One of the things I’ve noticed after many years supporting artists is that for many people the accepted career paths are neither appropriate or accessible. If we walk outside the mainstream we have to make to make our own way. […]
I took a chance and shared a vision. I took a chance and trusted the process I took a chance and believed in myself. The result was being awarded an a-n Artists Bursaries 2022-23. And I am well pleased and […]
Hi I am currently carrying out some research into artists and practitioners experience of postgraduate education, either through traditional, established institutions, universities, art colleges; or through alternative pathways such as School of the Damned, AltMFA or any other organised activity […]
A collection of strategies for doing the job of being a freelance artist.
Where to start? There are some many threads (wisps) blowing around and I find it hard to weave them into any sort of order. Some things though are making themselves clear … and these things are the result of […]
My a-n bursary was for building contacts in the prison service to develop a new idea for working collaboratively on an exhibition commission with prisoners. What a year it turned out to be for learning about the arts in a difficult to access sector.
With life being a bit busy of late, last week I realised I hadn’t been out walking with my phone camera and sketchbook for a while. So in pursuit of recording the changing environment and invoking some summery inspiration, I […]
This week I had my first meeting at The Orchards specialist school in Flixton, Trafford to talk about how to introduce and adapt Statue performance/workshop for the school setting. I specifically wanted to work with this school as it believes […]
We had a development session at Compass Live Art in Leeds last week (we being the artist development bursary recipients with the Compass team). This one was looking at partnerships. Nicole Mollett and Sarah Butler’s A-Z of Partnerships was used […]
Audiologist recommended googling “communication tactics” and here is one result: Communication strategies when talking to individuals with hearing loss https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51744-Communication-strategies-when-talking-to-individuals-with-hearing-loss Choose your environment Some environments are much easier for communication for people with hearing loss. Here are some things you […]
I’ve been thinking about absence or opposite of dialogue. Antonyms are: quiet; silence; monologue; soliloquy (talking to yourself). A dialogue that isn’t a dialogue is talking to someone who isn’t listening or present in the conversation. That dialogue would be […]
I was asked by my previous University to write a short blurb about my time there studying for my Masters and send some photos for their Alumni feature. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on my time there and the […]
I took the kids to a lasercutting workshop at Bridge Rectifier in Hebden Bridge. They designed their own door plaque and learned about the lasercutting process. They had lots of questions and learned out lasercutting hands on through the making. […]
I had another doctors appointment today for an ongoing but undiagnosed issue. Doctors deal with the patient’s medical ailments and biology but they must do so primarily through dialogue with the patient. Their dialogue skills are highly trained. Listening to […]
I took the kids on a Pirate Day at Shibden Hall today which was part treasure hunt and part crafting activity. The facilitators were in costume and in pirate character for the treasure hunt. They took us for a short […]
We had a Dwell Time meeting today and discussed our plans for our September-December workshop programme. This idea development stage building ideas up through dialogue is one of the most rewarding and exciting parts of collaborations when anything is possible […]
Bursary schedule The aim of my proposed bursary activity was to research and develop making my work accessible to children by integrating Makaton language to communicate signs within the work. There were some changes to my original schedule due to […]
“Is it a sculpture?” “No it’s not got a door.” “Is there a door on top?” “I can’t see!” “It might be a sculpture still”
Oh. A small word but can be a heavily loaded word. When you receive bad news. When you receive surprising information. When you receive information and want to ackwnowledge receipt of said information. When you don’t know what else to […]
We had a big family meet up today at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. There were cousins there I haven’t seen in 30 years and swapping memories of our childhood was great. We each have slightly different memories of the same occasions […]
Some everyday conversations today: In the shop buying bits of school uniform and new trainers for the youngest. The pleasantries of other shoppers and of shop assistants making small talk. Small talk Chitchat Pleasantries Talking rubbish Niceties These social niceties […]
I spent a lot of the day talking about how we talk to children and nurturing in general. nurture [nur-cher] verb (used with object), nur·tured, nur·tur·ing. to feed and protect: to nurture one’s offspring. to support and encourage, as during […]
This evening we launched the collaborative publication Resilience is Futile which I have been Writer in Residence for YVAN and Corridor 8. I had some fantastic conversations with many people there: Some people I’ve known a while, some I’ve met […]
On Sunday morning we went to the most incredible place ever. Even thinking about it now lifts my soul. It’s called Hulme Community Garden Centre. I love every single square inch of that place, seriously. Just go have a look […]
