SYLLABUS II INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, New Contemporaries, S1 Artspace, Spike Island and Studio Voltaire, invite applications from artists for Syllabus II; an alternative peer-led learning programme in its second year that will support ten artists across ten months.
Starting in September 2016, Syllabus II will provide selected participants with a series of intensive seminars at each of the partner venues. Syllabus II will be co-developed with the artists selected to participate who, with the support of staff and artists working with each of the partner organisations, will have the opportunity to bring forward ideas to the programme and actively contribute to its delivery.
Syllabus II aims to reach artists with a range of practices and artistic approaches and bring together individuals from a wide geographic spread across the UK.
PEOPLE The individuals and organisations who have developed Syllabus II, and who will be involved with the programme across the ten months, are Ruth Claxton, Eastside Projects; Louise Hutchinson, S1 Artspace; Mat Jenner, Studio Voltaire; Helen Legg, Spike Island; Donna Lynas and Chelsea Pettitt, Wysing Arts Centre and Kirsty Ogg, New Contemporaries. The first iteration of the programme, The Syllabus, involved contributions from many artists associated with each of the partner organisations and applicants to Syllabus II will have the opportunity to access similar networks. In 2015 contributing artists included Barby Asante, Ruth Beale, Celine Condorelli, Andy Holden, James Langdon, Richard Long, Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Emma Smith, Nayia Yiakoumaki, Richard Wentworth, Keith Wilson and Rehana Zahman. With additional input from Benedict Drew, Kathy Noble, Eddie Peake, Marinella Senatore, Mike Sperlinger and Milly Thompson.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE The programme is structured around six seminars, each lasting two to four days, which all participants will be required to attend. At the first seminar, artists and curators connected to all six organisations will work with the selected participants to devise and structure a curriculum that will support individual and collaborative artistic development, and offer access to networks and knowledge.
During periods between seminars, texts and reading lists will be uploaded onto a shared drive allowing discussions and curriculum development to be continued remotely.
The benefits of the programme include:
- The opportunity to shape and develop a collaborative, reflexive learning experience.
- The opportunity to develop a supportive network of peers.
- Contact with staff at the partner organisations and access to the artists they work with.
- An intensive programme of seminars at partners venues that offer time to come together to discuss work and practice.
- Connections with arts organisations, communities and networks in host cities across the UK.
- Opportunities for one to one support and discussion throughout the programme.
PROGRAMME TIMETABLE*
8-11 Sep 2016 Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire A four day retreat, with onsite shared accommodation and food provided, that will introduce participants and their work to one another. This session will include an introduction to Syllabus II alongside introductions from staff from the partner organisations. The majority of this session will include presentations on participants work and forward planning of the curriculum for Syllabus II as a group.
14-16 October 2016 New Contemporaries at
Bluecoat, Liverpool Working in collaboration with its exhibition partner Bluecoat, Liverpool, the session will coincide with the presentation of Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2016 as part of Liverpool Biennial.
9-11 December 2016 Spike Island, Bristol 3-5 February 2017 Eastside Projects, Birmingham 7-9 April 2017 Studio Voltaire, London 2-4 June 2017 S1 Artspace, Sheffield July 2017 A final two-day meeting at Wysing to evaluate the programme and agree next steps.
*Note that future dates are currently speculative and may be subject to change.
COSTS The Syllabus costs approx. £3,000 per artist to deliver. However, we have secured Arts Council England funding to cover the majority of these costs, meaning that in 2016/17 the cost to each artist will be £500 for the ten month programme. The £500 can be paid in monthly instalments and payments are made to Wysing Arts Centre who are co-ordinating the programme on behalf of the partners. Additional costs to participants will include travel and some accommodation which is estimated at an additional £500 per person. Efforts will be made to ensure that low cost rail fares and accommodation can be booked well in advance.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applicants should have been out of formal education for at least 4 years and we are interested hearing from applicants who have not progressed through formal art training routes.
- We aim to establish a cohort that represents a diversity of cultural perspectives and artistic practices.
- We are looking for applicants who want to both develop their own work and actively contribute to the development of the curriculum for Syllabus II
- Syllabus II is open to artists based in the UK
- Applications may be made via video or audio, to support those with dyslexia, rather than written form.
To apply, please provide:
- A statement describing why you would like to participate in Syllabus II (max 500 words);
- Initial ideas for potential contributors or content; what this could bring to Syllabus II and why it is important to you and your work (max 500 words);
- A general statement on your work (max 500 words);
- A current CV;
- Please upload selection of 10 images or a 5 minute showreel of relevant material. Please also provide links (vimeo/You Tube/soundcloud etc) to full length versions of AV work and/or websites where additional visual material can be found.
- Applications must be made online via
https://wysingartscentre.submittable.com/submit/55028 Applications that are not made via this process will be ineligible.
Interviews for The Syllabus will take place on 10 May (Birmingham), 11 and 13 May (London)
