QUAD Artist Training and Development course

Launching in May 2015, this unique training opportunity is a 20 week course with one day tuition per fortnight with studio time and staff support in between taught sessions. This course has been developed and will be delivered by Derby QUAD in partnership with local and national arts and cultural organisations. 

 

The programme aims to enable artists and creatives from across the UK to access high quality digital, participation and career development skills. It will support you to develop and establish a stronger voice within the digital and new media landscape, and to increase sustainability within your artistic career.  

 

What does the course involve and what will you gain? 

 

• Research and development into current participatory practices and online engagement tools
• Have your portfolio reviewed by project partner Curators (or develop a portfolio)
• Get to know Scratch / Makey Makey / Conductive Thread / Conductive Paint / Arduino / Isadora / and other new media that compliments  and augments traditional art forms and participatory skills.  
• Build your confidence through supportive and playful exploration in a digital play lab, with participatory elements for peer engagement and learning
• Develop new work (or a research project) based on your current practice, combined with new media and participatory elements. 
• You will spend a few days to a week at a leading UK arts organisation shadowing staff and delivering workshops/activities if appropriate. 
• Develop essential fundraising and proposal writing skills
• Weekly studio time in QUAD’s digital and artist studios, will be available free of charge for all programme participants.
• Share your project with project partners at a final celebratory event with Curators and project partners at Tate Britain 

 

For further information please visit the website

My Workshop Opening

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Jenny Aitken at Tarpey Gallery in April / May 2015

Tarpey Gallery is proud to present ‘From River to Sea’ an exhibition of new work by Derbyshire based painter Jenny Aitken. Taking in scenes from Cromford to Cornwall the subject matter meanders it’s way from Tributaries to the Sea, with an emphasis on exacting colour and tonal contrast to convey light and movement, Jenny has produced a stunning new collection of work which will be on display from 11th April – 16th May, 2015.

Jenny has been painting professionally since her graduation from Aberystwyth University in 1997. Her style has evolved throughout her career and continues to do so, with a recent turn towards Plein air work.

“Each painting is born from strong visual and emotional memories, sketches and images, and my love of photography informs the composition and light. I want to tell a story, and achieve that evocative sense of a place through movement, light and texture.”

Jenny Aitken, 2014

Jenny has always loved the effects of light on the wilder coasts of Britain and is inspired by the seascapes of Edward Hopper, photography, contemporary impressionism, and any artist who projects the zing of salty light that she strives towards in her own work.

“I live in Derbyshire, on the edge of the Peak District, and my studio looks North West towards the peaks. However, my roots are in Alderney, in the Channel Islands, and the coast is a constant inspiration.”

Jenny Aitken, 2014

We have been keeping a close eye on Jenny’s work over the last few years and are extremely excited to host an exhibition of work by a local artist who’s choice of subject matter takes the viewer on a Journey ‘From River to Sea’.

Leicester print Workshop's Big Move Update

Leicester Print Workshop is planning its move to the cultural quarter later in the year.   We are currently raising funds and making plans to convert 50 St George Street, (next to Two Queens and round the corner from the Phoenix, Makers Yard, Curve and LCB Depot) into a two storey flagship for printmaking. The ground floor will be a printmaking studio with education and exhibition spaces, a kitchen and room for members to read and to have a cuppa.  The upper floor will have LPW's offices, framing room and room for an artist in residence.   This floor will also house Upper Floor Studios & Workspaces.

We are currently looking at options for the layout and arrangements for the studios & workspaces, and we are inviting expressions of interest from organisations and individuals who might want to share our space with us.  We are governed by certain criteria but essentially we are looking at a combination of private hire studios, common space, longer term rentals and day hire.   If you are interested in finding out more please email info@leicesterprintworkshop.com.  We will hold a meeting in late April at our current premises for everyone who is interested to talk through all the ideas so please do let us know if you are interested and we will be sure to invite you.  

Ceramics in Charnwood - Sunday 17th May

Now in it's fifth year ceramics in Charnwood takes place on Sunday 17th May, in Loughborough Market Place. Over forty of the finest ceramic artists from the East Midlands and beyond will be selling their work from 10am until 4pm.  For more information e.mail david@salsburyceramics.co.uk or take a look at our Facebook page CeramicsInCharnwood.

The Overton Poetry Prize 2015 is open for submissions

Loughborough University's 2015 Overton Prize is now open for submissions. In memory of Professor Bill Overton (1946-2012), English, Drama and Publishing offers this prize for a sequence of poems on any subject, up to 300 lines. The first-placed entry will be published in chapbook form by the University’s Lamplight Press.   There will be two further prizes of £50 each.

The deadline for submissions is 17th April, find out more here.

Wirksworth Festival - Apply Now

Apply now to exhibit at one of the UK's leading rural arts festivals for the Art & Architecture Trail, 12 - 13 September 2015.

Last year over 4,000 people visited the town to enjoy the Art & Architecture Trail Weekend, where more than 100 artists and designer makers exhibited in 70 venues throughout this beautiful market town.

Our March ebulletin has Landed...

Our March e-bulletin has landed, packed full of jobs, opportunities, funding and plenty more. Click here to read online. If you haven't already signed up, you can get it emailed directly to you as soon as it goes live.