Self-Directed Practitioner Residency
Independent focused practice
Two access options for independent practice.
This residency is for practitioners who are confident working independently and require structured access to professional facilities.
It offers two clearly defined options. The right choice depends on your working pattern rather than status or progression. Self-directed practitioner residencies run all year and applicants can enquire at anypoint.
Option 1
Weekday Workshop Residency
Access: Monday–Friday, 9–5
Fee: £170 per week
This option provides guaranteed bench space in the main workshop during weekday access hours.
It is suited to practitioners who:
Work consistently 3–5 days per week
Require reliable bench access
Do not need a private studio
Prefer a time-defined working structure
Includes
Guaranteed workshop bench during access hours
Use of shared tools and machinery
Access to communal areas
Does not include
Private studio space
24-hour access
Storage beyond agreed limits
Materials or consumables
Option 2
Studio Pod Residency
Access:
Private pod – 24 hours
Main workshop – Monday–Friday, 9–5 (shared facilities)
Fee: £400 per month
Minimum one-month occupancy
This option provides a private studio pod within the Smiddy, with 24-hour building access.
It is suited to practitioners who:
Are developing sustained bodies of work
Want a stable, longer-term base
Value independent studio space
Require flexible working hours
Includes
Private studio pod
Desk workspace and storage
24-hour building access
Access to shared workshop machinery during weekday hours
Important clarification
Workshop benches are shared and are not guaranteed during peak occupancy.
Pod residents use shared machinery and communal work surfaces during agreed hours.
Does not include
Dedicated main workshop bench
Teaching or mentoring
Materials or consumables
Guaranteed exhibitions or public outcomes
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.
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.
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.