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Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre
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Description
Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre is a not-for-profit study site that focuses on providing individual users and groups with a low cost, temporary place to dictate their own methods of work. The centre allows practitioners to come and stay together, to develop projects that require time and space in a flexible, non-pressured environment.
This is a site for research and experimentation, primarily directed towards cultural production and supporting the development of communities. The Observatory does not look to lay claim to work produced here, and the space is not for public presentation per se. Work here is mainly co-initiated rather than steered by traditional modes of curation. Practitioners define their own projects during their stay.
The Observatory also hosts seminars, events and workshops and is open to a range of academic and non-academic discourses; from politics and social sciences to philosophy, bodywork, collective choreography or chat; where discussion can flow from kitchen to sound recording studio, and ideas can bounce between the domes and basements. The Observatory welcomes a diversity of fields and is a forum where different types of knowledge can be tested, shared and extended.
At its core, Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre is an independent project which supports other projects. It is an experiment in process.
Outcome
BOARC does not intend to capture work made onsite, all output & experimentation is up to practitioners.
Studio Information
Stayers can make use of the whole building during their stay. There is access to wood workshop, recording studio, rehearsal room, body-work room, however use of these should be discussed with other stayers & the BOARC team onsite.
The building is intended to be a resource for temporary use by groups and individuals who need time to work on projects. All workspaces and living spaces are shared, and can be negotiated with other stayers.
Accommodation Information
The Observatory has beds for up to 22 people (or 26 if double beds are shared). These are mainly in shared rooms from 2 to 4 people per room. There is also a family room with a cot, a dormitory that sleeps 8 people, and a single bedroom available. They also have an accessible bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor.
Bedrooms are shared and non-gendered. However, they do take awarenesses and sleeping requirements into account, please just send them an email when you book.
The ground floor is fully accessible, but they currently do not have wheelchair access to the first floor, roof or basement. For anybody who has specific access requirements, please get in touch and they can send further text, audio and image-based information regarding access to and around the Observatory.
Sheets and towels are provided and there are two washing machines and a dryer on the ground floor so stayers can do their laundry on leaving.
The Observatory is self-catering, and users will need to provide their own food. There is a large, 24-hour supermarket within close walking distance or within a 5-minute car ride.
Often, mealtimes are group gatherings and - if many people would like to cook together - this can be accommodated as we have a large semi commercial kitchen. There is also a second back kitchen for use in those moments when less cooking-communality is required.
