Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places: Cot Valley Group Artist Residency (November 12th – November 16th 2023). The residency is an opportunity to spend time with like-minded people in the awe-inspiring location of Cot Valley, Cornwall, nestled within the UK’s most Westerly peninsular. This fascinating arts-science-heritage opportunity is curated to inspire art practitioners, researchers and thinkers alike.

Taking the theme of ‘Dark Skies, Wild Seas’ we consider the stories of stars and the wild coastline of the Cornish peninsular, looking at how people have lived and worked this special landscape since prehistory using and enjoying the ancient night skies and sea connectivity that we can experience today. We reside at Lands End YHA, a wild, natural setting with views down the Cot Valley of the vast Celtic sea. This remarkable building boasts 1920s-period features, a cosy open fire and plenty of indoor and outdoor space, and lowlight nights for stargazing and footpaths leading from the hostel to the coast and the village of St Just. Just 10 minutes walk to the unusual prehistoric site of Ballowall Barrow which overlooks the Atlantic. We encourage everyone to share enthusiasm and relevant research; our overview project theme ‘Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places’ is connected to star stories, astronomy, geology, and local heritage.