Shedonism
SHEDONISM: An annual Lab for makers
Shedonism is our annual residential for makers in the outdoor arts. It's a gathering of the brilliant minds behind the inventions and sculptures that make the UK’s outdoor arts scene so exciting.
SHEDONISM - A #101Lab for Outdoor Arts Makers
What happens at Shedonism?
Shedonism is a chance for makers to get together in the deep of winter and have fun, share ideas and skills.
The event is a great chance to make something that isn't a commission for someone else, and to experiment with an idea that’s been on your mind or on the workshop shelf for a while.
Makers can use our fully equipped workshop for the weekend along with our large spaces for 'test driving' ideas.
The workshop is open from before breakfast until late and you can bring along a project that you have been developing to jam it out with everyone - or see what inspires you.
Shedonism turns into a free flowing marathon of making, eating and after work socialising. You can make the things that you’d never be let loose on the street with. The key is sharing your skills. People often share tools and some bring their own, others use what's on offer in the workshop.
Maker’s Jumble
Each year people bring objects that they don’t need and puts them in a pile on the floor to swap or sell. There’s usually a mix of old machinery, and interesting bits and bobs.
In the past we've made a leaf blower hovercraft, a chainsaw scooter, a rubber band Gatling gun and a motorised shed that took all the makers out to the local Indian restaurant one night.
"There is a lot of freedom at the event – it’s very laid back, people are let loose with a huge building and a lot of tools and junk – there are no restrictions on what can be made."
Olivia, Shedonism Participant
Who is Shedonism for?
Shedonism is for makers, fabricators, puppeteers, inventors, mechanics, sculptors, light artists, sound artists, pyrotechnicians, technologists, costumer designers, set designers – anyone who makes things for the outdoors. We welcome artists working at any point in their career, including those thinking about working in the outdoors for the first time.
Young Maker Bursary
We offer a young maker bursary which covers the cost of the event and travel. This is for early career artists with less than 2 years of professional experience who want to join a network and develop their making skills through peer-to-peer learning.
"One year someone brought lots of tiny ballerinas from the top of music boxes – no music box, just the ballerinas and the clockwork turning device. We challenged each other to each try and use one in our inventions, and quite a few people did. It’s a lot of fun."
Jess Kay Maker, Writer and Filmmaker