Intense time working on Grants for the Arts application. We had stalled for a while, waiting to hear Torre Abbey’s response and are now rushing to submit to keep to a self-imposed deadline which gives a coherent timeline to the 12-month residency.
(and we have had a massive learning-curve-moment with in-retrospect advice from Smooth Space Chair about how best to structure dialogue with Museum (and for future project-building): we made too much of our need for speed and could have used different language in phone calls/emails which would have enabled similar results without adding unnecessary pressure to communication. We could also have allowed more time for dialogue/planning stage – a more realistic expectation of how long it would take to put the project together from the initial approach to Torbay Council to final approval for draft funding applications).
When fully completed draft version put together (very rough around the edges) we contact Lucy Drane (from Alias, who has given professional development advice to Smooth Space). Sense of urgency also spills over into this dialogue – at our diagnostic meeting with Lucy a few months ago she offered support for writing of GftA application. We are very close to our ‘submission deadline’ but Lucy sends a fantastic response, saying she can read through our draft and give us detailed feedback.
Couple more things that have helped with writing application…
was invited to attend AIR: Artists Interaction and Representation Paying Artists Consultation in Bristol at Motorcade/Flashparade in Oct ’13. Good, thoughtful and focused afternoon, and . Invitation from AIR said, “This consultation will be a formal opportunity to discuss issues arising from this research and the in-depth interviews with galleries and artists. We need your contribution to help shape a successful advocacy and campaign that all artists will feel part of and be active in.” Heard many stories that afternoon of past experiences of (sometimes shockingly) bad practice by organisations, galleries, in their approach to
