Founded:
2026
Language(s):
English, English, British
Eligibility criteria:

The Sheldon Creative Residency is open to artists and creatives from a wide range of disciplines and career stages. They’re less interested in formal credentials than in whether you have a genuine creative practice, a clear reason for wanting dedicated time away, and the independence to make good use of it.

Especially suited to people who are self-directed, curious and comfortable taking initiative, rather than needing a highly structured or closely mentored programme. Residents should also be open to living alongside people working in different creative fields and willing to take part in the social life of the house from time to time.

You don’t need to arrive with a finished project or a particular career status. What matters most is that you’re serious about your creative work, respectful of others, and interested in being part of a relaxed, interdisciplinary community.

Duration:
3-6 months
From November to March, residents can stay from 2 weeks to 2 months
Residents at once:
More than 5
Covered by host:
Accommodation, Studio
Paid by artist:
Residency fee, Daily expenses
Residency fee:
£525 for private rooms, £350 for shared accomodation
The fee covers:
A room at the B&B, usage of space for creative projects, breakfast, and creativity-boosting outings/events organised by during your stay
The fee is charged:
Per week
Application guidelines:

Applications should give a clear sense of who you are, what you make, and why this residency would be useful to you right now. They’re not looking for polished grant-writing language or a perfectly defined final outcome.

To apply, simply fill out the application form on The Sheldon website, which you can access through the “Apply Now” button.

They’d like to hear about your creative practice, what you hope to work on during your stay, and how you tend to work independently. Applicants should also share examples of previous work where possible, such as a portfolio, website, showreel, writing sample or other relevant material.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before applying. A strong application should simply show intent, curiosity, independence and a genuine commitment to your creative practice.

Application deadline:
Ongoing / apply any time
Open call:
no
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The Sheldon Creative Residency

The Sheldon Creative Residency

Description

The Sheldon Creative Residency is for artists, writers, makers, thinkers and imaginative mischief-makers looking for some time, space and creative company by the sea.

Based in the art-filled, family-run B&B in Eastbourne on England’s south coast, the residency brings together creatives from different disciplines to live, work, experiment and open their artistic perspectives alongside one another.

The programme is intentionally self-directed and fairly informal. You’ll have plenty of time to disappear into your own work, with breakfast, accommodation, shared spaces and a growing creative community around you when you feel like resurfacing. There’s no pressure to arrive with a masterpiece planned — you might come to write, paint, research, rehearse, edit, experiment, finish something, start something completely different, or simply give your practice some proper attention.

The Sheldon itself is an evolving creative experiment, full of murals, handmade details, odd objects and contributions left by artists and friends from around the world. They’re interested in curious, independent people who enjoy both having their own space and being part of a community.

Outcome

The outcome is intentionally open-ended. Residents are given time, space and community to develop their practice in whatever way is most useful to them. That might mean finishing a project, starting something new, experimenting with ideas, gaining perspective from other creatives, or simply reconnecting with their work.

There is **no required final output**, though residents will have the option to share what they’ve been working on in an **end-of-residency show or informal presentation** if they’d like to.

Accommodation Information

Residents stay on-site at The Sheldon, the family-run 20-room B&B in central Eastbourne, just a few minutes from the seafront. Accommodation can be private or shared depending on the residency arrangement and availability, with access to an ensuite bathroom in every room, fresh linens and the usual comforts of staying in a working guesthouse.

Breakfast is included, and residents can use the hotel’s communal areas for eating, relaxing, working and spending time with other creatives. There is also access to kitchen facilities for preparing other meals.

The aim is to remove as much everyday life-admin as possible, while still giving residents the independence to settle into their own routines. You can retreat to your room and focus when you need to, then come downstairs for breakfast, conversation or community when you feel like resurfacing.

Studio Information

The Sheldon isn’t a traditional studio complex — working spaces are flexible, informal and spread throughout the house. Residents can make use of communal areas, tables and quieter corners for writing, drawing, editing, researching, planning and other creative work, while many bedrooms also have desks for more private working.

Some shared spaces can be adapted for larger projects or collaborative work depending on what is happening in the hotel at the time. We’re particularly well suited to practices that don’t require specialist equipment, although we’re happy to discuss individual needs before a residency begins.

The idea is to give you enough space to settle into your own rhythm — whether that means working quietly in your room, spreading out downstairs, or moving between spaces as your project develops.

Working facilities
Other
Other working facility
Industrial kitchen, spacious dining room, cozy lounge room, outdoor storage space, sizable parking lot, close proximity to seafront and town center, easy access to nature walking or by car/bus.
Technical assistance
Yes
Do you host groups?
No
Non-artist companions allowed
Yes
Companion types
Pets
Partner
Support for artists with disability
Service animals allowed
Location specifics

The Sheldon is located in Eastbourne, on England’s south coast, just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. Residents have easy access to the South Downs, Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, as well as Eastbourne’s cafés, theatres and galleries, including Towner Eastbourne. Brighton is around an hour away, while London is easily reachable by train, making The Sheldon a peaceful coastal base with strong connections to wider creative communities.

Past residents

Beren Demerici
Berta Artigal

Contact information

9-11 Burlington Place
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 4AS
United Kingdom

Email
residency [at] thesheldon.co.uk
Phone
+447852806298
Website
https://www.thesheldon.co.uk/creative-residency
Social media links
https://www.instagram.com/thesheldoneastbourne/
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