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