Professional development for visual artists living and working
in Suffolk
Since 1999, Suffolk County Council (SCC) has been providing
professional development opportunities for visual artists living
and working in the county. Over 670 artists have taken part since
then, with 297 participating in the most recent scheme, making art
work.
making art work offered support, advice, training and
information to visual artists at all stages of their careers, by
providing:
- advice sessions
- 'how to' training events
- fast track work opportunities for new artists
- large scale conferences
- creative renewal for mid-career artists
- resource papers
One-to-one advice sessions
“Many thanks for a really useful session, which
enabled me to focus and identify areas in my work that need
attention.” Sculptor
Between October 2004 and June 2006, making art work delivered 12
days of free advice sessions across the county; 74 artists
benefited from the opportunity to discuss issues relating to their
professional development with an experienced
adviser/practitioner.
These issues included applying for public funds, developing
marketing strategies, preparing for further education, e.g.
applying for an MA in fine art and identifying and approaching
galleries.
100% of artists who responded to the questionnaire said that the
advice session
- had given them the opportunity to review their current
professional position and ambition
- would help them progress their practice
- and that they intended to take action, as a result of the
advice received.
“The session was very specific and the unique
perspective of the adviser was so helpful.” Graphic
designer
Before attending a session, artists were encouraged to complete
a self-assessment exercise, the Artists Development Toolkit. This
is available, free, on the
a-n
Artists Information Company web site and proved to be extremely
useful to many of the artists who completed it.
“What a good scheme of advice and support – I hope
it continues for other artists to take advantage of.”
Textile artist
'How to' training events
“It was excellent. I have learnt more today than any
other workshop relative to proposals and funding.
Fantastic.” Performance/installation artist
These events catered for small groups of artists (normally about
16), to ensure that there was lots of opportunity for
participation. Artists were normally asked to prepare work in
advance and, as the training was often spread over two days,
participants were also expected to work on issues covered during
the first day.
A total of 12 ‘how to’ training events were held, covering
topics from developing artists’ statements and CVs to producing a
digital portfolio, writing proposals and exhibiting community
projects. 115 artists took part – of whom 110 completed the
evaluation form.
“I was very impressed with the calibre of the
trainers and the way the workshop ran.” Painter
- 94% said they felt more confident about the issue, as a result
of the training
- 98% said the training would help them progress their
practice
- 96% said they were going to take action.
“The whole training event was brilliant. The trainer
was inspiring and energetic. I have learnt such a
lot.” Digital artist
The Way I See It
“... a wonderful opportunity to develop new artwork
in an exciting and challenging environment, while offering the
chance to gain valuable professional experience that will inspire
and inform the development of my career.”
Installation artist
This part of the scheme provided fast track work experience for
new and emerging artists, supported by a training bursary and
professional mentoring.
10 artists were selected onto The Way I See It, with residencies
taking place at: -
- Bury St Edmunds Library
- Butley Mills Studios
- DanceEast
- Halesworth Library
- Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
- Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket
- New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
- The Pines Occupational Therapy Unit
- Suffolk Highways Partnership
- Visual Arts Ipswich (Ipswich Borough Council)
“This has been a very healthy process for me,
freeing me up to create less self-consciously.”
Sculptor/digital video artist
Each artist developed their own residency, with the support of a
professional mentor and the individual host. The residencies all
included an element of public engagement, and gave the artist the
opportunity to create a new piece of work – and firm plans for how
this opportunity could be used to develop their professional
practice.
In addition to exhibiting their work at the host venue, the
artists were also given the opportunity to self-curate and promote
a group exhibition at Endeavour House, the Suffolk County Council
headquarters in Ipswich. To download a copy of the exhibition
catalogue, please click here.
“Having the opening and PV to coincide with the
‘made it?’ conference was inspired! It made for a memorable
evening with an audience who were truly interested and
responsive.” Textile artist
Conferences
“Today has been fantastically inspiring. I’ve made
great contacts and feel energised and capable of pursuing my future
as an artist in Suffolk first and then the rest of the world. The
mix of speakers was essential to it being so successful for
me.” Delegate: No Boundaries conference April
2005
The making art work conferences have gained a national
reputation for providing inspirational speakers in a first-rate
venue, and bringing together artists from across the country to
address fundamental, rather than practical, professional
development issues.
