Following an open call for applications, artistic entity Hillside Projects was selected for a three-week residency that took place at Cove Park in Scotland in June 2026.
Hillside Projects (HP) is an artistic entity formed by Emily Berry Mennerdahl and Jonas Böttern. Based in Stockholm, HP’s main interest is in performance and the role of the performer, with an emphasis on the discursive possibilities of telling tales and resisting single narratives. During their NAARCA Residency at Cove Park, HP established a temporary Office for Continuing Research on Birds focusing on Gandalf – a Rüppell’s Griffon vulture known for two high-profile escapes from the World of Wings Birds of Prey Centre in Cumbernauld in 2010 and 2014. HP aims to develop a new lecture performance, including relational birding activities and conceptual experiments in Argyll’s ancient woodland.
Reflecting on her residency, Emily says:
The time at Cove Park allowed for focused research, time and excursions to Islay and the generous fee really allowed for the development of the project. I am now in the process of applying for more funding for this projects as well as collaborative opportunities and further trips back to Cove Park.
Alex Marrs, Senior Producer at Cove Park says:
It was wonderful hosting Emily and Jonas here at Cove Park for research time on this topical project that explores issues on conservation and migration shaped by climate shifts and ecological interdependence. Emily and Jonas were very generous in sharing more about their practice with their fellow residents and members of our local community. We are very grateful to be part of NAARCA, which provides vital opportunities for artists to have the financial support, space, and time to work on cross-border projects that are urgent and internationally significant.
NAARCA Residencies 2026 builds on NAARCA’s ongoing work since 2021, addressing the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and climate justice through the lens of the four pillars of sustainability: ecological, social, psychological, and cultural. These residencies, made possible with support from the Nordic Culture Fund, support cultural exchange, deep research and reflection, community engagement, and the creation of new work and ideas on climate action.
Images: Documentation of excursion to Islay, courtesy of Hillside Projects.