Apply for an Artists’ Residency at Lumb Bank

‘Lumb Bank is a unique kind of machine or organism that looks out over ancient valleys and woods, listens to the wind chasing across epic moorland, feels the nervous system of streams and becks, and tracks the parabolas of clouds and stars. Then it translates everything it senses into language’ Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate 

‘I’m convinced Lumb Bank is built on a ley line charged with supernatural powers. Strange and beautiful things happen there.’ Russ Litten 

Nestled in the Calder Valley, Lumb Bank has been home to Arvon’s creative writing courses since 1975. Arvon, the UK’s leading creative writing charity, has seen many of the finest writers in the land write and teach here, and many thousands more give voice to their stories. Before this, Lumb Bank was a farm, a millowner’s house, a mink farm, a tea room, a pony ranch and a family home for Ted Hughes and other private individuals.  

Arvon is offering six funded residencies at Lumb Bank from 21-24 September 2026, inviting writers, artists and creative practitioners living and working in the north of England to respond to the heritage of Lumb Bank through their chosen medium. 

If you were given the opportunity to spend three days and nights at Lumb Bank, how would you use that time? How would you respond to place, heritage and setting? How might this opportunity feed into your practice? 

Arvon is interested in all artforms, interdisciplinary, cross-platform, hybrid and digital. If your work is collaborative (with one other person) it might be possible to accommodate your collaborator. 

The outputs of the residency will be shared at an event at Lumb Bank in 2027. 

Applicants are invited to send a short summary (max. one page) of their creative career to date, an example of their work (a link or an image), and their pitch for the residency – what is it they’d like to explore at Lumb Bank? 

You will be staying at Lumb Bank for the duration of the residency and all meals will be provided. Transport costs are not included. You need to be able to commit to attending the residency before you apply, and the residency is non-transferable. Arrivals by lunchtime on Monday 21st, departures lunchtime Thursday 24th. 

For inspiration and more information on Lumb Bank’s heritage see www.arvon.org/heritage 

Deadline – 5pm – Friday 4 September 2026. Email: helen.meller@arvon.org. Interviews and residencies confirmed w/c 7 September.