a-n (The Artists Information Company) has compiled a handy information pack detailing what you might need to start out as a new artist. Aimed at recent graduates, it is a practical guide that offers advice and useful resources to get started in the art world.

The guide begins with the importance of the web as a promotional tool for your work. Artist, Ellie Harrison provides an interesting Case Study on what makes her website unique. This section also looks at the pros and cons of blogging.

It then goes onto the options and roles available to emerging artists. This section covers postgraduate study, studying abroad, working with the public, getting a studio and residencies. Make sure to check out Manifold’s Q&A on setting up their East London studio here and applying for funding and opportunities here.

The age old dilemma of pricing your work is addressed here along with some copyrighting advice. New artists are also advised to keep asking yourself questions and to create/lead your own activities. Take a look at Kevin Hunt’s Artist-Led Hot 100 which lists some of the most superb activity being facilitated by emerging independent artists and curators right now in the UK.

A comprehensive directory of useful resources can be found here. And finally, an introduction to the one thing that makes it all official: Becoming Self Employed.

More: Website | Twitter

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During his six-years as Founder, Director & Head of Exhibitions for Blank Media Collective (Manchester), Devereux worked with and talked to hundreds of artists. One of the common and most significant issues was the lack of dedicated, one-to-one support available to give the artists the bespoke and channeled information needed to help further their practice.

Research shows that many positive and informative schemes varying from open workshops to discussion groups exist; however, there are few organisations that are able to offer a focused one-to-one service for early-career artists.

Through the experience and contacts Devereux has acquired, MDP is able to start looking at ways in which the organisation can fill-in some of these gaps. Working alongside other industry professionals, MDP is launching in the North-West of England with two entry-points for early-career artists, audiences and collaborators.

“His [Devereux’s] idea of starting our working relationship with 100 questions around every aspect of my practice was inspired. Since that, I’ve had an interview and studio visit with a fantastic curator from Yorkshire Sculpture Park. A visit from another arts professional and a further session with Mark are already penciled in. I feel really lucky that’s he’s taking such a nurturing approach.” [Nicola Dale]

Sequel, Nicola Dale, 2012

MDP will be working with Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis as a long-term ‘collaboration’ to support the growth of their practices. With support ranging from critique of new works and ideas to support with promotion and business skills, varying aims and targets have been set to help each artist increase their profile and achieve their personal ambitions.

The work between MDP and the inaugural artists will be an ongoing process and conversation, rather than short-term fixes of information or exposure. Reflection, consideration and time for thinking are all integral factors into making the process and activities comfortable and successful for the artists.

“As opportunities for artists often seem to follow on from one another (new commissions arising from previous shows) it can feel as though any kind of career development lacks a level of direction or concerted focus on specific goals. Working with MDP has allowed me to consider in detail the types of opportunities that I am most interested in undertaking and how this can contribute to long-term aspirations” [David Ogle]

08005, David Ogle, 2011

The second strand of the organisation is the new MDP Associate Membership Scheme and one-to-one mentoring sessions. Early-career artists from the North-West of England can join the scheme to benefit from bespoke one-to-one mentoring and guidance sessions. They will gain exposure through annual group exhibitions selected by Mark Devereux together with two other curators, producers or industry professionals. They will also have access to group information sessions and events as well as access to a range of online advisory materials.

The Associate Membership is a great opportunity for early-career artists to not only increase their exposure and awareness but also get invaluable advice, guidance and support helping them get to where they want to be in the future. It also gives each of the Associate Members the opportunity to be considered by MDP to compliment the existing artists mentioned above.

To compliment the Associate Membership or for early-career artists from outside of the North-West of England, additional bespoke one-to-one mentoring and guidance sessions can be booked with MDP to discuss support, advice and information needed to help further individuals careers.

Lassus, Nicola Ellis, 2011

“There will be a lot of new experiences for me while working with MDP. I look forward to engaging with the public in different ways and focusing on specific areas of my practice that will help develop and compliment the work I produce.” [Nicola Ellis]

MDP is currently working towards the first exhibition; Means of Feedback, which will take place in Manchester from 11-17 July, showcasing the work of Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis. Complimenting the exhibition will be specially commissioned videos about each of the artists and the work of MDP. A publication including the writing of Kerry Harker (Co-Founder & Director Project Space Leeds) and Helen Pheby (Curator Yorkshire Sculpture Park) will be launched to accompany the exhibition.

