AirSpace Gallery announces the return of its Graduate Residency Programme and invites students graduating from BA Fine Art courses in summer 2017 and MA Fine Art courses in autumn 2016 to apply. The Programme is designed specifically to help new graduates bridge the gap between full-time education and a career in the arts.
Each year, AirSpace Gallery’s Graduate Residency Programme offers two new graduates a fantastic opportunity to be part of an exciting and innovative artist-led space in Stoke-on-Trent, providing 6 months free studio space, ongoing professional development support, mentoring and guidance from Gallery directors and professional artists, and an end-of-residency solo exhibition.
Launched in 2012, now into its 6th year, we can point to direct benefits arising from the Residency. 2012 residents, Adam Gruning and Adam Kelly gained full-time teaching work and an MA place, respectively. 2013 resident, Chloe Ashley, maintained her studio at AirSpace and has just attained an MA place at the Royal College of Art. 2014 resident Naomi Harwin now has a studio at Wysing, is exhibiting widely, and was recently announced as AxisWeb’s Artist of the Month for March 2017. Emilie Atkinson followed her 2015/16 residency by joining AirSpace as an associate director, before moving to Liverpool’s Royal Standard as a studio holder.
Who can apply:
Any fine art or related practitioner graduating from a UK BA or Masters course between October 2016 and July 2017
What we offer:
• A rent free studio space, including 24 hour access and free wifi and utilities at AirSpace Gallery for 6 months from August 2017 – January 2018.
• Monthly support meetings and professional development support, with gallery directors and professional artists to offer invaluable guidance and insight, to help in tracking the residency progress and developing new works and accessing opportunities.
• Access to all studio facilities and support structures for 6 months, and an option to get involved in the AirSpace Gallery project
• An interim exhibition in the Gallery Window Space or Gallery Resource Room.
• A solo exhibition, with professional curatorial support, at the end of the 6 months period at AirSpace Gallery.
How to apply:
Please submit in a single PDF –
• A proposal for your residency at AirSpace, including how you would approach the 6 months residency in terms of research and development towards your solo show (max 1000 words)
• an artist statement and details about your current work – please state when you graduated and from which institution (max 300 words)
• weblinks and upto 5 images relevant to your current practice.
also
• an assessment of why you are right for this opportunity
• ideas for your involvement with the gallery and studio group.
Proposals should be in a single PDF and emailed to mail@airspacegallery.org with “graduate residency” in the subject line by 5pm, Sunday, June 25th, 2017
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to AirSpace Gallery to present their proposals in person in the week beginning 10th July, 2017.
Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 17th July, 2017.
Residencies for successful candidates will begin on Friday August 25th, 2017.
Please feel free to get in touch with any questions.
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Testimonials
“I would definitely recommend the residency to other artists looking for opportunities after University. The residency offers the valuable debut solo show opportunity artists dream of as well as a supportive artist community that makes the transition from University to practicing artist positive, productive and enjoyable.”
Adam Gruning, Graduate Residency 2012-2013.
The residency has allowed for progression of my understanding of professional practice alongside providing the time to create a strong body of work. The residency provides a fantastic opportunity to begin practicing as an artist after graduating, providing support and a studio space to create a body of work for a solo show, with an important gallery in the West Midlands. I have gained invaluable experiences that were the direct result of the residency and perhaps wouldn’t have achieved without the opportunity at AirSpace”.
Chloe Ashley, Graduate Residency 2013-2014
I would definitely recommend the graduate residency to others, it was a fantastic opportunity that gave me the chance to reflect upon all the work I made prior, whilst studying, and push my practice further. Additionally, invaluable guidance was provided on possible ways to sustain a professional practice beyond art school. This was all made possible thanks to the support and contacts the gallery provided, the large studio which accommodated the making of new pieces, larger than I’d made before, and the two exhibiting opportunities which allowed me to curate my work and see it as as a coherent body.
Emilie Atkinson, Graduate Residency, 2015-2016
MORE DETAILS: HERE