Artist Retreat

Wild Rumpus are pleased to announce applications are open for our Artist Retreat programme. Each year we welcome artists, makers and performers into our woodland creation space providing time to connect with nature while developing their creative practice. 

We have space for 8 retreats in 2026. The programme will take place between March and September. 


Location:  The Whirligig Woods, Lunts Moss, Scholar Green, Cheshire, ST7 3QJ 

Important dates: 

1^st December 2025:  Applications open 
8^th February 2026: Applications close 
16^th February 2026: All applicants informed of outcome by email 
March – September 2026: Retreats can take place 

What is an Artist Retreat? 

The Wild Rumpus retreat programme supports the creation of new works and/or experiences which speak to the themes of Play and Nature Connection. 

Throughout March to September, we open our woodland workspace to artists and creatives, offering dedicated space and time to explore any stage of idea development. Whether that is the early research and development, to devising time with a company of performers. 

We particularly invite opportunities for sharing with our local community groups. A sharing could be a visual presentation of your work, a dress rehearsal of a show, a creative workshop – or something else entirely.  
 

What type of ideas are we interested in? 

Wild Rumpus are a collective of artists, curators and producers. We explore nature connection and play through meaningful, joyful interventions. We deliberately blur lines in our creation process and we are experimentational in our approach. The work we create fuels curiosity, playfulness and a boldness in our audiences. 

The worlds we create and stories we tell inspire behaviour change. We explore how altered physical and digital landscapes can excite people in a place, story or experience and how that can influence them to respond differently to their world. The stories we tell are influenced by nature and folklore, steeped in tradition, myths and legends. 

We are interested in ideas which speak to our practice and themes, especially nature connection and play. There are no rigid guidelines for the type of work we would support.  We encourage applications from all sectors of the community regardless of age, disability, gender identity or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or any other equality characteristic. We particularly welcome applications from those who experience imbalance of opportunity. 

What are the facilities? 

We are based in the North of England, in Cheshire. Our offices, design studio and creation spaces are all outdoors, set in an ancient woodland. Our space would be exclusive to you and allows you to step outside of day to day life and re-examine the world from a new perspective. It is also a place for audiences and our local community groups to gather for creative adventures. 

The beautiful woodland setting creates an evocative outdoor landscape, creating a focal point for new ideas, disruptive conversations, relationships and art with social and environmental change at their heart. 

You can choose to stay overnight in our space, either in one of our vintage caravans, your own live in vehicle or in your tent. We have compostable toilets, an outdoor shower and a kitchen!  

Access

Our caravans, kitchen and shower do not currently have step free access. We plan to install an accessible compost toilet for 2026. It is natural woodland environment with the ground having some roots, grassed areas, bumps and dips. Full details about access provision in the woods can be found here.

We’d like to make every effort to accommodate artists access needs, so please get in touch with access@wildrumpus.org.uk if you have any questions or queries about the accessibility of the space, or what adjustments can be made. 

Terms and conditions: 

• We have four vintage caravans which can be used for accommodation, you are able to bring your own live in vehicle or a tent. None of the accommodation options have lighting or power.  

• We have a full kitchen with oven, microwave, fridge and freezer, including power points for charging devices.  

• The artist is responsible for providing any materials/furniture/equipment required to carry out their work. 

• The selected artist agrees to offer a sharing of their work to our communities if suitable.  

• Retreats can last no more than seven days.