Whats Happening now?
This stage of the project is a 7 month research and development phase.
Why?
Over the past two years the project successfully worked with 4 different organisations and the participants who use their services. As project lead I worked with 6 different artists to provide workshops for the organisation and from these workshops we (myself and collaborating artists) developed artistic responses through our own practice.
This resulted in :
-over twenty free workshops for the organisations (Women in Prison, YouTrust Hampshire and Deaf Hope) to offer to their audiences.
-employment opportunity and artistic instigation for 7 artists over the two years.
-art events and exhibitions in central London, Wandsworth common and Aldershot, Hampshire.
What next?
To grow the project I want to initially focus in on one area, where I live and have worked for two years – Aldershot and Farnborough- Rushmoor Borough! Not only do I live here but it is the area of lowest arts participation in the whole south west region! *according to Arts Council England.
To attempt to make a project that is both wider reaching and has staying power I wanted to spend this year:
-mapping out what organisations and groups exist locally.
-learning what artistic or creative activities are already in place or happening for them
-learning where there is a need for something creative
-connecting with local artists that would provide mutually beneficial partnerships with these groups
– connectioning with artists or projects elsewhere who I can speak to for advice and who can provide alternative perspectives.
-researching social art projects and their work
-developing my own artistic practice.
I’m going to begin by starting an informal role as Associate Artist with the amazing Aldershot based arts and music venue – The West End Centre.
This will allow me to have a physical base in the centre of Aldershot and also utilise the wealth of knowledge that the centre, it’s amazing staff and the community who use it have!
