Applications are now open

At Britten Pears Arts, our residency programme offers an incredible range of development opportunities for composers and music creators at our two inspiring locations: Snape Maltings and The Red House. Our programme is designed to ignite your creativity and exploration, providing the flexibility to suit your unique needs.

We offer a bespoke residency experience, in which we tailor our support to provide a safe and supportive environment where you can be curious, experiment, or try something new. So, whether you require a small, quiet space, or a large area to collaborate with others, our facilities and resources are here to support your creative journey.

Who are Residencies for?

We welcome applications from musicians, composers, and music creators from all genres. Interdisciplinary, site-specific, and collaborative projects are also welcome. Artists at any stage of their career, who have exciting and cutting-edge ideas are encouraged to apply.

Perhaps you’re a baroque synth ensemble, or a choreographer and a string quartet working together for the first time, or composer and librettist writing their next big Opera? If you need dedicated time, space, and support to develop your work, a residency at Britten Pears Arts could be perfect for you.

What does a Residency include?

Residencies are one week long, and our programme is unique in the amount of support we offer. This could include access to technology that might otherwise be out of reach, or the mentorship you need to take a chance on creating something new and exciting.

We provide:

• Multipurpose creative spaces
• Equipment to test out ideas
• Producer support before, during and after your residency
• Technical support and advice
• Mentoring or facilitation of your process
• Wellbeing support
• Connections with new collaborators and peer networking
• Opportunities to engage with other aspects of Britten Pears Arts
• Public sharing
• Accommodation, travel and lunch expenses
• Time and space in the beautiful Suffolk countryside

Please note that whilst we welcome international applications, we are unlikely to be able to reimburse the full cost of any international travel.

The support available from our staff is a key benefit of our programme. We encourage regular meetings to help develop your residency project, seek funding opportunities, and advance your career. We encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to work with other elements of our work at BPA, participate in other projects and festivals, and connect with our family of artists. Finally, you will be expected to share a flavour of your working week with the public through an informal Open Session.

What spaces do we have?

At Snape Maltings we have two large multi-use spaces, the Britten Studio and the Jerwood Kiln Studio.

At The Red House we have four 1-3 bedroom properties which offer artists a self-contained experience where they can focus on their work at whatever hours suit them.

What additional support is there?

We recognise the difficulty in securing financial support for artistic development and creative projects. Even with our generous residency program, some artists may find it challenging to participate.

All artists can request our financial support package on a self-assessed basis. No proof of income or circumstance is required. Please read this guidance document for more information.

Please let us know of any access requirements you may have, and we will happily accommodate them.

What is the application process?

The application period is open from 13 January – 18 February 2025 (5pm UK time GMT). There are no application fees.

We only accept applications via our online form.

Apply now, or get in touch if you have any questions. Potential applicants can also book a 10-minute 1–1 session with the Programme Manager to ask any questions they may have. Book your session.

At BPA, we strongly believe in equal opportunities for all and understand that diversity strengthens and enriches us as an organisation. We take pride in Britten Pears Arts Residencies being an accessible programme, and positively encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, neurodivergence, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

All applications are reviewed by our rotating panel of internationally recognised artists, staff at Britten Pears Arts and individuals from other partner organisations. This year our shortlisting panel includes Lloyd Coleman, Adele Thomas, Tom Coult, Nabihah Iqbal, and two Aldeburgh Young Musicians.

We will provide results to all applicants on 25 April 2025.

What do our artists say?

“It was an extremely special week for me, working with Liam and Tom in such a beautiful nurturing environment. I think I can safely speak for all three of us when I say that we felt complete freedom in how we used our time. We were able to get into a headspace and to find an intensity of thought and concentration that we'd never have achieved in our usual surroundings. Your team were so professional and accommodating and couldn’t have provided us with more! Snape Maltings is a very special place.”

Clare O'Connell, Cellist. Watch Clare's Residency film here.

We are so grateful to our supporters, without whom none of our work would be possible. Visit Support us to find out how you can help.