Cumbria Connect Artist Residency

Are you an artist based in Cumbria? We want to work with you to celebrate our native deer and the recovery of our landscapes. Cumbria Connect and partners are hosting Lakes Deer Fest on Saturday 10th October 2026 at Rheged near Penrith. It will be a celebratory day exploring the story of native Red and Roe deer, the landscapes they shape and the people who work and live alongside them. The Role We are seeking an artist based in Cumbria (or with strong demonstrable connections to the county) to lead the creative design, curation and development of visual and interactive elements of the festival. Central to this residency is community co-creation. You will work closely with local groups, particularly focusing on the CA10 and CA11 postcode areas, to co-produce a new artwork to be a centrepiece of the festival program. We welcome proposals from artists working across all mediums – including painting, sculpture, music, performance, writing and digital media. We encourage place-responsive, environmentally engaged approaches that invite thoughtful engagement with the festival’s themes. Why deer? Through this residency, we want to open honest and accessible conversations about bringing the land into balance. Through art, we aim to explore both the ecological significance of deer and the complex, responsible steps involved in their management. We seek to highlight how woodland recovery and animal welfare – achieved legally and humanely – go hand in hand to support nature recovery at scale. Who Can Apply? We’re looking for passionate individuals – artists, makers, performers, creatives – based in Cumbria, who love working with landscapes, ecology and people. We particularly value experience in: – Collaborative or community-led arts practices – Addressing wildlife, ecology or environmental themes, – Exploring cultural heritage and a strong sense of place