Why Write in Residence?

You might be wondering why I'm here, why I'm writing for The Studio. Let me explain...

Essentially, my job here at The Studio is to write about people, projects and goings-on so that we can foster engagement between Bath Spa University and the wider creative community here in the South West.

My job is to devote my time to writing blog posts on the Bath Spa website, promoting the Studio as a new, innovative space for up-and-coming writers, artists, creative technologists and more.

I'm also here to show you our work as we build up to, and beyond, our launch on 31 March 2020.

What's a residency?

A residency is the period of time a writer spends working with a particular organisation. You can read more about it from the Arts Council.

My residency at the Studio lasts from February to late May, in-line with the second semester of my second year at Bath Spa University. Still, the timings of a residency can range from a set number of weeks or months to a year, depending on the individual agreement between the writer and the organisation.

A writer in residence can be part of any organisation, from creativity to retail or banking, but we'll focus on my position in the Studio for now.

My perspective as a writer in residence here at the Studio is of an outsider looking in. In other words, I am here to talk about how the team at the Studio works, who we are, and to showcase the development and success of the projects here. Through my writing, I hope to also boost the names of our residents as they take a leap either into a creative career or into a passion project of their own.

My voice is theirs

Well, maybe not literally. But I am the voice of the Studio (blog-wise anyway) bringing a building of busy bees to the world's skies through my publicity of projects, people and events—stay tuned for more of that!

The benefits of a writer in residence

There are many benefits of having a writer in residence; most obviously, for the organisation the writer can be a crucial part of promotion and publicity, events organisation and generally creating links throughout the South-West, and possibly beyond.

For me (the writer), there are plenty of benefits:

• Boost in experience: my time here has allowed me to develop my skills in writing for the web, journalism and communicating with and as part of a team; definitely something worthwhile on a CV!
• Networking: The Studio is full of inspiring creatives whose careers have already baffled me—and I'm only a month in! It has definitely opened my eyes in terms of the types of people and work that the Creative Industries envelope. There's more to this than writing, that's for sure! The people I have met and the connections I've made will no doubt help me in my career to come; networking, particularly within the Creative Industries, is crucial, but it doesn't have to be hard! A lot of the time—and hold onto your seats when I say this—it can come naturally.
• A look beyond the classroom: Being a student, my life is ruled by timetables, assignments, and lectures, so it can be hard to escape that bubble. Don't get me wrong: I love this about my life; however Bath is a brilliant hub for creativity and this residency has allowed me to get a foot in the door of the Creative Industries.

If you want to know more about writing in residence, how to set up your own residency, or how to become a writer in residence, you can find some helpful links below:

• Literature Works – Working as a writer in residence by Julia Copus
• GOV.UK – Hosting a writer in residence at your library: everything you need to know
• Arts Council – Writers in residence: a practical guide for writers and organisations in London

Until next time…

Gemma