Monday, November 18, 2013

Artists' Residencies in the Community at Highgreen in rural Northumberland

Artists' Residencies in the Community 2014 and 2015 - Applications are welcome; deadline 6th January 2014
VARC’ is inviting visual artists to apply for twelve-month residencies at Highgreen in rural Northumberland.  The Trust is hoping to appoint two artists from applications submitted; one artist to hold the resdiency staritng 2014 and another artist to hold the residency starting October 2015.
Aims
VARC's primary aims are to:
• Promote interest, awareness and understanding of visual arts in a rural community through engagement with an artist
• Develop visual arts projects in rural communities
• Offer a unique opportunity to an artist wishing to develop his or her practice by working and living in a remote rural community
The Residency
VARC is looking for:

artists who feel that 12 months spent living in an isolated rural location will significantly benefit their practice.  Although the Trust feels that artists who might most benefit are those who have lived in an urban or city environment, artists will be considered regardless of their current location as long as they can explain how this would benefit their practice.  The length of the residency is one year, as this would allow the artist to experience the full cycle of seasons as well as the time for the rural community and environment to have an impact on the work.  However in exceptional circumstances six month residencies are not ruled out.  The aim is to give the artist a unique opportunity to concetrate on his/her practice in a remote setting, away from the constraints of city life.  It is hoped that this experience will have a lasting effect on the artist.
artists who want to be part of a community and who enjoy contact with people.  The resident artist is expected to spend at least 15 days during the year delivering projects.  Planning and preparation time would be extra to these days.  What form this work would take would depend on the artist the nature of his or her work but could include projects with specific groups, open studio days, practical sessions, talks and participation as Artist in Residence in local events.  The Trust hopes that the experience of having a prctising artist living and working in this rural community will offer people an insight into how professional artists work as well as adding an enriching creative element.

Information 
In addition to work in the community the artist  produces a body of work for an end of year exhibition to be held at Highgreen. The artist is contracted to spend a minimum of 22.5 hours per week on work for the exhibition and the community aspects of the residency, but VARC would expect that to fully utilise the opportunity and integrate with the local community, the artist would wish to devote their time fully to the residency. There is a part-time member of staff to support the artist, liaise between the artist and the Trust, arrange community projects in consultation with the artist, promote the artist’s work and the residency, produce the catalogue, help organise the exhibition and facilitate other avenues the artist may wish to pursue. The artist is contracted to provide documentation about the experience of the residency in an agreed format.
Accommodation
The residency is based in converted stable buildings, part of the estate of Highgreen in the North Tyne. Highgreen is remote with stunning views across the moors. There is an immediate community of about 20 people. The hamlet of Greenhaugh with an inn is about three miles away and a mile beyond this at Lanehead there is a village hall. The local shops are in Bellingham, some 10 miles away and Newcastle is 40 miles away. The artist will need to have a car.
There is a 498 sq ft studio for the sole use of the artist, as well as fully-furnished one-bedroomed living accommodation. Heat and light for the studio and flat are included and council tax is paid by VARC. Telephone line rental (including broadband internet access) and printer will be provided but the artist should bring his/her own computer and will pay for phone calls.  
Financial package 
• £9,000 per annum artist’s fee and materials
• Materials and expenses for community projects are paid for separately by VARC
• A catalogue will be produced
• Reasonable costs associated with the exhibition (transport, presentation of work) is paid
• Accommodation (flat and studio) worth £6,000 per annum
• The studio is equipped with basic tools and furniture
Criteria on which shortlisting is carried out is as follows:
• Strength of work
• Need/desire for the opportunity
• Experience of, and enthusiasm for, working with people
• Commitment to living at Highgreen
Final selection of artists is also influenced by the desire to create a balance across media and artistic approach from one year to the next.
Applications
Applications are invited from professional visual artists with three or more years of proven work outside full time education. Artists working in two or three dimensions in any medium/material as well as those working in new media, land art, installation work etc are welcome to apply.  An exhibition record and a desire to work in community settings are essential.  The artist should have a strong visual language and a commitment to living and working in a secluded rural environment.  

To apply please sent:

  • Between 10 and 20 images on CD with titles, dates, dimensions and descriptions on a separate sheet.
  • OR clips on DVD totalling no more than 10 minutes duration if this format is more appropriate.  Any applicant who submits clips of more than 10 minutes duration in total will not be considered.
  • A CV
  • A written statement describing the artist's work and reasons for applying for the residence with regard to the criteria listed above and a brief outline of community work experience.  This statement should be no more than two pages in total.  Any applicant who submits a statement longer than this will not be considered.
  • Two referees (to be followed up if shortlisted).
  • A SAE for the return of material (if you would like these returned).
  • An indication whether you are applying for the residencey 2014 - 2015 or 2015 - 2016 or both.

Applications made by email will not be accepted.

Please send applications to:

Janet Ross, Project Director, VARC, Dovecote office, Highgreen, Tarset, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 1RP.

For further information about Highgreen see www.highgreen-arts.co.uk 

For information about Tarset see www.tarset.co.uk

Deadline for applications 6th January 2014

Interviews will be held in March 2014

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