Together Trust and The Turnpike gallery partner on collaborative art project
We are delighted to announce that as part of our 150th-anniversary celebrations we have partnered with The Turnpike gallery in Wigan on a development programme for artists living and working in Greater Manchester.
The Making of Us is a professional development programme for socially engaged artists, aiming to develop post-pandemic practices with a focus on working with young people between 13-25 years, facing adversity.
Between October 2020 and March 2022, the Making of Us programme will support 15-20 mid-career socially engaged artists with a programme of training, mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and live collaborative projects in settings with The Turnpike's partners across Wigan, Stockport and Salford.
Between now and December 2020, six artists will be awarded a £2,000 bursary with access to a professional development and training programme to build skills and knowledge in social arts practice, working with adults and young people. Artists will also be awarded a materials budget and reasonable travel, subsistence and accommodation costs will be covered (if required).
The professional development and training programme will include the following:
- Training workshops delivered by partner organisations.
- Mentoring and peer-led knowledge exchange events.
- Participation in a ‘live’ collaborative project working with at least one other artist, one partner organisation, and individuals aged 13 - 25 years who identify as experiencing adversity (e.g. are care experienced, have mental health issues, are neuro-diverse or are living with a physical illness or impairment).
- An opportunity to develop responsive non-face-to-face practices, including digital and blended approaches with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
- Contributions to programme research and evaluation.
- Participation in a one-day conference in Spring 2022 to share learning with colleagues in Greater Manchester working across culture, health, and social sectors.
We would like to encourage everyone with an artistic background and genuine interest in working on art projects with the people we support, to take this fantastic opportunity, get involved and help us make a difference together while celebrating the great work our charity has been doing for 150 years.
Who can apply?
- Artists living and working in Greater Manchester
- Artists with protected characteristics who are under-represented in the sector.
- Artists with some experience of socially engaged practice, who are looking for a substantial development opportunity to move their practice onto the next level
- Artists with some experience of working with vulnerable young people and adults would be advantageous
- Artists who will be open to regular constructive feedback to refine and develop their practice
We are committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and fully support the principles of equality and diversity. We fully recognise that groups and individuals in society are disadvantaged due to discrimination directed against them and we aim to remove any barriers.
Application process
- Please submit the following documents by email to: Emma Fry and Shelley Cater-Shipway, ‘Making of Us’ Project Coordinators at makingofus@theturnpike.org.uk
- A CV with details of two referees
- A short video introduction to you and your work, with an emphasis on your socially engaged practice, pitched towards the young people you will be working with (5 mins max). Please submit your video as a link in your email application.
- A proposal outlining how you would deliver the commission, using the following questions as prompts: (maximum 2 sides A4)
○ Why is this opportunity important to you now?
○ What particular professional development opportunity would you benefit from?
○ What is your previous experience of delivering socially engaged projects?
○ How would you approach working in collaboration with another artist?
○ How would you consider the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on current and emerging socially engaged practice, and explore how to blend face-to-face engagement with a digital approach to delivering creative commissions?
Deadline for applications: extended to midnight 30 October.
Interviews can be conducted either in person (following strict COVID-19 social distancing guidelines) or virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Please note that dates are subject to change due to the latest government guidelines on COVID-19.
If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, require this document in a different format, or have any queries please contact Emma Fry and Shelley CaterShipway at makingofus@theturnpike.org.uk