An opportunity for artists and creative practitioners in Derbyshire! A two-month long residency in Derby city. Artcore Gallery is pleased to announce its latest opportunity for two artists looking to hone their skills in drawing and reflect on the role of the medium, both in their individual practices as well as the larger world today.

As human beings, we have always been involved in mark making; traditionally, ritualistically, as a means of recording, expressing as well as communicating with each other. Drawings, be it on the floor, wall, cave, paper or canvas are everywhere. However, they are rarely thought of as works of art. The history of drawing too encompasses the history of drawing as a technique, as secondary to creating the final artwork—a finished painting, sculpture, fresco or manuscript. A marker of artistic ability, drawing was an intermediate practice or a process of unfolding that always pointed to a future. 

The advent of modernism and postmodernism however, changed the way artists perceived the technique. Drawing finally became a medium in its own right and was valued for its immense potential and ability to aid in experimentation, in the face of new media, technologies and concerns. 

More than half a century down the line, our ways of creating are undergoing a rapid change, particularly now as we have shifted to a completely digital era, post-covid. Keeping this in mind, what does it mean to think of the medium today, in contemporary art practice and the larger world?

We are offering each artist

• A bursary of £1000 for exhibition ready work

• A studio space for the duration of the residency

• An opportunity to exhibit the work produced during the residency

• Your very own artist blog

• A chance to deliver talks at the gallery

• Mentoring support throughout the residency

• An e-catalogue of the works you create during the residency

• An option to deliver workshops or participatory projects

• Publicity and marketing support

We would anticipate the artists being present at Artcore for at least three days each week through the residency period. There is no additional budget for travel and accommodation, so artists are required to live within a reasonable travelling distance of Derby, or be able to base themselves in Derby for the residency period.

We welcome applications from artists working in any visual arts discipline, and with a cross-disciplinary practice.

We expect artists to have a commitment to developing their practice, and to engaging in dialogue with the local communities and the wider international contemporary arts and cultural sector.

We welcome artists with an interest in exploring how sharing space and collaborative working can inform the development of their work.

We expect to retain a selection of the artworks produced during the residency to be part of the Artcore collection.

Residency Timetable

• Deadline for submissions – Please send your submissions by midnight on Thursday 9 March

• Announcement of selected artists – Selections will be announced on Friday 17 March

• Residency start date – Monday, 27 March

• Residency end date – Monday, 22 May

• Exhibition dates: Friday, 2 June – Saturday, 15 July

How to apply

Applications should be made through Curatorspace.

You will be asked to provide:

• A proposal detailing the role of drawing in your practice, how you plan to respond to the residency theme, why you would like to take part in this residency, and what you would like to achieve through it, both artistically and in terms of your development as an artist

• A statement describing your overall practice, materials and methods of working

• Curriculum Vitae if you have one

• Visual material directly relating to the proposal such as previous or proposed art work (please either attach images or direct us to specific work you would like us to consider on the web. Please label any images – title, medium, dimensions and year)

About Artcore

Artcore is a visual arts charity located in Charnwood Street, working with communities locally, nationally and internationally. Artcore endeavours to operate as a cultural hub—fuelling active engagement for a diverse range of communities in Derby, the East Midlands and beyond. The gallery’s long-term objective is to use arts and crafts as a vehicle to strengthen community cohesion, educate, raise awareness and provide a platform for development. Through its creative work, Artcore is committed to bringing change into the lives of people of all ages, abilities, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Artcore is also an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Our Location

Derby is a developing visual arts and culture hub, with galleries at QUAD, Derby Museum & Art Gallery, Artcore, a University with Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in the School of Arts, and much DIY activity across the City. Artcore has hosted two annual Visual Arts Summits, and is the lead organisation in supporting the development of Derby’s visual arts ecology. Having recently taken up a large space in the city centre, this residency will use our new building, placing your work in a prominent new visual arts space right in the heart of Derby.