The Porthleven Prize 鈥� 黑料正能量

A building near the seafront at Porthleven harbour

The Porthleven Prize

A rare opportunity to partake in a residency that encourages a cross-discipline fusion of creative thinking.

The Porthleven Prize, open to students from any course at 黑料正能量, is two-part residency programme that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, exploring ideas from various fields of enquiry and media.

Through a sustainable approach to community engagement, this immersive experience challenges our perceptions of origins, landscape, and community, inspiring innovative and creative responses.

The Porthleven Prize, sponsored by The Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust, is now in its fourteenth year.

Applications now open

To find out more, book your place at one of our online information sessions.

How it works

Part 1: Site Study (Bath)

20 successful applicants will be selected to participate in a four-day hands-on programme of activities in Bath.

Activities are structured around discussions, collaborative and individual research sessions, guest-led presentations and workshops. The activities aim to take the participants beyond their normal fields of study through explorations of site specific and socially engaged practices.

The four days will focus on the theme of the Prize, Provenance, with a particular emphasis on community engagement. The programme will be delivered in collaboration with an industry regional partner alongside academics from a range of disciplines across the University.

Part 2: Residential (Porthleven, Cornwall)

Eight of the successful applicants will then be selected for a fully-funded, 14-day residency in Porthleven, Cornwall.

Based in the Old Lifeboat Studio, students are encouraged to engage with the local environment and community during their time in the residency.

Working either individually, collaboratively or within the community of Porthleven, to create a variety of outcomes, prize winners will demonstrate their engagement in site responsive and community practice.

The Prize will be integrated into the academic programme, enabling student involvement, where relevant, to be accredited toward their degree.

Why take part?

Build skills: Strengthen your collaboration, communication and problem-solving, and gain the confidence to pitch your ideas to a panel.
Grow professionally: Work alongside an industry regional partner and academics from across the University and make connections beyond your own course.
Learn with and from your peers: Team up with students from other disciplines and see your own subject through fresh eyes.
Step beyond your comfort zone: Take risks, try new methods and apply your research in unexpected ways. No arts background needed.
Get a fully funded experience: If selected for the Porthleven residency (March 2026), your accommodation, travel and daily stipend are covered.
Showcase your work: Share what you create at events in both Porthleven and Bath.
Bring your own discipline to the table: Whatever you study, from Music to Science to Business, your perspective and skills are valuable.
Count it towards your degree: Where relevant, your involvement can be accredited toward your course.

Timeline

Four-day symposium: January 2026

During this four-day programme, activities are structured around discussions, collaborative and individual sessions, guest-led presentations and workshops, with a strong grounding in socially engaged and community-facing practice. The aim is to take students beyond their area of study, providing them with the tools to work responsively with a place and its community.

The programme prepares students to develop ideas about what they might undertake during the full residency in Porthleven and how they might develop an outcome to showcase alongside or in in collaboration with other selected Prize winners.

Presentations: February 2026

Two weeks after the four-day symposium, all students will be given the opportunity present proposals about their ideas for the two-weeks in Porthleven as well as methods and opportunities for collaboration. A panel of judges will be looking for dynamic, confident students who are able to adapt their practices to accommodate other perspectives.

Students will give an in person seven-minute presentation followed by ten minutes to respond to questions. The panel will select eight prize-winners who will undertake the fully funded residency and subsequent showcase events in Porthleven and Bath.

Two-week residency: March 2026

Successful students will participate in a fourteen-day, fully funded residency, based in Porthleven, Cornwall. Students will be encouraged to produce collaborative outcomes in any discipline, alongside engagement with the Porthleven community - including opportunities to take part in local events and conversations.

Exhibitions: August and October 2026

Successful students will develop responses to be showcased in both Porthleven and Bath. Studio space will be provided at the Locksbrook Campus from July-August.

FAQs

You can find some of our FAQs here.

A series of glowing lanterns handing from buildings and lampposts near the coast

Theme: Provenance

Students will be asked to respond to the theme "Provenance" – the place or source of origin. It offers a rich ground for creative exploration across various disciplines. By responding to the theme, students can explore the connection between past, present and the future, while investigating material, form and ideas and the way origins shape identity and experience.

Topics that might emerge include: material provenance; stories, community and archives; species, ecosystems and resources. The theme opens the possibilities to engage with communities as well as the different sites connected to the Prize in many different ways.

Application information

Enrolled students from all courses and year groups at 黑料正能量 are eligible to apply. This opportunity is open to students who wish to engage across disciplines, expand their perspectives, and pursue ideas through collaboration.

Selection criteria

We are looking for:

An interest in collaborative, interdisciplinary practice
A genuine enthusiasm for community building
A desire and curiosity to take risks beyond your normal area of study
An ability to apply research through different methods.

Key dates

Applications open: Monday 19 October 2026
Online information session for applicants: Wednesday 4 November 2026 (12:00-13:00)
Online information session for applicants: Thursday 12 November 2026 (12:00-13:00)
Deadline for applications: Monday 23 November 2026 (12:00)
Selected students notified: Thursday 3 December 2026
Online information session for selected students: Thursday 10 December 2026 (16:00-17:00)
Part 1 – 4-day Bath programme: Tuesday 19 – Friday 22 January 2027
Panel application presentations: Thursday 4 – Friday 5 February 2027
Part 2 – 14-day residency: Saturday 27 February – Friday 12 March 2027
Porthleven showcase: Friday 7 – Thursday 11 August 2027
Bath showcase: October 2026 [dates TBC]

How to apply

You will need to complete an online .

On the form, you will be asked:

Your name
Your student email address
Your student ID
Your course
Your year of study
Statement of interest (no more than 500 words) explaining why you are interested in
the opportunity and how the experience will benefit both your personal and
professional development
To upload examples of recent work, research or investigations (no more than eight
images, eight texts, four films or four sound recordings). As the prize is rooted in
interdisciplinary practice, we do not expect examples of work to be creative. We are
keen to see examples that best represent your interests.

Alternative applications

We would be happy to receive your statement of interest in an alternative format, such as a video or audio. Using an alternative format will not impact your application and will be assessed in the same way as written applications.

Please see our guidance on making an alternative application.

Access support

We are committed to being open and accessible to everyone. We acknowledge that certain barriers may exist for some individuals and are committed to providing additional support as needed.

Below is a list of access support options available for the application:

Offering the opportunity to answer your statement of interest in an alternative format.

Should you require further assistance or have access questions regarding the programme, please do not hesitate to contact Simone Hesselberg (Coordinator) by emailing s.hesselberg@bathspa.ac.uk.

Funding and hardship bursaries

Part 1: January programme in Bath

Part 1 of the 2027 Porthleven Prize does not include funding of travel or accommodation.

Students are required to make their own way to the activities in Bath via your own vehicle, public transport or on foot. We will provide some refreshments and will provide further information about food closer to the time.

However, up to five hardship bursaries of up to £100 each available to help towards the costs of participation over the four days.

Part 2: March residency in Porthleven

Part 2 of the 2027 Porthleven Prize is fully funded, and includes accommodation, travel costs and a daily stipend.

Part 3: August showcase in Porthleven

The showcase element only includes a travel stipend of £100 (payable in advance) and a materials budget of up to £120 (payable as a reimbursement). No accommodation or daily stipend is available, and students are not expected to attend if it is not feasible.