Artist residency in Stoke-on-Trent: April Star Davis at ACAVA Spode Works Studios
19 August 2025
Image by April Star Davis

Mixed-media artist April Star Davis is currently in residency at ACAVA Hosts: Three Counties Open, at Spode Works Studios.

Drawing on activism, ancestral memory, and identity, April’s work interweaves personal history with broader cultural narratives. Her practice spans sculpture, painting, and installation, creating immersive experiences that engage with both social and historical themes. Her residency at Spode Works provides a space for experimentation, collaboration, and the development of new work that resonates beyond the studio.

During her residency, she is curating a group exhibition that highlights the influence of radical art and collaborative storytelling. The show reflects a collective approach to creativity, exploring how art can connect past and present experiences while fostering dialogue within the community. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear about show dates and other updates on her residency.

This residency is part of ACAVA Hosts: Three Counties Open Residency, a partnership between ACAVA, Keele University, and the Three Counties Open Art Exhibition. The programme offers a month-long, fully supported residency to three artists each year, providing access to studio space, a supportive creative community, and professional development opportunities including talks, workshops, and public exhibitions.

Learn more about the programme here.

Visit April’s website here and Instagram here.

Programme partners

Keele University logo
Three Counties Open Art Exhibition logo
Image description: Photograph of an easel with a medium-sized monochrome painting and an A4 photocopy depicting a shark cartoon leaning against it, in an artist's studio.

ACAVA Hosts: Three Counties Open Residency

ACAVA Hosts: Three Counties Open Residency is a career development opportunity for emerging artists with a connection to Staffordshire, Chesire or Shropshire to be based at our studio community in Stoke-on-Trent.