In April 2005, we hosted No Boundaries, in which the speakers
addressed the issues of how they dealt with both the professional
and personal boundaries they encountered in their work.
Those speakers were: -
Immediately after the conference, we were delighted to host a
25th anniversary celebration for a-n The Artists Information
Company. Susan Jones, Director of Programmes, spoke briefly about
the role on a-n in raising awareness about the role of artists and
their working conditions and their plans for the future. For more
information about a-n, please visit their web site at
www.a-n.co.uk
“The fact that the speakers were all artists working
on their own was incredibly relevant ... I found them all so
inspiring and am left with the feeling that I just want to go out
there and make art.” Delegate: No Boundaries
conference April 2005
In May 2006, the made it? conference took place, exploring
issues of how artists define their practice, maintain their
integrity to those ambitions – and how they define success.
Speakers on the day were: -
And after this conference, we held the private view and party
for the Endeavour House Exhibition – featuring work by the artists
involved in The Way I See It. For a catalogue of the exhibition,
please click here.
“I have found the whole day extremely well organised,
friendly and inspiring. The choice of artists was a stroke of
genius – I haven’t learnt so much in years.”
Delegate: made it? conference May 2006
Over 140 visual artists have participated in the conference. Of
those who responded to the evaluation questionnaire
- 90% said the conference would progress their practice
- 78% said they intended to take action and
- 93% said that the day had given them the opportunity to network
with other artists.
“I have been coming to these making art works events
for 6 years now – I have come to each one and they are an
invaluable resource, experience and service. There is nothing
better, repeat nothing, than hearing an artist talk to other
artists about their life and work, difficulties and journeys. It is
the most generous and supportive thing an artist can do for other
artists – it is affirmative and gives one a sense of solidarity and
support. This is a flagship that you’ve set in motion – don’t stop
– it’s the most important thing you can do for the artists in the
region.” Delegate: made it? conference May
2006
Creative renewal
“A fantastic time, it was most affirming to be
around such a disparate group of artists and being able to share
our work or experiences.” Critical Space delegate
making art work also provided mid-career artists with the
opportunity to analyse and critique their working practices,
supported by professional facilitators.
In March 2005, 11 artists from Suffolk met up with 12 from
around the country at the UEA in Norwich, for a residential
weekend, aimed at exploring the context for, and the content of,
their creative practice. The weekend was developed in partnership
with a-n The Artists Information Company and the facilitators were:
-
“The more I reflect on the time there, the more I
realise what an intense and illuminating experience the whole thing
was. I would now like to do it all again and and listen harder to
everything.” Critical Space delegate
- 82% of artists said that they weekend had given them the chance
to focus on their creative ambitions
- 77% said that it would help progress their practice and
- 91% said they were going to take action, as a result of the
weekend.
“Critical debate is vital and mostly ignored – this
weekend was excellent for this and it would be great to do
more.” Critical Space delegate
More recently, four of the artists involved in the Critical
Space weekend have gone on to develop their own critical space –
identifying and setting up day-long sessions with professional
facilitators to explore the context and direction of their
work.
“[This was] both useful and informative - and also
fun. I feel that I have now the possibility of continuing the
relationship with my facilitator and to extend the discussions that
have already taken place.” Performance/video
artist
Resource guides
Based on the many ‘How to’ training sessions run by making art
work, these resource guides provide information on a range of
topics, from how to prepare an artist’s statement and CV to
developing funding proposals and presenting your work for
exhibition.
For a full list of the guides, please visit the
resources page. You can also download copies from there.
Artist resource centres
Copies of these resource guides, along with other material
gathered through making art work, are available for reference ONLY
in specially-created artist resource centres in
Making art work was devised and developed by Suffolk County Council
(SCC) and is part-financed through the European Union European
Social Fund and Arts Council England Grants for the Arts.
