.

Our next Space/Time retreat is being held on 4 October at Cove Park.

Space/Time is a paid creative retreat for experienced artists from all disciplines that asks the question “How does an artist keep developing?”

It aims to refresh participants through a stimulating examination of creativity. During the residency, we will explore how creativity can be nourished and how artists can continue challenging themselves to develop.

The residency combines facilitated dialogue - built around a series of self-generated questions - with time for individual reflection and work. It is led by Nicholas Bone and Alice McGrath.