So the emailing begins trying to re-connect with contacts in Finland and finding the right people to talk to in Manchester. I have had some amazing contacts from Julie Ward NW Labour MEP who has helped network me with Geoffrey Brown who is involved with The Europe for Citizens programme. I will be meeting him this week to discuss my city twinning ambition and artist residency exchange. I still have two Re:View meetings left, however I have changed my mind about who to see. Inevitably as the project has developed this has made me look closer to home and I feel Alison Kershaw, artist and independent curator would be an excellent person to talk to. Since being back I can’t stop thinking about how there are so few residency opportunities here in Manchester and the limited accommodation for parents with children. There are many arts opportunities for graduates but few for mid-career artists. At this stage a residency exchange between the two cities would be very exciting for creatives on both sides. I would want a broad range of artistic practices such as a writer, arts educator, visual artist, curator, performer. This is a project with a long term view to nurture relationships between artists, place and future practice. Although I was only away for two weeks I feel it has changed me and my outlook on what I want to do next. As an artist with a young baby two weeks felt like a good chunk of time to go, see and start something new. The hard work and planning starts now.
