Artist Development Programme
Our Artist Development Programme offers a wide range of opportunities for artists in different stages of their career. Please check below for application deadlines, eligibility and criteria for each of the opportunities.
Most opportunities are only available to Somerset Art Works Artist Members.
Artist Development Programme 2023-26
Somerset Art Works will be continuing as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation for 2023-26. This will enable us to carry on with our Artist Development Programme. A number of opportunities are now open for our artist members, including Creative Pathways Bursary, Pair-up Bursary and one-to-one advisory sessions. More will be announced in the coming months, please see our monthly Newsletter for details.
Our priorities
We are committed to supporting our artist community at the core of our work. However, with limited resources and ongoing challenges, we have decided to make a few adjustments to our Artist Development programme in order to ensure our work is accountable.
Our upcoming programme for 2023 aims to provide a ‘head-start’ for those who are disadvantaged. We will make a stronger case for the potential mid/long-term impact on the career path of beneficiaries through our Bursary Programme (Creative Pathways & PAIR UP). 30% of our members are from low-income backgrounds, ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled and neurodivergent groups and without an art-related degree. Therefore, we will prioritise those who have not been reached in the previous programme, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, including those who identify as D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds or living or working in areas of socio-economic deprivation, sole carer for elderly parents and children, and those who experience discrimination.
Alongside that, we continue to focus on developing a stronger artist community between all members from all backgrounds through a programme focusing on peer support, networking and collaboration, including Somerset Reacquainted.
Within the context of our funding priorities, we are directly responding to our focus on Environmental Responsibility. We would like to work with our artistic community to develop best practice in this area, whether it is about the use of materials, the approach, the message of your work, or issues that artists wish to contribute to the conversation locally, nationally or globally. Somerset Art Works has become one of a growing number of arts organisations and individuals who have declared a climate and ecological emergency via the Culture Declares movement. To find out more: https://somersetartworks.org.uk/2021/10/culture-declares
THE LATEST
Somerset Reacquainted (Re)View
A new programme of Somerset Reacquainted to connect Somerset artists through shared purpose, action and responsibility.Creative Pathways Bursaries
Bursary places for 4 artists in the early stages of their career, including group learning, mentoring and £500 to take part in Art Weeks Festival/Open Studios event. (Application now open, Deadline 28 March 2024)Pair-up Bursary
Application Deadline: Amount: Between £250-£500 Number of places: 6-8 each year until 2026One-to-one Advisory Sessions
Free for all SAW members, 1 hour one-to-one advisory session with our Artist Development Manager Zoe Li, to find ways of sustaining your artistic practice by identifying your strengths and creating opportunities.PREVIOUS PROGRAMME
The followings are the events and activities in the past years since 2018.
Supporting artists through the impact of Covid-19 Pandemic between 2019-22, we put together an extensive programme, including Somerset Reacquainted, Get Together, Get Going and Get Ready, providing much-needed networking, showcasing, training and advisory services for more than 150 artists across our membership.
‘This past year, as a newly re-engaged member, I’ve gained a real appreciation for SAW’s efforts as artist advocate. The quality of discourse combined with sincere care for members is a meaningful combination that I think contributes to the strong sense of community. The SAW team goes to great lengths to help impact our practices as members, fostering a supportive environment to take risks and grow. I have felt invited, nudged, challenged, and seen – all in ways that support my growth and development as a practitioner and as part of a broader community. ‘
Somerset Reacquainted
‘Somerset Reacquainted’ started during the 1st Lockdown and evolved as a platform for research and critical dialogues for Somerset artists, as part of our Artist Development Programme.AGM and (Re)Connect Symposium
Friday 1st December 2023, 2-5pm Langport Town Hall Limited to 35, booking essential, first come first served. Book your place here Following the SAW AGM (more details on this to follow), we would like invite you to join the ...Somerset Art Weeks 2022: Micro-commissions
7 artists/artist collectives in Somerset were selected through an open call to make new work that responds to the Somerset Art Weeks 2022 theme 'Sanctuary'. Their projects include installation, performance and participatory events, in a diverse range of media such as sound, moving images, photography and live art.SAW Greening Art Project
SAW Greening Art Project - Workshop with Fiona Campbell 22nd April 2022 (Earth Day) The workshop investigated artists’ environmental responsibilities, looking at key concepts of Climate Change and the role of the arts: how we can make ...Socially Engaged Arts Training Sessions
This course takes participants through a series of practical, creative exercises with discussion and reflection looking at: what is socially engaged art, the role of a facilitator in a socially engaged context, planning workshops, leading a ...SAW Creative Workshop Programme
