The idea for Back Room – 'two out of three' began towards the end of 2023. After curating and project managing two major exhibitions in Middlesbrough and Brighton, I needed time to reset and recharge.
I searched for a residency that offered space to pause, reconnect with my practice and recover from burnout, but nothing quite fit. Instead, I realised that if the right space didn't exist, perhaps we needed to build it ourselves.
Over the following year, I worked to develop the idea, speaking with artists, grassroots groups, community organisers and cultural organisations to understand the need and shape what the residency could become.
The research was clear. Artists living with mental health challenges and other disabilities continue to face significant systemic barriers within the UK arts sector. Around 60% report feeling isolated from mainstream arts communities because of a lack of understanding and inclusivity, while Arts Council England research found that 68% of disabled and/or mentally ill artists experience significant barriers to accessing creative opportunities. Our own conversations also reflected another striking statistic: two out of three artists have considered leaving the sector because of the barriers they face.
Back Room has been created as a response to these inequities. The residency aims to provide artists facing systemic barriers with the time, space, resources and support to develop their practice, build confidence and reclaim visibility within the arts.
To test and refine our model, we have secured space at SAFE Regeneration in Bootle, Liverpool, where we will deliver a series of pilot residencies. The project takes its name from both the physical location, in the building's back rooms, and the research that inspired it: two out of three artists consider quitting because of the barriers they encounter.
Alongside the residencies, we will spend the next 12 months undertaking research through creative workshops, focus groups and community collaboration. This process will help us evaluate what works, identify where improvements are needed, and shape a residency model that offers both artistic and emotional support.
This pilot phase is a vital step towards our long-term ambition: securing a permanent, accessible residency space where artists who have historically been excluded can thrive.
Find out more about our first three residency artists and the programme we are striving to provide
beautiful analogue image created by Phoebe Thomas 02/26