Simulacra And Simulations

After predicting my career’s final demise in 2013 – 2014 due to my complete disillusionment with the art world, in 2015 it seemed all was not lost. Although I have wasted an entire year with the LAN still not constituted, a series of fully funded peer to peer networking workshops took place at The Collection, which helpfully paid off my overdraft.

They were followed by an interview for BBC Look North on arts education, then a series of workshops at Waddington All Saints School that led to a one day exhibition at Future Fest.

In looking at the year, I did notice that in February I’d started work on a series of double page illustrations for Cloudbusting, but since then, I’ve been so busy to get much done for it. However, since Future Fest, I’ve been busy preparing a new Kickstarter relaunch for Cloudbusting, which I’m planning to launch in February this year.

I’ve set up a new Youtube channel, to start to promote the video, and all information is in this blog: http://helendearnleyillustration.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/new-cloudbusting-kickstarter-video.html

The LAN constitution is now a top priority for 2016.

Having gone away for Christmas, upon my return I received a letter from HMRC about changes to Working Tax Credit for self-employed people. It says “to be eligible for Working Tax Credit you should be getting paid, or expect to get paid, for the self-employed work you do in your trade, profession or vocation.

Apparently it needs to be done on a commercial basis, with a view to making a profit.

This means that although I’ve done some workshops last year, which has been really great, I really need to have more regular work coming in, more successful funding applications, and paid opportunities this year.

Yesterday’s self promotion at Future Fest went well – it was a very last minute affair, however, it was nice to arrive at the Engine Shed and be able to exhibit there at no cost to myself – no travel costs, no accommodation costs (at least, no hotel costs, it doesn’t exclude rent), no entry fee, no one to reject my application – I simply asked the Events Team and they said YES. I was provided with a table and a board – ideally I’d have preferred to have borrowed something from Fine Art, but it was a plain white display board, so I wasn’t complaining.
I spent time setting everything up, and just as I was finishing, Jason Bradbury came across to have a look, and really liked the piece. He said he’d come back later in his full Back To The Future gear and give me a guided tour of his DeLorean, and we’d get some proper photos of him with the illustration. I had hoped to get some press exposure. If I’d had time in advance, I could’ve invited BBC Look North to come, but it was too last minute for that.
And the focus of the day was on Jason and his DeLorean.
Visitors were offered the opportunity to contribute their own ideas (and drawings) to add, these were few and far between. I had some interest, but mostly positive feedback for the illustration itself, especially from Jason himself, who said he likes my style – that’s really all the feedback I need!! I’d also guessed correctly that he saw Back To The Future at the Ritz cinema in the 1980s.

Of course, I went to see him talk about the DeLorean – all images are in this blog:
http://helendearnleyillustration.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/future-fest.html

Today I am disappointed at having spent (wasted) time applying for UnLtd funding to set up the LAN as a social enterprise, for this to be unsuccessful.

I was advised that I need to research social enterprise – as far as I can tell, the LAN already fits that criteria. The project I wanted funding to run is a social arts project – it can’t get more social than organising an artist-led bike ride based on Yoko Ono’s participatory work.

I’m not prepared to jump through any more hoops, and will look into alternatives.

Instead, I’m focussing on my previous Jason Bradbury comic illustration, which will be exhibited as part of Future Fest at the Engine Shed at the University of Lincoln this coming Thursday 8th October.

http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/campuslife/whatson/eventsconferences/future-fest.html

It seems the hospital are having trouble negotiating with estates to have the walls painted, and had asked us for an outline of fees, without giving us an indication of available budgets, so I provided some example day rates as a guideline, but now questions are raised over whether their budget will cover it, so the project is on hold for the time being. If anyone has any advice about negotiating fees and organising similar projects, I’d really appreciate some help at this stage!!

For the time being, I am focussing my efforts into an upcoming presentation for a funding application for the LAN.

I’ve received ongoing support from a business mentor following on from previous work with Onlincolnshire with this.

I’m due to attend a consultation relating to apprenticeships in Manchester on Friday, and as travel costs are being re-imbursed, I have booked an earlier train, so that I can visit a few galleries, MadLab etc, so I’m finalising the presentation for Monday so I’m all prepared.

It’s crucial we get this funding at this stage, as we’ll then be able to use it as match funding for further funding (ACE grants etc) – so wish us luck!!

I’ve been sketching out ideas for the mural, testing them on lining paper in my studio and developing ideas further in preparation, along with organising the LAN.

We now have 6 artists and illustrators keen to work on the murals – some are pending DRB checks, which are being organised by the matron, and may take a few weeks to sort out.

We can’t start work on the murals until the walls have been painted, and the hospital have contractors to do that first, so we’re waiting for this. Plus many of the staff have kids off for the summer, so are  on leave at various times anyway, which works out fine for me.

In other news, after several frustrating delays, I finally have a date for a presentation relating to an LAN funding application, which I need to prepare for early October.

In non-art news, in 2013-2014 I had to take time out of my practice, mainly due to lack of funding, to take care of my son, who had been kidnapped by a member of this family: http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2015/09/lincoln-benefits-cheat-jailed-after-stealing-26k-to-fund-heroin-addiction/

This was why I became so very frustrated at those that were still expecting me to work for free, at funding applications that were rejected, and was on the brink of giving up a career that was proving to be equally as abusive.

I’m very glad that proper opportunities are now working out, and I hope this will improve.