As part of Live Art Development Agency's Do It Together (DIT) programme, we're inviting artists/practitioners to work with Stacy Makishi on their Scottish Sculpture Workshop x Take Me Somewhere DIT project Campfire Disco!

Deadline for applications: Monday 23 February 2026

Stacy Makishi on the project:

Stacy Makishi, we thought you died. Are you dying? The answer is yes.
Three months ago, I died. Stopped breathing.
In the ambulance, I thought, what would I regret not doing if I died?
Answer: Campfire Disco!

A three-day residential led by Stacy Makishi at Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Aberdeenshire Scotland, offering time to connect, with ourselves and with each other.

We need to gather. Now more than ever. We need to turn towards each other; make good and bad art; laugh, cry, swear, pray, bear witness; dance badly; forgive; make our curiosity larger than our fear; remember that there’s something larger than ourselves. 

How? 

Campfire Disco! 

Where

Scottish Sculpture Workshop
1 Main St, Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB54 4JN

The residential will take place in person in the small rural village of Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Workshops will take place in the large shared studio at Scottish Sculpture Workshop before we move outside for the campfire.

When

• Friday 4 September day and evening (11am–4pm & 6–8pm)

• Saturday 5 September all day (11am–5pm, with a lunch break)

• Sunday 6 September afternoon and evening (2–9pm)

Who

The retreat is open to anyone who is interested in interdisciplinary performance making and live art!

What to expect

The heart of this intense and immersive experience is connection. 

Connection to:
Your heart
Each other
Mystery aka creativity, inspiration and curiosity

In order to experience connection (and make your best work), we’ll be exploring what gets in the way: shame, fear of rejection, fear of failure, imperfection, ‘being out of control’, ‘not feeling good enough’, imposter syndrome and much, much more!

Expect: risk, emotional exposure, uncertainty and a whole lot of JOY!

Schedule

Friday 4 September

11am–4pm: Workshop session
We meet, introduce ourselves and get going with some creative tasks with lunch and comfort breaks as suits the group.

[Break]

6–8pm: Campfire Ritual
While gathered around a real, live campfire, and under the spell of ritual, we abandon our protective, strategic, armoured identities. Rituals invite the denied, raw and untouched parts of ourselves to show up. The safer we feel, the more we reveal and release. That’s what makes it so freeing and terrifying.

Saturday 5 September

11am–1pm: Workshop session
We make! The human mess that we’ve been hiding becomes raw material for artmaking. Alchemy transforms shame into performance gold. Together we’ll explore image making, writing, storytelling, flash performance, movement, composition and creative responses.

1–2.30pm: Lunch

2.30–5pm: Workshop session
We continue making!

Sunday 6 September

The morning is intentionally unplanned.. Let’s see what comes up.

2-5pm: Workshop session
We’ll work on 90 second ‘flash’ performances.

7-9pm: Sharing & Disco!
(open to friends, family and local community)

On the last day, participating artists/practitioners will share 90 second performances if they wish. Next, everyone, including local audiences, are invited to participate in a live art jam session of performed responses, joy-experiments and much more. It ends with disco!

Shame Shaman, Stacy Makishi, exclaims: ‘The more shameful your dance moves, the more shame you remove!

Access

• There is no access budget to cover participation.

• Information on SSW site access is available here. 

• Please note that SSW is based in a small rural village. There are limited amenities in the village so we encourage you to bring what you need with you.

• SSW has a small selection of physical comfort supports that may be useful to you during your stay including weighted blanket, weighted eye bags, hot water bottle, various fidgets, heated blanket, additional pillows or cushions, cold Packs, HEPA air purifiers. If no one on that DIT requires these dedicated items they will be available in the SSW Wellbeing Room throughout your stay.

• Weather in North East Scotland is changeable. Items we recommend bringing include: walking boots and waterproofs, warm layers and thermals. Plug adaptor for international visitors, suncream and layers and towel(s).

• First aiders and mental health first aiders will be onsite during the day. 

• While we are committed to creating a courageous and curious environment for you, this workshop won’t always be comfortable. The intention of this workshop is to dig deep, turn towards what we find, and embrace the good, the bad, and even the ugly.  We should be clear that Stacy isn’t a therapist. It’s possible that the retreat might not suit you if you’re currently ‘inside’ trauma, experiencing a mental health crisis, suffering a recent bereavement, or feel triggered reading the outline. You are very welcome to get in touch with the team at SSW for a conversation before deciding to apply, if you are unsure if it is for you. 

• Participants are welcome to have a conversation with SSW staff in advance of applying should they have any questions regarding the DIT or the site/ location of SSW. Please contact Programme Producer Anna on arts@ssw.org.uk.

How to Apply

Application Form: Each DIT has a different online application form, depending on the needs of the project. You can find the link to the online Application Form, Word and audio versions at this page.

Alternative formats: We accept written, video, and audio applications. For video or audio applications, please answer the questions listed in the Application Form within a recording of 5 minutes. Send the file to willy@thisisliveart.co.uk.

Further questions/support: Please see the FAQs below, email willy@thisisliveart.co.uk or call us on 020 8985 2124.