Cumbria Museum Consortium in partnership with Signal Film and Media are delighted to announce that applications are now open for SOURCE, their Cumbria Artists Digital Development Lab. A fantastic, free opportunity for Cumbrian based artists who are looking to take their career to the next step, with a focus on how technology and digital media can help develop practice.

The programme will be led by an exciting mix of Cumbrian Cultural Organisations, artists and curators. It will connect, support & develop 8 selected artists at the early-to-mid stages of their career and a wide range of creatives are encouraged to apply.  

Artists will have the opportunity to be partnered with one of the host organisations, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Windermere Jetty Museum, Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum and Signal Film and Media, allowing them time to explore, research and create within the environs of the site and/or in response to their collections.  

Two intensive training labs, hosted at Signal Film & Media, Barrow and the Wordsworth Trust, in Grasmere, will focus on how creative technology or digital media can develop or expand artistic practice. Working together the partnership hopes to create greater impact and networking across Cumbria’s emerging artists and existing cultural venues.

The programme takes place from February to July 2020. Two artists will be paired per host venue and be mentored through creating work in response to the venues programme or collection.  Further workshop sessions will introduce hands-on skills in using creative technology as well as one-to-one portfolio crits designed to support each artist in sustaining a career in working in Cumbria. 

It will also provide a space for conversation and cross-disciplinary exchange, with the aim of nurturing new collaborations amongst the artists involved. The programme will give those selected artists the opportunity to take part in a funded exhibition/intervention in Summer 2020 within their host organisation.

Applications are actively encouraged from artists working within Cumbria and artists who are working in all disciplines, even if they have never worked with technology or digital media before. Travel expenses bursaries are also available. The closing date is midnight, Monday 3rd February 2020 and the programme begins Sat 21st March 2020.