Richard Coan with 'ours' poetry bookRichard Coan

Artist in Residence

I process by making.

My practice explores how we relate to ourselves and each other (as individuals, communities and cultures), through place-responsive creative enquiry.

Working through artist residencies, I immerse myself in places, listening and responding to the stories, creativity, experiences and connections that already shape them.

I create artistic responses that reveal and celebrate the creativity, stories and connections already present within people and places. Using photography, film, words, sound, music, movement, installation and participatory approaches, 

Through this enquiry, I seek to understand our sense of value, our place in the world and the connections that bind us together. I am interested in the spaces where our experiences overlap – the shared hopes, challenges, questions and emotions that exist alongside our differences. Through creative practice, I explore what connects us as human beings and how we might better recognise the value in ourselves, each other and the places we share.

Available for artist residencies with

  • Festivals
  • Communities
  • Arts organisations
  • Heritage sites
  • Churches and Faith organisations
  • Cultural organisations
  • Education settings
  • Place-based initiatives

Featured Creative Responses

Examples of how my residency practice responds to different people, places and questions.

Crossroads Community Hub Residency

Photography, film, song, images. Exploring belonging, hospitality and the overlap of different communities.

Shared via: Printed zine

Community Wellness Residency

Desk sculptures, poetry, songs, making & noticing sessions. Exploring wellness, creativity and community.

Shared via: Fundraising evening and social posts

Old Chapel Cafe Residency

Cafe Jackpot provided a framework to reflect on ongoing activities, emphasising that participation itself (not just producing finished artworks) creates wellbeing, builds confidence, and strengthens community bonds.

Shared via: Social posts