Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, Iniva, S1 Artspace, Spike Island and Studio Voltaire, invite applications from artists for Syllabus IV; a collaboratively produced alternative learning programme in its fourth year that will support ten artists across ten months.
Starting in September 2018, the curriculum for Syllabus IV will be built around a series of six intensive gatherings, which the ten selected artists will collaboratively develop with curators and artists who work with the partner organisations alongside two external Artistic Advisors. This year artist Sonya Dyer and curator Helen Nisbet will be the Artistic Advisors. The participating artists will bring forward ideas to the programme and actively contribute to its design and delivery across the ten months.
Syllabus IV aims to reach artists with a range of practices and artistic approaches and bring together individuals from across the UK. We are particularly keen to support applicants who have not yet had access to similar programmes. These include artists with Black, Asian or minority ethnic heritage, those who are facing barriers due to difficult socio-economic situations, and artists who identify as LGBTQI+ or have disabilities. We ask applicants to make this clear when applying, if applicable.
If you would like to know more about the Syllabus, we will have drop-in sessions available on the following dates and locations:
Thursday 12 April, 6.30–8pm – Eastside Projects, 122 Fazeley St, Birmingham B5 5RS
Thursday 12 April, 6.30–8pm – Iniva, Stuart Hall Library, 1 Rivington Pl, London EC2A 3BA
Saturday 14 April, 2–4pm – Twenty One, Unit 21 Pier Approach, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2EH
Thursday 19 April, 6–8pm – Outpost, 10b Wensum Street, Norwich NR3 1HR
Monday 23 April, 2-4pm – S1 Artspace, 21-24 South St, Sheffield S2 5QX
Tuesday 24 April, 6.30–8pm – Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6UX
PEOPLE
The individuals and organisations who will collaborate with the Syllabus IV artists, and who will be involved across the ten months, are Ruth Claxton, Eastside Projects; Melanie Keen, Stephanie Moran and Simina Neagu, Iniva; Laura Clarke, S1 Artspace; Nicola Wright and Jenny Cooper, Studio Voltaire; Vanessa Boni, Spike Island; John Bloomfield and Chelsea Pettitt, Wysing Arts Centre.
Previous iterations of Syllabus have involved contributions from a wide range of artists, writers and curators and applicants to Syllabus IV will have the opportunity to access similar networks. Contributing practitioners have included Barby Asante, Ruth Beale, Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, Celine Condorelli, Nav Haq, Nadia Hebson, Anthea Hamilton, Andy Holden, Shama Khanna, Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Mark Leckey, Richard Long, Sofia Niazi, Katrina Palmer, Holly Pester, Rory Pilgrim, Rosalie Schweiker, Cally Spooner, Richard Wentworth, Jonathan P. Watts, Keith Wilson, DM Withers and Rehana Zaman. We’ve received additional input and support from John Akomfrah, Benedict Drew, Kathy Noble, Eddie Peake, Marinella Senatore, Yinka Shonibare and Mike Sperlinger and have arranged visits to the Athens Biennial and Glasgow International. Artists Andy Holden, Milly Thompson, Jesse Darling, Harold Offeh and curator George Vasey have led the Syllabus as Artistic Advisors in previous years, engaging with and supporting participating artists over the course of the programme.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The programme will be structured around a series of gatherings at the partner venues which all participants will be required to attend. Some of these will last up to four days, whilst others may be shorter and they will be hosted in a variety of locations across the UK. During the first retreat, artists and individuals connected to the partner organisations and the Artistic Advisors will collaborate with participating artists to identify broad thematics. They will collaboratively devise and structure a curriculum that will support individual and collective artistic development and provide access to networks and knowledge.
During periods between the gatherings, materials will be made available through a shared online resource, and the Artistic Advisors will support and advise participating artists through a series of planning sessions and 1-2-1 conversations over the course of the programme.
Artists will benefit from:
PROGRAMME TIMETABLE*
*Note that these dates are currently provisional and are subject to change after further discussion with the participating artists
20-23 Sep 2018 – Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire
A four-day retreat, with onsite shared accommodation and food provided, that will introduce everyone who will be involved in Syllabus IV to one another. Led by the Syllabus Associate Artists this gathering will enable selected artists, curators and programmers from the partner organisations, to come together, share practice and begin collaboratively planning the curriculum for Syllabus IV.
7-9 December 2018 – Spike Island, Bristol
1-3 February 2019 – Studio Voltaire, London
26-28 April 2019 – S1 Artspace, Sheffield
7-9 June 2019 – Iniva, London
1-4 August 2019 – Eastside Projects, Birmingham
COSTS
The Syllabus represents an investment of around £5,000 in each artist from the partner organisations. We have secured Arts Council England funding to cover most of these costs in 2018/19. The cost to each participating artist is £500 which can be paid in monthly instalments. Additional costs to participants will include travel and some accommodation which is estimated at an additional £600 per person for the whole programme. Efforts will be made to ensure that low cost rail fares and accommodation can be booked well in advance. The partners are happy to write letters of support for participants who wish to make applications for professional development or travel grants. We also hope to be able to secure funding to offer one or two artists bursaries to cover costs, aimed at artists in difficult socio-economic circumstances. If you would like to be considered for this, please make this clear in your application and outline your specific situation.
Here are links to some funders who have supported previous participants:
– Arts Council England Research and Development Grants
– Creative Scotland Open Project Funding
– Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please provide:
The deadline for applications is 12 midnight Monday 7 May. Interviews for The Syllabus will take place the first week of June.
