The Halsway Artists in Residence programme has enabled esteemed artists to make use of Halsway Manor as a source of inspiration. Drawing on the raw beauty of the West Somerset landscape, richness of local folklore, the extensive folk reference library, the time and space offered by the manor, the echos of year round creative practice, and the general Halsway vibe this collaboration aims to support artists, inspire new creative works and inspire future generations of folk musicians and artists.
Rebecca Perry and Amy Keys – 2019 Halsway Manor Poets in Residence
As part of our Heritage Lottery Fund activities. Rebecca Perry and Amy Key spent time at Halsway Manor absorbing the life of the manor, researching in the library, exploring the surrounding area and creating a new collaborative body of work inspired by their time here, published in pamphlet form.
Shadowlands Andrea Oke – May – Sept 2018 Halsway Artist in Residence
Somerset Arts Works in partnership with Halsway Manor commissioned a new artwork as part of ‘A Landscape of Objects’ funded by Arts Council England. Through the combination of traditional craft and digital media visual artist Andrea Oke reanimated Halsway Manor’s landscape by exploring some of the forgotten people and the stories that shaped the bedrock of this place. With parts of the building dating from the 15th Century and with a mention in the Domesday book, Halsway Manor is imbued with a rich folk heritage that encompasses dragons, devils, murder and Odin’s ghostly blacksmith. Yet much of this folk history is now forgotten creating a borderland of shadows and concealments. Through the combination of traditional craft and digital media Andrea reanimated Halsway Manor’s landscape by exploring some of the forgotten people and the stories that shaped the bedrock of this place.
Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys – 2018 Halsway Manor Artists in Residence
The band brings together the extraordinary combined talents of Sam Kelly (guitar, voice), Ciaran Algar (fiddle, banjo), Toby Shaer (whistles, flute, uilleann pipes, cittern, fiddle), Archie Moss (melodeon), Jamie Francis (banjo, guitar), Graham Coe (cello), Evan Carson (drums, bodhran, percussion). They worked on new material and supported educational projects to inspire emerging young musicians.
Lady Maisery – 2017 Halsway Manor Artists in Residence
Lady Maisery: Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans were our 2017 Artists in Residence. Over their year with us they featured as tutors on a number of courses in addition to leading two singing weekends.
Faustus – 2016 Halsway Manor Artists in Residence
Over their time as Artists in Residence Faustus; Benji, Saul & Paul completed their new album ‘Death and Other Animals’, recorded at Halsway Manor which includes material drawn from the Halsway archive.