Magic is alive and thriving largely in part to two entrepreneurs, John Mappin and Ted Stourton, whose vision of a creative age is quickly becoming one of reality.
It's easy enough to declare the obvious reasons a soul would want to stay there: A luxurious castle hotel with cliffside panorama, centered within a mystical, spiraling countryside directly adjacent to the ruins of King Arthur's castle in Tintagel. Themed rooms overlooking the wild and wanton seas. Mists that descend and ascend at will (and presumably, some that long for parting). A heady and illustrious guestbook of artists and musicians that include Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier, Ava Gardner and Winston Churchill.
What more could one ask for?
Well, for one thing: Artists stay for free. To quote the owners:
"The whole purpose of the artist in residence program is to validate and help artists in any way possible. Creating a space for artists that is free from any evaluation or invalidation has been the first step. Artists, which we define as anyone interested in creating a high quality of communication in any media or form are immensely valuable to the culture and should be looked after and helped at every opportunity."”
I wrote, sending an example of my portfolio and a letter of introduction, and was indeed invited to do a residency. And no, there were no strings - simply an invitation and extension of amiability from people who indeed do believe in magic.
As well, they regularly sponsor contests offering huge sums of money for guessing the meanings of certain poems.
Avalon and Camelot draw because of the spirit that has always existed there within. Which thanks to John Mappin and Ted Stourton, is not only inherent, but thriving there still.
