ArtWorks North East
Latest News
April 2012
The ArtWorks North East Music Focus Group will take place on Wednesday 9th May from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at The Sage Gateshead. For more information PHF AWNE Music Focus Group advert
March 2012
Equal Arts is delivering the second Critical Conversation on behalf of the University of Sunderland. This event will focus on participatory arts projects with older adults. We would like to discuss the different models of practice which exist and seek your views on issues of quality, process and experience. We hope that the opportunity to reflect on practice will be beneficial for those attending as well as informing this research project.
For more information Critical Conversation March - Equal Arts
Schedule Equal Arts Critical Conversation Schedule
To book a place please email alice@equalarts.org.uk
February 2012
Call for emerging artists/producers/art makers/academics/practitioners to make a valuable contribution to important contemporary research. For more information ArtWorks NE Peer Artist Learning Advert
January 2012
Critical conversations: dialogues around the practice of arts in participatory settings. For more information PHF AWNE Advert for Critical Conversations Series.1 - PHOTOGRAPHY doc
November 2011
Call for artists/producers/art makers/academics/practitioners to make a valuable contribution to important contemporary research via participation in PEER ARTIST LEARNING click here and FOCUS GROUPS click here
ArtWorks North East
Sunderland University is delighted to be taking the lead on ArtWorks North East alongside a group of partners from cultural organisations in the north east area. View the press release.
It has been made possible thanks to £247,016 grant, awarded over three years by the Paul Hamyln Foundation (PHF), supporting the continuing professional development of artists working in a range of participatory settings such as the community, education, prisons, youth work and organisations supporting the elderly.
The North East is one of five regions in the UK which has been awarded funding as part of PHF's £1.47m Special Initiative called ArtWorks: Developing Practice in Participatory Settings. Each `pathfinder partnership' seeks to raise the standard of arts-led experiences by improving the quality and understanding of what is required from artists in participatory projects, sharing good practice and demonstrating positive outcomes. Click here for more information on ArtWorks.
Many artists have `portfolio' careers, combining performance or making art with work in participatory settings. ArtWorks seeks to enhance this work by identifying and developing best practices in this largely neglected field.
The initiative also aims to benefit artists at different stages in their careers - from aspiring young artists embarking on training, to experienced practitioners who want to further develop their output - as well as enhancing the experience of participants working with artists. The initiative will work by improving the training and continuing professional development infrastructure in higher education institutions and arts organisations.
Our partner organisations are:
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
The project director is Judith Hills, Associate Dean for Recruitment and Development at the University of Sunderland. Judith is excited at the prospect of leading this unique initiative and said that "Outcomes will include academic outputs and the production of learning materials to be used on accredited courses. These courses aim to raise the quality and variety of opportunities for participants such as young people and the elderly and to increase employability for those students and artists who study them. For the duration of the project we will also work alongside the careers services to promote and raise the profile of this field of work.
She added: "ArtWorks North East is committed to creating, sharing and importantly applying new learning, from its own activities and those of other pathfinders, and views the opportunity both to work together and work alongside these high profile partners as potentially transformational for the region and its people."
Representatives from all the Pathfinder groups met in Sunderland during the first week of July. They spent time at the National Glass Centre in seminars and discussions but also took part in practical sessions using hot glass. It was a great opportunity for those with the project's shared vision to meet and to start what will be an effective and productive working relationship. The spirit of community practice and sharing knowledge has already been established and the potential for growth in this project is huge.
This section of the webpage will keep you up to date with developments as the project grows.
