Making Moves Crafting Futures Together Artist Brief i. Context Staffordshire County Council Craftspace working in partnership Staffordshire County Council and and Craftspace havehave beenbeen working in partnership sincesince 1998 to 1998 to explore different models for touring contemporary craft to community explore different models for touring contemporary craft to community venues and developing venues developing makers 1and Handmade 1 & 2Moves were which followed by in 2007. makers andand audiences. Handmade & 2audiences. were followed by Making began Making Moves which began in 2007. Making Moves was a two year project that built on the legacy of the Handmade scheme, Making Moves wasofa six twocraft yearresidencies project thatleading built on legacy the Handmade through a programme tothe a one yearofsub-regional touring scheme,The through of sixwas crafttoresidencies a one year sub- making exhibition. ethos aofprogramme the programme bring craft leading to local to audiences through touring exhibition. ethos of the programme was to bring craft to local and regional exhibiting at places of local The interest. audiences through making and exhibiting at places of local interest. This new phase is a cross regional partnership between HE/FE institutions, local authority arts This new phase is a cross regional partnership between The HE/FE local development functions, industry partner/s and Craftspace. aiminstitutions, is to build on the successes, authority arts development functions, industry partner/s and Craftspace. The aimgroup is strengths and benefits of Making Moves. The new phase is shaped by a new working and to build on the successes, strengths and benefits of Making Moves. The new phase is reflects the interests and priorities of all partners. shaped by a new working group and reflects the interests and priorities of all partners. ii. Making Moves II – Aims To enrich student experience and widen the scope of employability through a more holistic approach to career development. To utilise a multi agency partnership to facilitate region wide professional development for the sector including makers, graduates and professionals, (teaching staff, curators and arts development officers.) To demonstrate the relevance and potential of contemporary crafts to the creation of social and cultural capital through a programme of community and industry engagement. To strengthen the regional craft sector and raise its profile through networking. iii. Artist Brief Residency Aims To enable the artist (craft practitioner/designer maker1) to devote time to research and development to progress their practice in order to create a new piece of work after the residency. To engage with a community group in 10 high quality making sessions to meet the residency aims, stimulating critical discussion and an understanding of creative practice through making To produce a body of research in response to the residency experience to inform the production of a commissioned piece after the residency. To support a graduate placement within the community sessions to develop their skills for community practice To provide one to one mentoring for the graduate placement on an informal basis following the community sessions To contribute to an end of residency sharing event/exhibition to engage the wider community which may mean supporting the community participants to facilitate the event by sharing their skills To inform the student cohort from the FE/HE partner of own practice and career opportunities, either through talks, lectures or masterclasses Craft practitioners or designer makers are those working in the sectors as defined by Creative + Cultural Skills in The Craft Blueprint - A workforce development plan for craft in the UK, June 2009 p.14 http://www.ccskills.org.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6cMoZSIdVOA%3D&tabid=97 Residency Description Eagle House, Midland Heart Organisation, Stafford, is a purpose built supported housing scheme that opened in February 2010. They offer accommodation to single people aged between 18 and 64 who are faced with homelessness. They offer advice and support to their customers including; job search, benefit claims, move-on accommodation, life skills and individual support. Eagle House is for single people who are homeless or living in difficult circumstances and who need support to move forward in their lives. Some of the customers have issues around alcohol and drugs and many suffer from mild mental health and emotional problems. The aim of the making sessions would be to allow customers to emotionally express themselves and portray some of their experiences around becoming homeless and their hopes for the future, by exploring different mediums of art. We would hope the final art piece can be used to promote the work we do at Eagle House and break down negative perceptions and raise awareness in the local community. It will also give the artists an opportunity to see another side of life and share the experience of individuals they may not encounter on a daily basis Target Audience for Residency/Commission Single people aged between 18 and 64 who are faced with homelessness – it is envisaged that the target group will consist of up to 7 persons for the 10 sessions to allow for a more in-depth experience. The wider community can be involved in the sharing and the events programme for the exhibition tour. Commission Aims: • Following the residency, there is a fee to produce