Sudborough Green Lodge Centre For Research + Education
Introduction
Sudborough Green Lodge is a remote building set in the Northamptonshire countryside as a Centre for Research + Education. Please check our Programme for details about forthcoming public events at the Lodge; or sign up to our Mailing List for other opportunities, including Artist Residencies, artist professional development events and workshops for schools.
The Lodge consists of 2 small, joined cottages in the middle of Fermyn Woods, near the village of Brigstock. The Lodge is only accessible by car via a 3-mile hard-core surfaced track, off Harley Way, or via a 3-mile bridle path from Fermyn Woods Country Park.
The Lodge sits in the largest and richest biodiversity grassland in Northamptonshire, with medieval ridge and furrow ploughing. The meadow is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi) due to the diversity of its flora species. The nearby habitat hosts rare wildlife including: the Red Kite, Hobby and Siskin birds; rare butterflies such as the Purple Emperor and White Admiral; the great-crested and smooth newt; Natterer’s Pipistrelle and Long-eared bats; as well as foxes, badgers, sheep and two species of deer.
Vision
The vision for the Lodge was developed by the Programme Planning team, as a Centre for Research and Education, which is achieved through:
Taking a creative approach to the whole development and use of the site, allowing the unknown and unpredictable to occur.
Inviting inter-disciplinary artists working in a range of art forms to use the Lodge and its surrounding woodland as a resource for research, experimentation, testing new ideas and producing new work.
Connecting urban culture with the rural landscape and bringing rural perspectives into the urban environment, through new technology.
Facilitating dialogue around artistic practice through peer led training, skills and knowledge sharing.
Using the site as an education resource for children, young people and adults to develop their personal creativity.
Through this activity we also aim to counter the often-mutual exclusivity between traditional craft-based practice, contemporary land art, new and digital media and other forms of contemporary art practice.
Address
Sudborough Green Lodge
Fermyn Woods
(via Forestry Commission Gate)
Off Harley Way
Brigstock
Northamptonshire
NN14 3JD
Please note: if using a Sat Nav, the postcode also applies to the Welland Gliding Club on Harley Way.
Directions
The Lodge is reached via the A6116 (between Corby and the A14).
If coming from Corby, drive past the first turn for Brigstock and turn left into Harley Way (signposted Welland Valley Gliding Club and Lyveden New Bield).
If coming from the A14, drive past the sign for Fermyn Woods Country Park and take the next right onto Harley Way (signposted Welland Valley Gliding Club and Lyveden New Bield).
Drive along Harley Way for approx. 1 mile. The gate to the forest track is on the right, approx 100 yards past the Gliding Club.
The track is gated and padlocked and a code is required, which can be obtained from Fermynwoods staff.
View Sudborough Green Lodge on our Art Map.
There are Buses from Lower Benefield to Corby, Oundle and Peterborough, and from Brigstock to Corby and Kettering.
The nearest Train Station is Corby, but there are more frequent trains to and from Kettering Station.
Facilities
Cottage 1 has three bedrooms (2 rooms with 2 single beds and 1 room with a double bed), so can sleep up to 6 people. It has a fully equipped kitchen and an accessible, downstairs bathroom. There is also a dining room that can accommodate approx. 8 people and a small study.
The Cottage is centrally heated via a log burner, with plenty of wood and kindling available on site.
There is no landline telephone or TV aerial at the Lodge, and an intermittent Internet connection available through a portable router. Some of the local pubs in Brigstock have free wi-fi (including the Green Dragon) and artists are also invited to use the Internet at Fermynwoods’ office in Thrapston (approx. 8 miles from the Lodge).
Although bedding is provided, artists should bring their own towels, food and drink. The nearest shop is the Co-op in Brigstock, please check their website for opening times.
Please note; there is no smoking allowed inside the buildings.
Also see above for information regarding the surrounding habitat.
Artists in Residence
Fermynwoods applies for funding to deliver projects with Artists in Residence, to engage with members of the local community through an artistic dialogue. Artists in Residence are either selected through open Call-Outs (to receive notifications of future opportunities, please join our Mailing List or follow us on Twitter) or are directly appointed after long term relationships have been developed. As well as Artist Fees for the residency, appropriate expenses and travel costs are covered.
Recent Artists in Residence have included; Sophie Herxheimer, who developed The Listening Forest Artist Book of ink drawings and poetry, through discussions with dog walkers, anglers, twitchers, woodland volunteers and others who visit Rockingham Forest; and Rebecca Birch and Virginie Litzler who were based at the Cube in Corby as part of our 18 month Gesture project. For other recent residences visit our Activities page.
Our aim is to bring innovative artists to work with communities within their own environment, thereby Infiltrating the Everyday. Our intention is for there to be a two way exchange between the artists and participants, rather than for artists to use the residency solely as an opportunity to conduct research (this opportunity is offered through our Associate Artists programme.
Important
Before applying for a Residency, it is worth bearing in mind that an artist may often be staying at the Lodge on their own, although sometimes the other rooms may be let out. Personal transport will also be required since the nearest public transport is in Brigstock, which is approx. 3 miles from the Lodge.
We are also interested in discussing the possibility for artists to conduct self-funded residencies at the Lodge.
Please sign up to our Mailing List to hear more about forthcoming residencies.
We also recommend subscribing to Arts Council England’s free Arts Jobs mailing list as all our residencies will also be advertised there.