Awards and Mentoring

ARTIST’S INITIATIVES – RESIDENCY GUIDELINES

Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales is the national organisation for Public Art in Wales and the leading organisation for visual art and craft residencies in Wales. Since September 1998, we have employed over 180 artists on the Artist–in-Residence Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Wales. This information relates to special awards for artist-initiated residencies.

1. ARTISTS-AT-WORK

Artists at Work is a new focus for the Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales Artist-in-Residence programme. It parallels the similar initiative Good Ideas – Artist-Led Residencies.

Many artists who took part in the year 2000 Year of the Artist Residencies chose to develop projects in selected industries and often this lead to a significant development in their working practice or skills-base. Artists-at-Work aims to build on this experience as well as helping artists to develop their projects and relieve the administrative burden associated with such projects.

Artists-at-Work aims to fulfil the needs of artists for developing their artistic practice through working in industry, and to encourage businesses to discover the benefits of working with an artist.

Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales are looking for innovative project ideas from artists. These should have the potential to act as a catalyst for artistic development and lead to significant benefit to the artist in terms of concepts, skills, techniques, processes or working methods. The business host should benefit in terms of experience, skills, new ideas, new directions for their products, services or processes etc. The artist should demonstrate a high degree of professionalism in working with the selected business.

Applications are invited from artists working in any media for projects involving them in working with a business, factory or other large organisation. Grants are available for up to 90% of the costs of a project.

Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales will require a description of the project including the expected benefits to the artist and to the business. If costs have been calculated these should be included.

 Please note: fees to artists should be calculated at either £600 per whole week or £160 per day.

The selected projects will be developed and managed by CC . AW, who will act as a mediator between artist and business, calculate a budget, put together a timetable and manage the relationship between the artist and business. If the artist has already contacted the host business, a letter of support from the business, and an indication of how the rest of the costs will be met, should accompany the application. A contribution in time, materials and/or facilities can be calculated as match funding.

In some cases, where the artist’s project idea is of exceptional interest but they have not yet made contact with a factory or business, Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales may act as a broker to set up a project for the artist.

£6000 will be the maximum grant for any one project.

2. GOOD IDEAS – ARTIST-LED RESIDENCIES

Good Ideas - Artist-Led Residencies will extend the currently accepted ideas and practice of what makes an artist’s residency. It is designed to fulfil the needs of artists for funding projects that will develop their artistic practice and help alleviate the administrative duties that often come with such projects. It is not to provide time-out bursaries for artists’ studio work for which grants are available from the Arts Council of Wales.

Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales is looking for exciting ideas from artists for projects in Wales that have an aspect of collaboration with a venue/community and which could lead to significant benefit to the artist and the local community in terms of concept, skills, working methods or artform development as well as demonstrating a high degree of professionalism.

There will be a limited number of grants available so the successful applications will demonstrate innovative ideas and/or artistic practice, original thinking and a genuine need for the involvement of Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales.

Applications are invited from visual artists and craftspeople working in any media. Grants are available for up to 90% of the costs of a project.

A description of the project, including the expected benefits to the artist and to the community, is required. If available, an indication of costs and potential match funding, along with an outline timetable should be included.

Please note: fees to artists should be calculated at either £600 per whole week or £160 per day.

Applications should be accompanied by a letter of support from a local arts organisation. We will be interested in whether a working space will be provided (if needed) and if there is any contribution from the community to the funding. Where the artist’s project idea is of exceptional interest but they have not yet made contact with a community, we may act as a broker to set up a project for the artist.

£6000 will be the maximum grant for any one project.

TO APPLY FOR EITHER OF THESE SCHEMES - Please submit the following:

1. A letter of application, detailing the proposed project and its expected benefits to yourself and the business or community and, where available, including a budget and timetable.

2. A letter of support from the business or a local arts organisation and the name, address and telephone number of another referee.

3. Between 6 and 8 slides or photographs of recent work + a descriptive list detailing dimensions, materials, dates, etc. Please number and label images with your name, indicating the right way up with an arrow in the top right hand corner.

4. An up to date Curriculum Vitae.

5. A stamped addressed envelope sufficient for the return of your material

Good Ideas or Artists at Work, Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales, Crichton House, 11-12 Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5EE Tel: 02920 489543 Fax: 02920 465458 info@cywaithcymru.org

www.cywaithcymru.org

VITAL KNOWLEDGE - ARTISTS' MENTORING SCHEME

This is an addition to Cywaith Cymru's main Artist in Residence Programme. It is designed to break the vicious circle of less established artists failing to get residency work due to their lack of experience.

The Vital Knowledge Artists' Mentoring Scheme enables less experienced artists to observe other artists in residence in action, helping them to understand key issues and be present at strategic moments during the span of a residency. The scheme is open to all visual artists and craftspeople who would like to build confidence learn new skills and find out how their existing skills can be applied in a residency. You may be a recent graduate, an artist at the start of your career or, in certain circumstances, a more experienced practitioner who would like to start applying for artist in residence opportunities.

Subject to the agreement of the host venue and the appointed artist in residence, Cywaith Cymru will endeavour to place artists registered with the Vital Knowledge Artists' Mentoring Scheme in projects that will help them to acquire the experience and understanding needed for working in this field.

He or she can then spend up to ten days with the host project, observing and participating in significant moments during the lifetime of the project e.g. a planning session, practical workshop, steering group meeting, evaluation or debriefing meeting. The Vital Knowledge Mentoring Scheme will provide £50 per day as expenses for the mentee.

Mentees will not be expected to act as a second pair of less-well-paid hands and this will be made clear to the project hosts.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to the scheme please contact the Cywaith Cymru office to ask for an application form, and return the completed form to the address below.

Please note that it is not essential to have a driving licence, criminal records bureau check or public liability insurance, but the more information we can gather from you at the time of registration, the easier it will be for us to find the right placement for you.

You should also be aware that it might take some time for us to match you with the right project. Please do not worry if you haven't heard from us for a while, it doesn't mean that we have forgotten about you. If your information changes please let us know as soon as possible.

Send your completed registration form to:

Vital Knowledge Mentoring Scheme, Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales, Crichton House, 11-12 Mount Stuart Square Cardiff CF10 5EE Tel: 029 20489 543 Fax: 02920465458 info@cywaithcymru.org www.cywaithcymru.org