a commissioned piece in response to the venue and or community as a result of the research and development undertaken, with a fee of £1000 for production and materials. Specific terms and conditions will be confirmed in a commission brief at the end of the residency. • The commissioned piece should be suitable (unless a public or site specific commission) for the touring exhibition. To be open to participating in any additional events programmed by host venues to accompany the Making Moves exhibition tour, either facilitating sessions or supporting community members from the residency sessions to facilitate them Residency and Commission Outputs Production of research and development work in response to the residency venue and/or community Provision of 10 high quality sessions to develop a participatory craft project with the target group, engaging the group in a creative process to develop their understanding of craft practice through critical discussion and making Provision of support and mentoring to graduate maker: 10 ½ hour – 1 hour sessions following the community sessions Provision of support to students: to be confirmed by further/higher education partners through lectures, demonstrations or masterclasses * Participation in the creation of a learning resource through the contribution of a residency diary: update blog following residency sessions, text from talks updates on research and development progression and commission production Participation in/contribution to residency sharing day: attendance at sharing events/exhibition openings Creation of new work for inclusion in the Making Moves exhibition tour: requirements to be confirmed in a commission brief Participation in events programmes which accompany the exhibition: to be confirmed by exhibition venues Artist Benefits Time and space to research new ideas and develop new work Space within a community venue to engage with new audiences to inform own practice Involvement in a cross regional project: potential for making new contacts and joining a new network Contact with other makers in the project Professional development through online learning resource and sharing Commission to create new work for the touring exhibition Potential participation in a cross regional touring exhibition with an accompanying events programme organised by host venues. Promotion as part of a cross regional project iv. Experience and Skills required At least five years experience of professional practice: making, exhibiting and selling work Experience of working with the target groups identified, or similar A range of experience working with the community, both deeper engagement through longer term projects and one-off sessions with critical discussion Experience of working with students, either one-to-one or in a class situation Experience of working to a deadline and set budget Experience of working to commission Experience of blogging and social networking Ability to develop different working approaches to respond and meet the needs of participants, and project leaders Ability to be able to adapt working approaches to respond to different working environments Ability to work as part of a team *In addition students identified by Stafford College Faculty of Art will be supported by the artist: Stafford College is a large Further Education College working in partnership with Staffordshire University to offer Higher Education courses. The Foundation Degrees are modern higher education qualifications that develop specialist skills, so that students will build up the ability and knowledge employers are looking for now and in the future. Engagement with employers, community groups and arts organisations is central to the curriculum and students work in partnership with the wider creative community, sharing strengths, skills and ideas to create a vibrant creative community. Through participation in the Making Moves project Stafford College faculty of Art aims to achieve positive outcomes by creating a direct opportunity for learners and practitioners to engage with each other; sharing experiences, ideas and practical skills. v. Management of Residency The commission will be managed and monitored by Helen Wilson, External Funding and Relations Officer, Staffordshire County Council vi. Period of Residency 20 days over two months for the residency with an additional £1000 to produce a final work by May 2012 or by deadline to be confirmed in Commission Brief. vii. Residency Fee Total fee: £5000 inclusive of travel and VAT (breakdown of days attached) £500 materials budget for all community sessions £1000 for a commissioned piece which will tour in the Making Moves exhibition viii. Timetable Deadline for applications: Friday 11 November 20012 Interviews will be held: Monday 28 November AM 2012 Planning meeting will be held: Monday 9 January 2012 Start date and timetable February to be completed by end March 2012 ix. How to apply Please send 6-8 high quality JPEG images of your work, Artist CV, and a detailed proposal outlining your relevant experience and how you would approach this project. Artists must have a current CRB check and £5m Public Liability Insurance. x. Contact Helen Wilson, External Funding and Relations Officer, Heritage and Arts Service, Staffordshire County Council, 3rd Floor Wedgwood Building, Stafford, ST16 2DH Tel: 01785 276116 or helen.wilson@staffordshire.gov.uk Making Moves Project Coordinator: Anne Forgan email anne_forgan@yahoo.co.uk M:0777 0674552