Author: Alan Holligan

The Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary 2010-11 open for entries.

The bursary, now in its fourth year, is available to mid-career disabled or deaf artists working in the field of visual arts. This year’s winner will be given £5,000 and a residency at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. The bursary has firmly established itself as one of the most significant commissioning opportunities for disabled artists in the UK.

Applications are welcomed both from artists who work in a disability or deaf arts context, and from those whose work is not focused on their disability. Email: armb@shapearts.org.uk

The deadline for entries for the competition is Monday 18 October at 10am. For information on how to apply, please visit our website www.shapearts.org.uk.

The annual bursary was set-up in memory of Adam Reynolds, to provide time, space and support for artists to develop their ideas without the pressure to deliver a particular outcome develop their ideas without the pressure to deliver a particular outcome. Adam Reynolds (1959-2005) was a sculptor, curator, teacher and arts advisor. Adam was active in the disability arts sector and generous in his support for other artists, the bursary is offered in the same spirit in which Adam lived and worked. World-renowned sculptor, Antony Gormley is patron of the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary. Gormley says, “Adam was inspirational as an artist and a man – seeing his disability as a strength. This bursary is the most practical and powerful way to continue doing what Adam did to make the possible palpable.

” The Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary 2010-11 is made possible by The Garfield Weston Foundation.

Telford graduate selected for Embassy graduate exhibition.

Opening this weekend at Embassy Gallery ‘Meat Force’ features selected and specially commissioned work of artists who have graduated from the the four Scottish art colleges. This years exhibition, selected by the Embassy committee, features the work of former student Hayley Mathers. Hayley, who was  featured on this site earlier this year, (see Graduate Profiles ETC…) graduated from the Fine Art dept at Edinburgh’s Telford having studied for 2 years on the HND programme.

“My time at Telford provided me with an excellent background in contemporary art which was invaluable in helping me succeed at art college. As well as meeting a great group of people, the HND course built up my confidence and gave me the skills to develop my practice independently and get the most out of my degree.”

Hayley progressed directly into year 2 of the Fine Art Degree course at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee where she gained a 1st Class Honours Degree.

Meat Force opens this Friday  7pm – 9pm at EMBASSY

located in the tower of the Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Pl, Edinburgh, EH8 9SU

The Exhibition runs:

18.09.10 – 03.10.10
open Thursday – Sunday 12-6pm

Art e-Facts 80: David Shrigley, An important message about the arts.

Glasgow based artist David Shrigley has made a short animated film in support of the ‘Save the Arts’ campaign.

The Save the Arts campaign is organised by the London branch of the Turning Point Network, a national consortium of over 2,000 arts organisations and artists dedicated to working together and finding new ways to support the arts in the UK.

The aim of the Save the Arts campaign is to encourage people to sign a petition which will be sent to the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. It points out that it has taken 50 years to create a vibrant arts culture in Britain that is the envy of the world and appeals to the government not to slash arts funding and risk destroying this long-term achievement and the social and economic benefits it brings to all. Source: http://savethearts-uk.blogspot.com/

Find out more, and sign the petition, at savethearts.org.uk


Art e-Facts 79: Victor Pasmore, The Apollo Pavilion, Peterlee.

Victor Pasmores Apollo Pavilion is a reinforced concerete homage to the Apollo moon landing in 1969. The structure spans a small man made lake connecting the two halves of the Sunny Blunts estate in Peterlee, County Durham. Between 1955 and the 1970’s Pasmore was Consulting Director of Urban Design for the Peterlee Development Corporation, collaborating with architects Peter Daniel & Franc Dixon he contributed to the towns spatial arrangements, road system and open spaces as well as the distinctive aesthetic of the housing.

During the 1980’s the Pavilion fell into dis-repair due to lack of funds and became the focus of vandilism and anti-social behaviour. Despite this and in the face of significant critism, Pasmore remained committed to the structure defending it at a public meeting in 1982. In 2009 the Pavilion underwent major restoration including the rebuilding of the stair providing access to the upper level, refurbishment of the light system and restoration of Pasmores original Mural.

www.apollopavilion.info

Budget cuts would devastate the arts, warn theatre and gallery directors: The Guardian

Job losses, widespread closures and damage to audiences and Britain’s reputation would follow, say leading figures

Leading figures in the art world have pleaded yesterday with the government “cut us but don’t kill us” and warned of dire consequences for audiences at home and Britain’s reputation abroad if threatened cuts of 25% are pushed through.

The Arts Council has warned that such cuts over the next four years would mean dropping at least 200 arts organisations out of more than 800 they fund, with the loss of thousands of jobs.

Read the rest of this article from the Guardian here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/jul/15/arts-cuts-budget-letter


This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 13.46 BST on Thursday 15 July 2010. A version appeared on p11 of the Main section section of the Guardian on Friday 16 July 2010. It was last modified at 17.25 BST on Thursday 15 July 2010.