Meet City’s Creatives in Residence

“Being a creative can feel quite isolating at times, as you often feel like you're doing everything alone,” says singer-songwriter Joseph Bell. “Residencies are a great opportunity to be involved in something outside yourself and access to a lot of resources that would be out of reach otherwise.”

Joseph is one of three artists selected to be a Creative in Residence at City, University of London. The scheme was designed to support early career creatives in growing and exploring their practice in the School of Creativity and Communications (SCC)— an inclusive and socially engaged place – and began in June.

In a time where arts funding is being cut nationally, City is proud to be a supporter of the arts. In addition to the Creatives in Residence programme, last year City acquired the Islington-based performing arts school Urdang.

Singer Joseph was selected to take part in City’s inaugural residency alongside Darcy Dixon, a multidisciplinary artist who is an actor, singer and movement practitioner; as well as Chloe Carterr, a spoken word artist.

Artists receive access to the studio spaces and performance spaces on campus. They will also receive training for media and podcast appearances and access to all School events.

At the end of the six-month residency, the three artists will present a completed tangible project. For SCC students, this is also the opportunity to network and collaborate with working artists, and to think about what career opportunities are available to them once they graduate.

Joseph, Darcy and Chloe will each host a creative masterclass for staff and students in their respective practices and will mentor two students each through City’s Professional Mentoring Scheme.

“Our three artists in the residence are the first of what will be an ongoing scheme and is part of the School’s strategy to build a creative community in the heart of London for those inside and outside the university,” said Professor Anna Whitelock, Executive Dean of the SCC and historian.

Johanna Payton, a lecturer in journalism, acted as Employability Lead for SCC while Dr Jenny Mbaye, Associate Dean for Employability, Engagement and Enterprise was on research buyout. Johanna helped to welcome the Creatives in Residence to the school and said:

Ideas for collaborative projects, events and relationships are already being keenly discussed.

Our Creatives will be based in The Pool space, in College Building, working alongside SCC students and staff, uplifting our community with their ideas and sharing the industry advice they have gathered so far in their careers.

We hope they will learn and find inspiration from us, too. This mutually beneficial programme is just the start of a longer-term journey to grow SCC's strong, fruitful and sustainable links with the creative industries.

Multidisciplinary artist Darcy Dixon combines academia and creativity

Artist in residence Darcy Dixon is a multidisciplinary creative – and actor, a mentor, a movement practitioner. She will be working on a project that will explore Aesthetics and Theories of Art as part of her residency and collaborating with Dr Diana Yeh. She said:

I am really honoured and thrilled to start this collaboration.

I love abstract, unconventional, and provocative art that also speaks to and engages audiences. With City students - through an embodied methodology - I shall investigate a Functionalist Theory of Art that goes beyond our usual conceptions of what art is.

I am excited to help City students and staff alike to challenge the norms of what art should look like, and who it is for.

Residencies like this affirm that creatives deserve space to make and create, and they remind creatives that their practices are valid and realised.

Spoken-word artist Chloe Carterr urges everyone to take creative risks

Chloe Carterr is also a multihyphenate: she is a Youtuber, an artist, a model, an influencer and a spoken word artist. The founder of ‘Underground BarZ’, an intimate poetry and music event for emerging creatives, she will use the residency to document the production of her debut spoken word EP. She said:

I am at a residency that gives me the freedom to explore my creativity. A residency that’s creative fuels room for evolution.

My second year of university was during lockdown so I never felt like I got to embrace the full extent of what universities have to offer so this creative residency gave me a second chance to do all the exploration and creation.

My advice to others is – always take the risk!

Joseph Bell wants to produce six songs in six months

Singer-songwriter Joseph Bell is working on two projects: the completion of his five-song EP about self-care in the digital, and a six-song project made collaboratively with City students. He’s already hard and work and earlier this month released a new single called ‘Sweet Release.’ He said:

It felt amazing to be selected for the City Creatives in Residence project – it's given me more confidence in myself.

The opportunity to have access to a regular studio space is hugely helpful and going into City makes me feel like part of a community.

I think universities are great spaces and it's good to be back at one. There's a good energy at City.