What is the Snape Residency programme?

Applications for 2024-25 Snape Residencies are now closed.


Who are Residencies for?

The Snape Residency programme is for creators who want to re-focus their practice or take their work in a new direction.

Britten Pears Arts welcomes applications from musicians, composers, dancers, visual artists, producers, filmmakers, writers, sound artists, researchers, directors, and everything in between – as long as your idea has a strong element of music. We are excited by all genres of music and we encourage interdisciplinary projects, site-specific work, and collaborative practice. Creators at any stage of their career are welcome.

If this sounds interesting and you need time for your own development needs, a Snape Residency could be for you.



What can you expect from a Residency?

A Snape Residency at Britten Pears Arts is a hugely valuable experience that provides an unrivalled opportunity to focus on your own ideas and development. We provide an equipped space to work for 5-6 days, accommodation, travel, and lunch expenses. Depending on individual need, other benefits of a Residency might include (but are not limited to):

  • 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 during your Residency
  • Connections with new collaborators
  • Opportunities to get involved in other aspects of Britten Pears Arts
  • Time and space in nature and the ever-changing Suffolk landscape


Artist fees

We don’t pay fees, but we can advise on support should financial viability be an issue for you or your collaborators. If you have a low income and feel you genuinely cannot participate in a Residency for financial reasons, we have a limited budget to provide financial support, including for those who need to cover costs such as BSL interpreters or childcare. Please read the self-assessment supporting document on the Residency application form and select ‘yes’ if you consider yourself eligible for financial support.


What do we expect from you?

Residencies are all about entering into the spirit of this special place, as originally conceived by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears and imagined afresh by everyone who visits and creates here. We encourage you to be open, curious, and willing to engage with us beyond your own idea, which may include taking some time away from your project to meet with other creators on site. We may ask you to allow public access to the work you’re creating; this would be in the form of an informal Open Session. Additionally, some projects may also be invited to participate in an upcoming Aldeburgh Festival or as part of our performance programme.


Financial support

We are working to remove financial barriers to our programme. We are now improving how we support artists who might not otherwise be able to access a Residency. Please download and read the PDF below to make a self-assessment and let us know in your application if you think you are eligible for this support.

We aim to support as many artists as possible, but please note that our budget for financial support is limited.


What artists think

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.