Creative Support

Ignite

Our Arts Council funded programme of work is dedicated to enabling arts makers and audiences in Somerset to harness the new opportunities afforded through digital technology to create and experience greater artistic excellence and innovation.

The way we make, distribute, receive and exchange art is radically changing through the power of digital technology. Our programme of activity includes Artist Surgeries (below) Creative Network Events, Artist in Residency opportunity (below) and community outreach.

Artist Surgeries

Qualifying artists from Somerset, working in any artform, can apply for a free one-to-one surgery session (face to face or online) with the aim of bringing a digital element to their current practice or planned work. If you need help completing the form or accessing an online session, pop in or give us a call: 01278 433187.

Artist in Residence

Ignite Somerset - Artist in Residency

Each year Somerset Film offers a Somerset based artist an exciting opportunity to work as Artist in Residence at The Engine Room in Bridgwater from mid June to mid Sept 2025. This is an opportunity for artists working in any medium including: visual arts, performance, dance, music, sound art and the written word. We’re interested to see how the artist merges digital ideas with their existing practice.

This year we are interested in hearing from an artist who would like to take part in Somerset Art Works ‘Open Studios’ but is unable to do so. This may be for physical reasons e.g. their studio is physically inaccessible for the public, social factors such as caring responsibilities or for financial reasons.

The selected artist will be supported by our Creative Technologist and access to equipment to explore Virtual Reality, LiDar scanning, moving image, sound and more to help create a digital interpretation of their studio and work for presentation at The Engine Room in September.

Who we’re looking for

  • A Somerset based artist (an artist living in the county of Somerset), aged 18+, who wants to develop their practice.

  • An artist with a demonstrable practice and examples of work.

  • An artist working in any medium who would like to explore the creative potential of digital technology

  • An artist who would like to produce a new digital artwork for exhibition in September (September 13th to September 28th 2025.) to coincide with Somerset Arts Work Open Studios. (We also hope to repeat showing the work in February 2026 in another venue).

  • An artist with Public Liability Insurance.

    We particularly welcome applications from emerging  (undergraduates and recent graduates), disabled and ethnically diverse artists.

Expectations

  • The artist will produce tangible digital interpretation of their studio through the exploitation of creative digital technology.

  • Over the course of the residency the artist will keep a log that documents their creative journey. This diary could be in the form of, for example: a blog, a video documentary, a photo diary or audio diary.

  • The artist will present their project at a Creative Network on Saturday September 13th. (The Creative Network is an informal event for artists to get together and share ideas and inspiration). 

  • The artist is expected to present digital interpretation of their studio developed at the residency at The Engine Room for Somerset Art Works Festival Weeks - September 13th to September 28th 2025.

Benefits to the artist

  • Somerset Film will pay the Artist in Residence a fee of £1,000 plus an additional £200 for materials.

  • The artist will be able to access, through negotiation with the team at Somerset Film, facilities at The Engine Room during the course of the residency. Our facilities include: Mac computers and a range of media production software, DSLRs, professional microphones, film and photography lighting, audio equipment and studio space, iPad, Polycam Lidar Scanning Software.

  • Over the course of the residency the artist will benefit from up to twelve days support from the Ignite Somerset Creative Technologist. This support can cover, for example: ideas development, technical production assistance, video/sound editing, curatorial support.

How to apply

Please prepare an outline proposal that describes your current practice and how you intend to use this opportunity (no more than 500 words), accompanied by a CV and three images that demonstrate your work, including links to any examples of your work online.

Send your proposal to daniel@somersetfilm.com by midday May 1st.

If you’re invited to an interview you will be required to show evidence of your work in the form of, for example: a portfolio, photographs or video.

If you require more information please contact info@somersetfilm.com or calling 01278 433187.

Technical Support

If you have a creative project that you need support with take a look below for further details of how you can access technical support and equipment / software through the Creative Project Hub. If you need help completing the registration form, pop in or give us a call: 01278 433187.

  • We offer FREE one to one technical support sessions to help you develop your creative projects. 

    From April 18th 2023 we will be introducing a new structure. The bookable one-to-one support is to learn a creative process or use equipment to continue with the project yourself. Registered users will be able to access bookable one-to-one support on Tuesday mornings (10am - 12pm* | max. two hours per person per quarter subject to demand). Registration is free. Further one-to-one support will be charged at a discounted cost of £30 per hour.

    These sessions will mostly be held at The Engine Room but we aim to get out and about to other venues and will be offering bookable sessions at locations including Holman Hub at Chapel Cross Tea Rooms in South Cadbury and The Art Bank Café in Shepton Mallet amongst others. Please note under 18s must be accompanied by a a parent / carer.

  • If you need access to equipment to continue your creative project then our Digital Creative Project Hub takes place on Tuesday afternoons (2pm – 4pm*). The hub is intended for those who just need access to equipment and occasional input from our technical manager to continue their creative project. When you apply to join the hub you will be asked about the creative project you want to undertake - hub resources will be allocated based on the information you provide. We will write to you to let you know how many hours we can allocate to you and your project. You will then need to sign up for the sessions you’d like to attend. Please note under 18s must be accompanied by a a parent / carer.

  • “Somerset Film, thank you so much for your support with my creative project. I’ve just been adding a background to my animation and will add live-action soon too! The Project Hub Technical Support 1:1 made all the difference. Honestly don’t think I could have created any film at all, without it. Amazing how much I learnt in 2 hours!” Artist Kristen

CYP Film Commission

Thanks to support from BFI Film Academy Network South West and Watershed, we are delighted to be able to offer a filmmaking commission for a young person living in Somerset. 

Creatives aged under 25 were invited to pitch their idea to be made into a short film. The deadline for applications have now closed.

Short Film Night

These events take place every six months (5th June and 11th December in 2025) and are an opportunity to show short films or extracts from something longer. For filmmakers and film fans. If you have a short film you’d like to sreen then get in touch

Short Script Library

This closed Facebook group is a place where Somerset scriptwriters can connect with local filmmakers and get their work made. Somerset writers are invited to share their story outline or a scene so that local filmmakers can get in touch and read their script.

“You never know, this could be the creative collaboration you've been waiting for!” This group is currently managed by volunteer Helen Tompson.

To join the group email info@somersetfilm.com Terms and conditions apply.

Somerset Film Community Film Kit

Somerset Film aims to support the making of short films by emerging talent that might not otherwise get made, we are particularly interested in supporting films which tell stories about Somerset and the climate crisis. We do this by providing access to equipment, advice and guidance.

If you want to enquiry about booking our Community Film Kit to produce your have a short film, complete our enquiry form.

Young Creatives Networking

If you are thinking of a career in the creative industries such as film you will be aware that networking is key. Come and develop those skills in our event for those aged 16 - 25 years and meet like-minded peers. Our next events take place on 28th May and 12th November in 2025.