a-n’s 2018 programme of professional development opportunities for members has just launched with a call for applications to next year’s a-n Visual Arts Coaching Course with RD1st.
Over £100,000 of professional development opportunities will be available for a-n members in 2018 including: 14 places on the a-n Visual Arts Coaching Course with RD1st; 65+ a-n Artist Bursaries; 20 a-n Biennial Bursaries; and two further programmes for guidance and coaching sessions offering 25+ opportunities for artists.
a-n Visual Arts Coaching Course with RD1st 2018
Applications are now open from Artist members, Arts Organiser members, and Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) members for 14 fully funded course places to become an accredited coach through the a-n Visual Arts Coaching Course with RD1st 2018. The award also includes a bursary of up to £400 for expenses.
The eight-day programme taking place April – June 2018 in Lancaster is part of a-n’s commitment to supporting artists’ livelihoods and is the only course of its kind for visual artists.
The first programme in 2017, which followed a pilot the previous year, saw 16 a-n members complete the coaching course with Relational Dynamics 1st (RD1st), an organisation that specialises in training people from all professions and backgrounds to be coaches.
Successful applicants will undergo coaching which will enable them to challenge perceived barriers and map out a route to change and development, while also training to become an accredited coach capable of offering others the same opportunity in future.
Speaking about the programme, a-n Visual Arts Coaching Course 2017 alumni Dorian Jose Braun said: “The course was very, very good. Never before have I learnt so much about myself as well as gaining so many new skills in such a short period of time.
“It has changed my outlook on life and has changed my life for the better… I have started coaching six artists.”
Need support in submitting your application? Read our new Top tips on applying for a-n member opportunities guide.
More a-n bursaries launching soon
Applications for a-n Artist Bursaries 2018 will open in January. These awards of £500 – £1,000 will enable 65+ Artist or Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) members to undertake a self-determined schedule of professional development in 2018.
Artist Bursaries can support the learning of a new skill, mentoring, curatorial critique, travel within or outside of the UK to research, attend conferences, help members to build networks or collaboration, or a combination of these things.
Now in its sixth year, the a-n bursary programme has invested over £275,000 back to members, enabling artists to undertake a wide range of professional development activities and visit internationally significant exhibitions and events.
Previous bursary activity has included research into environmentally responsible screen printing in Mexico, learning self-publishing and book-binding skills, work in collaboration with Cambridge University neuroscientists, artist-to-artist mentoring, working with professional photographers to learn how to document artwork, mid-career mentoring with curators, and establishing an artist-parent support network.
We’ll announce more information when applications open in January.
a-n Biennial Bursaries 2018 will support a-n Artist or Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) members to attend the launch of the 10th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art or Manifesta 12 Palermo.
20 awards of £600 each will be available, with applications opening in February 2018. Past rounds of this bursary have enabled a-n members to attend preview weeks at the Venice Biennale and Documenta.
Both Berlin Biennale, which launches 9 June 2018, and Manifesta, launching 16 June 2018, offer an exceptional chance to see work by internationally-regarded artists and to benefit from networking with the many UK and international curators, artists and arts leaders who attend.
The 10th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art will take place at various venues across the city and is curated by Gabi Ngcobo.
Manifesta is the nomadic European biennial, held in a different host city every two years. Palermo was chosen for Manifesta 12 for its representation of two important themes that identify contemporary Europe, migration and climate change, and how these issues impact our cities.
The Sicilian capital is also the 2018 Italian Capital of Culture.
We’ll announce more information when applications open in February.
Read a-n blogs by previous successful applicants to our Professional development, Travel, Venice Biennale and Documenta bursaries, Artist-led and Visual Arts Coaching Course rounds to learn more about the outcomes of our member opportunities.
More on a-n.co.uk:
Turner Prize 2017: Lubaina Himid’s win is inspirational for young and old artists alike
A Q&A with… Aidan Moesby: the a-n Artist Bursary 2017 recipient discusses his explorations of weather and wellbeing
a-n Research: opening access to the UK’s visual arts and cultural research
