Self-Directed Practitioner Residency
Independent focused practice with dedicated studio space
The Self-Directed Practitioner Residency is designed for established and mid-career practitioners who want sustained time to develop work independently within a professional craft environment.
This residency prioritises autonomy, focus, and continuity. It offers dedicated studio space alongside agreed access to shared workshop facilities, allowing practitioners to work at their own pace without teaching, contribution, or public output requirements.
Who the Self-Directed Practitioner Residency is for
This residency is suitable for practitioners who:
Have an established jewellery, silversmithing, or material practice
Are confident working independently and safely
Value having a dedicated personal studio space
Want sustained, uninterrupted time to focus on making
Applicants are expected to manage their own practice responsibly within a shared professional environment.
Residency structure
Self-Directed Practitioner Residencies are offered year-round, subject to availability.
Residency periods of two weeks or longer may be agreed, with duration shaped around the needs of the practitioner and the wider life of the Smiddy.
Residents are provided with a standalone studio pod with 24-hour access. Agreed weekday access to the main workshop is available when the space is not in use for teaching or programmed activity.
What the residency provides
The Self-Directed Practitioner Residency includes:
A designated studio pod with 24-hour access
Agreed access to shared workshop facilities
A professional working environment with clear boundaries
Time and space for focused, independent practice
The residency provides access to space rather than instruction or supervision.
What the residency does not include
The Self-Directed Practitioner Residency does not include:
Teaching or mentoring
Employment or paid roles
Materials or consumables
Guaranteed exhibitions, sales, or public outcomes
Accommodation
Any additional support or learning is arranged separately where appropriate.
Relationship to other Smiddy activity
This residency sits alongside Membership and Studio Access as an alternative form of engagement based on time, focus, and autonomy.
Some practitioners choose a residency instead of Membership. Others move between different forms of access over time. There is no expected pathway.
Community participation during the residency
The Self-Directed Practitioner Residency is primarily focused on independent practice.
However, residents are welcome to contribute to the wider life of the Smiddy if this feels appropriate to their work and interests.
Opportunities may include:
Offering a workshop or skills session
Hosting an informal talk or demonstration
Contributing to an exhibition moment
Sharing aspects of process with the community
Any contribution is optional and developed through conversation. There is no expectation that residents provide teaching or public activity as part of the residency.
Where activity is proposed, it must align with Smiddy values of clarity, care, and professional standards, and be agreed in advance to ensure it sits well within the existing programme.
For some practitioners, community engagement becomes a meaningful part of their residency experience. For others, the focus remains entirely on studio practice. Both approaches are equally valid.
Enquiries and availability
Self-Directed Practitioner Residencies are offered subject to capacity and suitability.
If you are interested and unsure whether this residency is the right fit, you are welcome to get in touch to discuss availability and options.