For further information about Mark Devereux Projects please visit the brand-new website, Twitter or Facebook. To join MDP Associate Membership scheme or find out more about one-to-one mentoring sessions for any early-career artist visit the Membership & Mentoring page or email info@markdevereuxprojects.com.

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Read more about Mark Devereux on Central Station here.

This week, Ironbbratz Studios takes over Central Station, posting featured work and blogs. This post is about The Telfer Gallery which they support.

The Telfer Gallery opened its doors in Glasgow’s city centre one year ago, exemplifying a wide range of exhibitions and events with a focus on experimentation and cross-disciplinary practice. The diverse nature of The Telfer Gallery’s 2012 programme enabled the committee to explore the potential of the physical space and the wider environment. Within this time, the gallery hosted two residency programmes; one exploring the established modes of arts presentation – questioning the exhibition format itself;  another saw the team assemble an arts collective, Colour Deaf, to produce an alternative experience in visual art and live music through installation art and sonic design. The gallery also produced a number of exhibitions – from sculpture, printmaking and cross-disciplinary collective shows both across the design and fine art sector, and the summertime saw a collaborative project between The Telfer Gallery and Leeds-based initiative Test Space resulting in a series of workshops and an interactive exhibition as part of the Merchant City Festival.

Colour Deaf at The Telfer Gallery, 2011

Now heading into its second year, The Telfer Gallery is about to launch a new programme responsive to the experimental and diverse programme concluded last month. In 2013, the gallery will maintain the diversity of the previous year’s ethos whilst allowing each artist space to focus on the dialogue surrounding the respective body of work and conclusively, enabling the audience to understand the development of work in the gallery situation.

Aesthetic Error by Kel Glaister at The Telfer Gallery, 2012

The Telfer Gallery 2013 programme invites four creative practitioners from across the board of fine art and design to engage our audience in critical dialogue and exhibit beautiful work. We aim to provide a space of production and presentation for these practitioners through engaging with the processes of production unique to each individual. We will provide a platform for focused experimentation within a studio environment and allow time for a productive and critical dialogue to occur organically.

A Billow, a Hunch by Emily Shepherd at The Telfer Gallery, 2012

The Telfer Gallery will launch a new website in correlation with the 2013 programme in February 2013. To join our mailing list, please send an email to gallery@the-telfer.com and be sure to check in with our website, Facebook and Twitter for programme updates, or just to say hello.

Find out more:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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From time to time we feature galleries and spaces that showcase & encourage grassroots artists. Browse through more of our Featured Venues.
Contact us to talk about a feature on your venue.

What:
This September Liverpool will play host to CAVE – a new and unique model of art fair.

Housed in Baltic Creative’s new Campus building, CAVE will give visitors the opportunity to discover the work of 45 of the UK’s most dynamic and currently unrepresented artists, offering the opportunity to buy work at a price to suit any budget. What makes CAVE unique is its focus on the artist with the organisers taking no commission or exhibition fees; the full sale price of each art work will go directly to the artist.

Y Morals by James McLardy

Coinciding with the opening of the Liverpool Biennial 2012, CAVE will run from 13 – 16 September, existing independently of but alongside the festival. CAVE aims to give emerging artists an ambitious sales & exhibition platform and the opportunity to engage with wide audiences. Playing on it’s independent position; CAVE is exhibiting some of the most exciting art being produced in the UK today. Painting, drawing, sculpture and film will exist alongside performative encounters, secret talks and urban shamanic rituals.

Oliver Braid

CAVE, the brainchild of Flis Mitchell and Kevin Hunt (artists and curators based at The Royal Standard in Liverpool) was born out of a desire to create a commercial platform for emerging and unrepresented artists during the Biennial, something that has never happened before. CAVE supports the very best creative talent the UK has to offer, removes gallery mediation, and creates a dialogue directly between the artist and the buyer; stimulating the local and wider regional art markets within the UK.

Tom Nolan

Flis explained “We feel that the time is right for something different, an ambitious and exciting commercial addition at the time of the festival.”

Kevin added “People will be able to buy something bespoke, hand-made and original, for less than many factory-produced blips consumed on the high street, engaging directly, with the artists who made the work.”

When:
CAVE Art Fair runs from 13 – 16 September 2012 at Baltic Creative Campus, Liverpool.

Find out more:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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