Artist in Residence
Artist in Residence – Robbie Bellekom | 4 Nov 2025 – 28 Mar 2026
Puppeteer and maker, Robbie Bellekom, invites visitors and the local community to get creative with hands-on activities, workshops, and a fresh look at storytelling through puppetry.
Our sixth artist-in-residence, Robbie, brings a background in theatre and puppet-making, with experience working alongside companies such as Norwich Puppet Theatre and Brave Biscuit Studios. Their practice explores how puppetry can give life to objects, spark imagination, and make art accessible to everyone in truly inclusive ways.
During their residency, Robbie will be based in the studio on the top floor of the National Civil War Centre, open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. You’ll find Robbie in the studio most Tuesdays, but you’re welcome to stop by any time during opening hours to see their work in progress and enjoy creative activities left for visitors to try independently.
Robbie will also be running workshops and activities across the district, including special sessions for Family Saturdays, school groups, and community organisations. Inspired by the people and stories of Newark, Robbie’s work invites everyone to join in, share ideas, and discover the magic of puppetry.
For more information about Robbie and their practice, visit: Robbie Bellekom (@robbie_bellekom) • Instagram photos and videos or follow the National Civil War Centre on social media for updates.
New Vacancies - Artist in Residence 2026-2027
Are you an early to mid‑career artist, creative practitioner or collective with a passion for community‑focused, socially engaged work? Our Open Doors Artist in Residence programme offers a unique opportunity to develop your practice, collaborate with diverse communities, and create new work inspired by the remarkable collections, buildings and stories held across Newark and Sherwood.
Based in a working studio at the National Civil War Centre and Newark Museum, each residency invites artists to co‑create with local people, explore our heritage, and bring fresh creative perspectives to our historic sites. You’ll work both in the public studio, offering visitors a behind‑the‑scenes view of your creative process, and out in the community with groups across the district, helping to remove the barriers of cultural engagement and inspire new ways of connecting with arts and culture.
These residencies are ideal for artists whose practice is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to people and place. Whether you work in visual arts, writing, performance, textiles, photography, digital media, design, or another discipline, we want to hear from practitioners who are excited to collaborate, experiment, and make a meaningful impact.
We’re offering two residencies across 2026 and 2027, each supported by a comprehensive brief, a dedicated project team and a budget to deliver participatory workshops, public engagement and creative outcomes.
Want to know more about dates, aims, budgets and how to apply?
Click this link: Open Doors Artist in Residence Vacancies (PDF File, 142kb) to view the full residency brief, application requirements, and key deadlines.