Magnetic North is an award-winning theatre company based in Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1999 by theatre and opera director Nicholas Bone.
 
Magnetic North have brought their Space / Time residencies to Cove Park for the past 4 years. The 5-day residency is part of Magnetic North’s Artist Development programme; it is a creative retreat for experienced artists from any art form, which asks the question “How does an artist keep developing?”
 
The residency aims to refresh participants through a stimulating examination of creativity. During the residency, artists question what creativity is and how it can be nourished, and explore how they can continue to challenge themselves to develop.
 
The residency combines facilitated dialogue – built around a series of self-generated questions – with practical exercises and time for individual reflection. The residency is led by Nicholas Bone (Magnetic North’s Artistic Director) and Alice McGrath (Creative Director of Red Bridge Arts), who are both experienced facilitators and trained mentors. 
 
Talking about the connection between Cove Park and Magnetic North, Nicholas Bone said, “Cove Park is a very important aspect of our Space / Time residencies: its beautiful, peaceful location is perfect for the reflective nature of the work we do with artists. A session at the nearby Linn Botanic Gardens has also become an integral part of the residency. We work with artists from Scotland and further afield, and they always comment on how much they enjoy being at Cove Park.”