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Opportunities for artists – Longhouse

LONGHOUSE ACTION RESEARCH BURSARY 2010
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Longhouse is an annual programme of work carried out by community arts organisation, Multistory based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands. Longhouse is dedicated to the professional development of artists working in the public realm and provides knowledge, support and funding to artists to develop their practice.

Longhouse is currently looking for applications from artists who wish to undertake a period of action research.

There are 5 bursaries available for 2010/11.

Each bursary will run from October 2010 – March 2011.

Artists are required to use the bursary to pro-actively discover new contexts for their work via the exploration of different approaches to socially engaged practice in the public realm.

In the spirit and rich tradition of past Action Research programmes all participating artists will be encouraged to test their current creative practice through intensive investigation, reflection and understanding of what is meant by, and the reality of, the ‘public realm’, especially in the current climate of ‘Big Society’, new forms of regeneration being needed and the slowing of capital investment.

We are inviting applications from artists for action research proposals under the umbrella theme of ‘connections’ – how artists and cultural activity can make connections between people, people and place (physical and metaphorical), and between people and knowledge all relating to the current climate and context of regeneration and the public realm.

Under the heading of ‘connections’, artists are expected to consider one or more of the following inter-related threads as the basis of their proposal:

i social inclusion + democracy
For example:
• public perception and reality of public space – what is and is not allowed – are public spaces ‘democratic’?
• what are the ‘politics’ of the public realm?
• What are the public engagement + participatory opportunities?

ii filling physical spaces – artistic occupation
For example:
• what is the impact or benefit of evolving programmes of challenging and unexpected occupation of space (temporary, permanent, visual, interactive, integrated etc.)?
• The language and messages of regeneration programmes – how are these perceived?
• How can we connect public spaces across wider neighbourhoods or urban context?

iii building sustainable communities
For example:
• Where are the links or otherwise between professionals (decision-makers, developers, masterplanners, agencies + funding bodies), artists + the ‘general public’?
• What is the effect of transitional populations?
• How can urban ecology – growing projects, allotments + food – the public realm as a productive landscape – play a part?

Each of the selected artists will receive support from Lead Artist/Mentor, Scott Farlow (www.scottfarlow.co.uk) during their bursary, through one to one meetings and three group workshops which will enable the artists to apply their learning to a ‘real’ place and brief.

The group workshops will enable the artists to share their practice as a group, gain practical advice and experience as well as take part in debate and raise questions relating to their practice and the wider issues of artists using socially engaged practice in regeneration/the public realm.

All artists applying for the bursary must be available to attend all of these workshops to take place on:

• 20 – 21 October 2010
• 8 – 9 December 2010
• 16 – 17 February 2011

It is required that the artists record and document their project online using the Longhouse blog throughout their bursary. Artists will be given guidance and instruction on how to add content to the website.

Required Bursary Outputs:
o A six month period of action research managed and budgeted by the artist with support from Longhouse and Scott Farlow.
o A minimum of six online updates on the Longhouse blog
o Attendance and participation at three group workshops facilitated by Scott Farlow and one to one meetings
o A final written statement and visual illustrations (photographic or graphic) for an Action Research publication (format of publication TBC)
o Participation in a detailed evaluation of the action research programme

Payment Details
The total fee is £2,000 (inclusive of all materials, expenses and VAT)
Please Note: Travel and subsistence for attendance at the three group meetings will be paid for by Longhouse separate to the fee.

To Apply
Applicants are requested to include the following:
• Covering letter with full address and contact details
• Recent CV (no longer than two A4 sides)
• Up to 4 printed or digital images of your work
• Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words)

The Expression of Interest should include:
• An outline of your proposed action research idea (based around the theme of Connections as outlined above)
• Your thoughts on how you expect this bursary will impact you and your practice in both the short and long term

Deadline: Friday 17 September

Both post and email applications will be accepted.

To be sent to:
Karl Greenwood, Longhouse, 1 Overend Street, West Bromwich, B70 6EY
Or: Email to: karlgreenwood@multistory.org.uk

Please Note: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an informal interview at the Multistory Offices in West Bromwich – provisional dates for interviews are Tuesday 28 September 2010.