Creative Workshop Programme We are delighted to present a series of creative workshops funded by Somerset Skills & Learning. Led by artists from our Artist Development Programme and in collaboration with venues across Somerset, the workshops offer ...Artist Development Weekly Digest
For early 2021, weekly update following each of our sharing meetings, including discussions, artist projects, opportunities and the latest on Artist Development Programme.Get Together artist talks series
In the coming weeks, our online event Get Together brings you presentations by artist Rona Lee, Tracey Warr and Lotte Scott. Each artist talks about their work in relation to places and materials; from feminist ...‘Get Going’ Programme for Artists
A new programme designed to support Somerset artists, helping them plan, build and recover from the impact of Covid-19. Focusing on: - Finding the core purpose and value of their role as an artist - Strengthening the connection with their peers and audiences - Developing resilience, sustaining artistic practices and creating opportunities All events below will take place via Zoom. Please click the link below for detail of each event and book.GET READY: New online events for artists
We are very excited to announce a series of online events taking place every Thursday 2-3.30pm starting on the 23 July! They will cover digital marketing and profiling your work, ready for different online platforms, ...Somerset Reacquainted 2020-22
‘Somerset Re-acquainted’ is a creativity-in-isolation project for SAW members starting in May 2020 during the 1st lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic. The project responds to the current unique period of isolation and a renewed proximity to nature, locality and community, encouraging artists to explore new approaches to capturing encounters with nature in their own locality.Project Development Bursary for Artist
Application deadline: Programme closed. Bursary Amount: £500. Number of places: 4 each year. A bursary for mid-career artists to develop their projects, including group learning, mentoring, fundraising and a £500 cash to support research and development activities. Types of ...Support for Artist-led initiative & Co-learning Event
In order to strengthen the connection between individual artists working in contemporary art in Somerset, 4 places are offered each year for artists or artist-led groups to develop an artist co-learning event, such as crit ...BACKGROUND
Somerset Art Works is an arts development agency, evolving from the ‘Art Weeks’ event which was established in 1994. This artist-led organisation first set out to provide showcase opportunities for artists, attracting more than 350 artist members in 2007 and it has continued to grow in recent years to include other organisations, groups, schools and businesses. With a growing number of artists in Somerset, we recognise the need to develop and profile high-quality work for audiences, in order to sustain a viable artistic economy in the county.
In 2010, Creative Pathways a bursary programme for professional development, was launched with support from Friends of Somerset Art Works and Arts Council England Lottery Funding. Each selected artist received benefit of free membership, free entry to the Art Weeks event and a bursary to cover mentoring, materials, travelling and showcasing new works at the Art Weeks events. Over thirty artists have been involved in the Creative Pathways programme so far.
In 2017, we delivered Prospectus, a pilot programme to look at learning for artists. Together with the Artists’ Development Day, which gathered feedback from more than 30 artist members. We are now able to continue providing a number of different development opportunities for artist members from 2018 onward, since we became part of our commitment as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
CONTACT
The Artist Development Programme is managed by Zoe Li, Programme Associate of Somerset Art Works, supported by Creative Director Carol Carey and the Somerset Art Works Board. For all enquiries in relation to the programme, please contact Zoe by email [email protected]
In this section:
- Pair-up Bursary
- Artist Development Weekly Digest
- Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2024 Micro-commissions
- Somerset Art Weeks 2022: Micro-commissions
- Project Development Bursary
- One-to-one Advisory Sessions
- ‘Get Going’ Programme for Artists
- ‘Mind the Gap’ Learning Circle for artists
- ‘Managing Your Creative Career’ Workshop
- ‘Get Going’ Marketing Workshops for Artists
- PAIR UP : Collaboration & Mentoring Bursary
- Creative Pathways Bursaries 2022
- Creative Pathways Bursaries
Latest news
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Unleash Your Creativity at The Stitching 4 All Show! This spring, the Stitching 4 All show returns to Westpoint Arena from Thursday, April 4th to Saturday, April 6th. This year’s […]
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Craftsmanship along the Silk Road KAZAKHSTAN | 2nd – 15th June 2024 “The thing I love about Central Asia is that they haven’t lost the traditional skills. Tiles, textiles, metalwork, printing, painting, […]
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We’re looking to commission 5-7 artists/artist collectives in Somerset to make new work that responds to the Festival theme “Landscape – Flux and Flow”! We are calling artists in Somerset […]
Stitching 4 All Show
[Friday, March 1, 2024]
Craftsmanship along the Silk Road
[Tuesday, February 27, 2024]
Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2024 Micro-commissions
[Tuesday, February 27, 2024]