Holding Space - Open Call to Artists

Holding Space is a one-year programme of research and support for eight UK based artists.  Working with curatorial fellow Teresa Cisneros, the group will meet for a series of seminars in London and visit cultural organisations across the UK and Europe including documenta 14. The group will collaborate on research, production and programming for an exhibition that will be held at The Showroom in 2018.  

Running from February 2017 – March 2018, this opportunity will enable artists to research and develop practice, collaborate and connect with new networks, as well as be mentored and supported by artistic and academic professionals. 

All travel, accommodation, meals, research and commissioning fees will be covered. Artists will be expected to make a commitment of up to 3 days per month (including attendance of workshops, site visits and one-to-one sessions).  

Holding Space is a part of a wider programme titled Object Positions, which aims to explore how contemporary cultural structures and culture in the UK have been cultivated from administrative colonial processes. The programme is supported by an advisory group of artists, curators and academics including Andrea Phillips, Barby Asante, Janna Graham, Emily Pethick, Dhanveer Singh Brar and Ben Cranfield.  The project has been made possible by the Arts Council of England’s Change Makers fund. 

To apply for Holding Space please send the following information to [email protected]

CV – 2 pages maximum in PDF format

Short statement – 1000 words max, covering the following: 
An introduction to your practice
Why is this opportunity of interest to you?
How can this opportunity benefit you and your practice?
What would you hope to achieve by taking part in this programme?
How does your practice relate to ideas that are critically engaged with colonialism, cultural equity or decolonial processes?

Examples of practice
9 images max, website, and/or 3 web links max (images/video/sound) include passwords if necessary. 

Eligibility 
UK based, not in University, 5+ years of practicing. 

Deadline – January 19 2017
Interviews: 27 and 30 January 2017 (London or on Skype)
Selected artists informed by 31 January

Programme Start – February 2017