The Guesthouse is a visual artist-led initiative whose objective is to create a place for production, meeting and cross-practice peer exchange that includes various forms of public discourse and encounter. The Guesthouse is engaged with creating social and discursive activity in the context of a residential setting. Through hosting, meeting and eating we facilitate a diverse range of solo and group projects with artists, curators, critics and passionate cooks, as well as being a point of interaction with local publics of interest.

At The Guesthouse we run an ongoing program of free public events, residencies and activities. Events and activities are initiated by both board members and outside practitioners. These initiatives create platforms for experimental film screenings, collaborations for cross disciplinary activity, improvised electronic sound and field recording performances, gramophone and vinyl presentations, exhibitions, discussion forums, talks and presentations. Sunday Lunch for example is a unique monthly event established to create an informal social gathering for visiting guests to meet and present their work to a local audience. The event includes a lunch hosted by guest practitioners followed by a presentation, screening or performance etc. The event operates on a gift economy where the audience is asked to bring something for the larder. The residency program, which includes both residential and non-residential short-term stays, offers an opportunity for local, national and international individuals or collective groups to develop projects and to test out ideas and strategies for exhibition, performance, publication etc among peer audiences. As a means to support the ongoing critical development and experimentation of practice we host an evolving range of activities to include reading groups, workshops and collaborative and peer-to-peer groups.