Beyond Merely Assembling. Image credit: Liz West

Launching this November, Projects: Manchester is a new pop-up space dedicated to nurturing and developing the work of early-career artists. Responding to the current ecology, and Mark Devereux Projects’ ongoing ambition to help nurture the best up and coming talent, the organisation is excited to offer creatives a new test space. Emphasising Manchester’s reputation for its support to early-career artists, the space will be available to trial new ideas.

Taking residence in one of the eight floors of a former office space at the Co-Operative’s major Federation House building in central Manchester and as part of Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces initiative, the venue will offer artists the opportunity to showcase, develop and experiment.

Projects: Manchester will be an environment for artists to spend time testing, developing and experimenting in a vast, open space. Within a central location in Manchester, the space offers artists the opportunity to invite curators, producers and industry professionals to respond critically during the important developmental stages of making. Through giving practitioners the freedom and time to develop works and by trying to remove as many restrictions as we can, we are excited to see the ways in which artists may use the space.

On a day-to-day basis we are hearing of new ways in which artists are turning to the DIY approach in response to rising tuition fees, lack of opportunities and changes in the cultural ecology. Mark Devereux Projects has been established in response to this evolving climate and operates within an integral point between artist and institution.

Supporting three inaugural artists (Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis), alongside an Associate Member programme open to any early-career artist, we provide a bespoke, critically engaged and nurturing support mechanism on a one-to-one basis in each of the artist’s studios or via Skype. Through this individual approach, we are able to find out more about each of the artist’s ambitions and requirements and provide directed knowledge and experience to enable the growth of their careers. Each practitioner requires something different, sometimes it may be a critically engaged dialogue with their practice, some may need advice on how to work self-employed or operate a business-like structure and some artists may just need a pat on the back and someone to listen.

Projects: Manchester will be available to artists within Mark Devereux Projects Associate Membership programme. Alongside the free use of the space, Associate artists will also benefit from bespoke one-to-one mentoring sessions, exhibition opportunities, group critiques & guidance sessions and online advisory materials. The Associate Membership programme is open to any artist based within the UK.

Projects: Manchester launches with ‘Beyond Merely Assembling’; Mark Devereux Projects’ first group exhibition of Associate Members works on 8 November. The exhibition continues until 20 November. A special free event to any early-career artist will take place on 17 November based around critical dialogue, discussion and advice.

Beyond Merely Assembling install. Image credit: Liz West

Beyond Merely Assembling install. Image credit: Liz West

Beyond Merely Assembling install. Image credit: Mark Devereux

Pavilion After Giotto install Phoebe Eustance. Image credit: Liz West

Pavilion After Giotto install Phoebe Eustance. Image credit: Liz West

Pavilion After Giotto install Phoebe Eustance. Image credit: Liz West

Divided We Stand install Mark Houghton. Image credit: Mark Devereux

Urban Bodger install Tom Beesley. Image credit: Mark Devereux

Urban Bodger, Tom Beesley. Image credit: Liz West

Waiting for the Gift Bettina Amtag. Image credit: Liz West

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