Open House is a long-term creative programme with Kettle’s Yard and communities in North Cambridge funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Cambridge City Council.

Each year the community selects the Open House Artist in Residence. Follow the residency here through live updates on research, ideas, and activity.

Open House: Evolving City, Artist Opportunity 2018

This is an exciting opportunity for an artist with a socially engaged practice to co-produce new work through dialogue and workshops with the community. From May 2018 to March 2019, the artist will be ‘in residence’ in North Cambridge, working alongside community groups and individuals to realise an innovative and inspiring art project. This will lead to a public presentation or event at the end of the residency in a community setting. The residency also asks artists and community to think about the ways in which the project can connect to Kettle’s Yard. We are no longer taking applications from artists.

Harold Offeh Artist in Residence 2017

At a public meeting at North Cambridge Academy on the 24th February, members of the public and students at the school voted to select Harold Offeh as the next Open House Artist in Residence for North Cambridge. Harold will be working with communities in North Cambridge to explore the local area from now until the end of September 2017.

On September 16 Harold invited members of the public to join him in a celebration of local food and domestic design at a Gathering in North Cambridge Academy. The event featured displays from North Cambridge community groups, tastings from local bakers, tips on growing your own food from gardeners and activities for all ages. Following the Gathering, Harold hosted a Feast for members of the community who had contributed in some way to the Gathering. See photos of the day on the Open House Facebook page.

You are Here – Isabella Martin Artist in Residence 2016

Variations on a Weekend Theme – Emma Smith Artist in Residence 2015

Emma Smith, our first Open House Artist in Residence, collaborated with local communities to develop a new performative artwork exploring people’s restorative pastimes entitled Variations on a Weekend Theme. From April to December 2015, Emma worked across Arbury, King’s Hedges, East Chesterton and Orchard Park, collecting and sharing activities and past times local residents undertake to feel relaxed and restored.

Emma collected advice and activities from residents across North Cambridge and invited people to share their activities with others. She was inspired by an unpublished manuscript written by Jim Ede, entitled Variations on a Weekend Theme. The manuscript details how Jim and his wife Helen welcomed servicemen from Gibraltar for weekends at their home in Tangiers where they could stay, try something new and recuperate.

In November 2015, Emma transformed the disused Maskell’s Bakery on Akeman Street, and for three days the shop became an ‘art apothecary’ where visitors received remedies for a variety of malaises and situations. While reusing the original bread shelves and glass counter, the shop was completely redecorated and a few selected artworks and glass objects from the Kettle’s Yard collection were on display. Visitors were invited to book a consultation with an Assistant Apothecarist in the shop. To see photos from Variations on a Weekend Theme click here.