Our research has shown that socially engaged artists are often working alone and unsupported. This call out is aimed at artists who identify as having a socially engaged practice, and want to connect with other artists face-to-face for support and knowledge exchange. Our intention is to let artists decide how, when and where these events should be held. The only stipulation is that the funding must be used to create an event/s that bring people together, and it must take place in 2018.
Taken from Axis Web’s - Social Works - Models of validation
On to new ventures …. so a year ago a lovely artist call Sally Lemsford came and visited me and Sarah, my Bridport Open Studios partner in crime at the time during the event. Neither of us had met Sally before and she spent time looking through and asking us about our work and sharing her practice. She was due to move down to Bridport and was doing some research. I enjoyed taking part in the event, but there was something about the work I was producing then that didn’t quite feel like ‘me’ and I could’t understand why.
Some time passed then in July this year, Sally came and visited me at Bridport Arts Centre when I was working there, waving a piece of paper at me. She had by that time moved down and was getting it know the area, that piece the paper was the start of something…
Sally had been involved with Axis Web where she previously lived and they had just launched a fund for a ‘Get Together’ for artists who make socially engaged work and felt they needed to connect to similar artists in their region. That was certainly Sally and I felt like it was me, but the term ‘Socially Engaged’ is brandished around so much by people and working in participation for an NPO you hear it more that your own name!
We scratched our heads and wrote the application and in August found out we had received a modest but vital pot of money in order to make it happen!
A few months on we have around 25+ guests coming on the day and are busy getting our act together producing the day.
TUES 16 OCT, 10-3, in Bridport
We welcome artists/ curators / producers/ makers who consider themselves to make ‘socially engaged’ work or have a practice that they would define as socially engaged. This, I know, could mean a million things. There are a few places left so if you feel by coming along you will get something out of the day or you feel you can contribute please do let me know.
meg7989@gmail.com