Thinking/Writing/Thinking/Writing
The past three weeks have been all about thinking and writing funding applications for the Manse Project 15. As I am due to have my baby any day now I have been trying to research and contact as many people as possible. I have made a good start on my ACE application, which is challenging as it has a short word count for each question. Don’t get me wrong I like to be precise and to the point with what I’m doing, however this is a complex project that is difficult to shorthand. I have since seen a couple of other funding opportunities such as the a-n Re-view bursary and The New Opportunities Award. I have to say when I saw the The New Opportunities Award I was a bit annoyed as the strategy behind it is very similar to what I want to do. As an independent artist the thinking and strategy is also part of the creative process for me taking a lot of time for one person to achieve. Then suddenly there is this commission were a team of people have worked it all out to hand it over to the artist. The positive from looking at this is that I am on track with the benefits of working with museums and I have similar budget expectations. However I am not sure whether to apply for it as I am convinced that a high profile, national award will mean that the institution will select a well-known or pre-selected artist of choice. I have to remember my motivation for applying to ACE for an Artist Led project, which is to lead rather than to be led.
I came across the a-n Re:view bursary via twitter and feel this would really contribute to making a strong ACE application. If I received this bursary it would allow me to meet with Producers, Artists and Curators. Due to the scale of my project I feel it is important to work with a Producer to help the work reach its potential. I will have the opportunity to showcase my past work and future project, which may in turn create more opportunities/collaborations on projects with my chosen peer group. I want to learn from performance artists how they have worked across different contexts and with diverse audiences. For example I have specifically chosen Lowri Evans who originally trained as a visual artist, although works with performance (). She has created small independent projects and large-scale performances for the stage. Pru Porretta imitates Lady Godiva and works with Coventry Museum. From this research it will help inform my performance character and the potential for presenting the work across different contexts. Meeting a museum curator offers the chance to talk about how they have developed a working relationship with the artist from R&D to the realisation of a finished piece. Speaking to experts in the museum & performance field will inform my presentation in Tampere, Finland, which I hope will get partners interested in my project.
Fingers crossed, I hope I get it…
a-n Re:view Bursary: www.a-n.co.uk/p/4179058/ *Please note this is only available to a-n subscribers. Deadline noon 20/01/14.
New Opportunities Award: http://www.vasw.org.uk/news/new-expressions-new-opportunities-award-launched.php
