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Smith & Hersey Artists’ residency at The Chocolate Factory in Derby in July
Artists Ivan Smith and Nick Hersey will be Artists in Residence at the Chocolate Factory in the
Castleward area of Derby in July, as part of the ongoing programme of events managed by
QUAD in partnership with Compendium Living.
Smith & Hersey will develop new work in response to the Chocolate Factory, the former Derwent
Lynton chocolate factory on Siddal’s Road, during their residency from 1 st until 27 th July. During the four week project the artists will be developing new site-specific art works and documenting the results via podcasts, films and updates on their website; culminating in a one-night only exhibition which will be open to the public on Saturday 27 th July.
International Artists Ivan Smith and Nick Hersey focus their activities on re-activating disused or redundant spaces in both rural urban environments. By interpreting these environments using a mixture of sculpture, painting, video and photography, they encourage a fresh interpretation and appreciation of industrial carcasses, especially those lacking economic 'progress'. Using visual arts to reinterpret and breathe new life into these empty spaces, Smith & Hersey address the way derelict sites are viewed by society; suggesting new and interesting ways of living with, and benefitting from them. The artists will be devoting their time throughout July exploring, engaging with, reacting to and exploiting the empty unit in Derby, using their provocative, critical and at times humorous approach.
The artists hope this reactivation of the building using the production of art will be the catalyst for change. Smith & Hersey explained “This is a perfect opportunity to test the appetite of artists in
Derby. Artists locally have for years argued loudly about the lack of studio provisions in the city…now, at the Chocolate Factory is the chance to push for their voices to be heard by activating this space by and for themselves. There will never be a better opportunity for Derby ar tist to forge their own future.”
The public can see progress of Smith & Hersey’s Residency at the Chocolate Factory on their website, www.smithandhersey
in July and can also attend the end exhibition event on 27 th July.
QUAD has been working with Compendium Living to develop an arts programme around the redevelopment of the Castleward area of Derby as an urban village. Compendium Living has made available for use as a temporary arts venue for exhibitions and events to encourage new activity in the area. The Chocolate Factory was one of the venues for Derby’s FORMAT13: International

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Photography Festival in March, and QUAD will continue the programming exhibitions and events there.
QUAD is looking for proposals from promoters, artists and creatives with ideas for exciting and innovative projects and activities that could take place Chocolate Factory. Although QUAD does not have specific funding or resources to support any proposed activities, this is an exciting opportunity to experiment with a highly unusual space which could range from live music gigs, theatre events, club nights, art exhibitions. The criteria of the proposals for projects is that they need to support the cultural life of Derby and Derbyshire; be entirely self-managed and resourced and demonstrate that they can be delivered safely and within the operational guidelines of the
Chocolate Factory.
Proposals for projects for the use of the Chocolate Factory need to submitted to QUAD via an application form available on the QUAD website: http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/news/opportunitiesartists-and-creatives-derby
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Artist Ivan Smith : Website: www.ivansmith.info/
QUAD is Derby’s centre for art and film, on the Market Place in Derby city centre. QUAD is a gallery, cinema, café bar and workshop that anyone can use.
QUAD is a partnership between
Derby City Council, Arts Council England, EM Media, European Union, East Midlands
Development Agency, Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Derby City Partnership and
Derby Cityscape. See www.derbyquad.co.uk for more information. http://twitter.com/derbyquad
For further information on this event, or any other issue relating to QUAD, please contact
Kathy Frain on 01332 285422 (mobile 07791441941) or email kathyf@derbyquad.co.uk
Compendium Living is the developer behind the £100 million regeneration of the Castleward area of Derby. The regeneration specialist is set to breathe new life into the 30-acre area of land linking Derby Midland Station with Westfield shopping centre, creating a new residential neighbourhood of 800 new homes with 34,500sqft of commercial space. Compendium Living, which is working with Lovell and The Riverside Group on the project, was selected by Derby City
Council as the preferred developer for the high profile scheme, which will take place over the next
10 years. For more details, go to www.castleward.co.uk
.