30 January 2020

In 2020, the British Council in partnership with Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire, and Digital Arts Studios, Belfast, will select mid-career artists and creative practitioners to participate in Net//Work residencies.

The Net//Work residencies will offer space for reflection, research, practice, skills exchange and professional networking opportunities focused on digital artistic practices and technologies.

Each 4-week residency is open to mid-career visual artists and creative practitioners based in, or from, the UK, Egypt, Jordan, Syria or Uganda whose practices engage with digital technologies (work that is made or presented using digital technology). The residencies will consist of site visits, independent studio time, group critique, peer-to-peer mentoring and workshops.

At the end of each residency, participating artists will be invited to submit a funding proposal for the creation and/or research and development proposal of an independent and/or collaborative digital work.

We are looking for a diverse range of artists and creative practitioners. Net//Work is a fully accessible programme, and we encourage disabled and/or D/deaf artists and creative practitioners to apply. Access provision and costs will be met in addition to fees.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY PARTNERS

Wysing Arts Centre

Wysing Arts Centre is a thriving cultural campus of ten buildings across an 11-acre rural site in Cambridgeshire which hosts experimental and thematic residencies for UK and international artists and delivers a critically acclaimed public programme of gallery exhibitions and events.

Wysing supports artists to make new work, explore new ways of working and make new collaborations. Residencies have emerged from ongoing artistic enquiry focusing on Wysing’s position at the geographic margins of two major cities, Cambridge and London, and at its origin as a space for artistic experimentation and innovation. Across 2020, Wysing is putting broadcasting and digital technologies at the centre of all its activity.

For more information about Wysing Arts Centre and the programme specifics see the Net//Work guidance notes and: www.wysingartscentre.org

Digital Arts Studios

Digital Arts Studios (DAS) is based in Belfast’s City Centre, in the Cathedral Quarter. Within walking distance of the many distinctive cultural zones of Belfast including the Titanic and Linen Quarters, DAS provides artists with a dynamic central hub from which to work and be inspired by Belfast’s industrial character and heritage.

DAS has hosted hundreds of local and international artists since 2008, attracting a diverse range of artists to its residency. The programme offers support to artists working with digital media and technology from production stage to presentation; providing training during the development of new work and support with problem solving for installation. DAS also delivers an exciting programme of workshops for artists working with new and emerging technologies via the Future Labs Programme.

For more information about DAS, their partner Golden Thread Gallery and the programme specifics see the guidance notes and: www.digitalartsstudios.com and www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk

The deadline for submitting applications is 12:00 midnight (GMT) Monday 24 February 2020.

HOW TO APPLY:

Further details on the Net//Work open call and how to apply can be found in the Net//Work Guidance Notes attachment.

You can complete and submit your online application HERE

Please also complete and submit the anonymised Equality and Diversity Equality Monitoring Form by email to visual.arts@britishcouncil.org

We want to make the application process accessible to all candidates, and welcome application submissions by video. Please see the Net//Work Guidance Notes for further instructions. If you have any questions, please contact: visual.arts@britishcouncil.org

KEY INFORMATION

Artist Grant Fee: £1000

Travel, accommodation, access and subsistence costs will be covered on top of the above

Residency Dates

Residency One: 1 June – 26 June 2020 at Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire

Residency Two: 7 September – 2 October 2020 at Digital Arts Studios, Belfast

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Must be a mid-career artist/creative practitioner with a proven track record of exhibitions or projects. Applicants must be based in, or from, the UK, Egypt, Jordan, Syria or Uganda.

Must submit the application in English. By this we mean written English if you are submitting a written application or spoken English if submitting by video recording.

Provide evidence of English language proficiency (this will be assessed if you are shortlisted, as part of the interview conversation.

Note: We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who use access workers to support their application, such as sign language interpreters, PA support, communication support workers etc. Please submit the format of application which is most accessible to you using your support workers as necessary, to ensure we receive it in proficient written or spoken English.

There is a section in the application where you have the opportunity to let us know about the kind of access support you may require during the residency: this could include a translator to ensure smooth communication in English with the residency host organisation. It is important that you complete this section in order to provide us with the information we need to support you with access, should this be required.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR WITH THIS OPEN CALL?

Applications will be assessed against the three essential criteria outlined above and the two questions below. They will be reviewed by a selection panel, including representatives from the British Council, Wysing Arts Centre and Digital Arts Studios.

Submission of a critical review of your work (at any level and including any links) OR contact details of someone who will support your application (e.g. someone you have worked with, or for, professionally or a tutor, but NOT a family member or friend)

Why you want to participate in this residency, including why you will benefit from working alongside other artists and creative practitioners using digital technologies.

SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL NEED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION BETWEEN 27 FEBRUARY AND 3 MARCH 2020.

If you have any questions, please email visual.arts@britishcouncil.org. We look forward to receiving your applications.