We are now looking for proposals from artists, individuals and collaborative groups, for projects responding to Fell House, Wakefield, an office building formerly occupied by West Yorkshire Police. We are interested in ideas that engage with the specific location in the sense of its geography, architecture, history or social context. The building has three floors of potential project space, including a basement garage area and large open plan offices. The top floor and part of the basement are in use as artists’ studios. Proposals are invited that make use of the space as a site for production, social interaction, site specific installations and/or exhibition. The residency will run over Wakefield Artwalk in November 2014, with the opportunity for a public event as part of the Artwalk.

Sights in Site: Space for Artists

Since 2011 The Art House has been bringing new creative life to empty offices, shops and other unused commercial buildings. We have taken on vacant spaces across Wakefield, bringing the city alive with art and artists, giving them the chance to experiment, respond to a site and reach new audiences.

Sights in Site aims:

·         Encourage the regeneration of unused commercial spaces through creative activity
·         Support the production of work in response to particular physical and/or social contexts
·         Support new artwork that engages with audiences outside traditional cultural settings
·         Encourage audiences to engage with locations that might otherwise be unused 
·         Reach audiences that might not otherwise enter a cultural venue

Recent projects under the Sights in Site scheme include a residency in a city centre shop by Kate Genever and Steve Pool of Poly-Technic, during which time they made a series of video works for their Poly Vision YouTube channel, asking members of the Wakefield public to share their everyday ‘know how’. The works were projected onto the side of Wakefield Cathedral during December 2013. In October 2013 artists’ Collective, Corner 165, turned an empty shop into a temporary Art Club, running a range of workshops and events, from life drawing to poetry readings for the public.

Information on past Sights in Site projects and other residencies projects can be found on our Residency blog http://thearthouseuk.tumblr.com/

Fell House 

Fell House is a building that could exist in any city in the country. In essence it is an anonymous looking ‘private’ building, with little indication outside of the activity inside, past or present. We would like proposals that make this space public, invite people in, explore the identity of such spaces and look at their function in a changing economic and social landscape.

The Art House has use of the building on a temporary basis and no changes to the fabric of the building will be possible. Temporary works that are visible from the outside are possible subject to permissions from the owner of the property and local authority, as required.

Budget:

£1500 to include all fees, material, travel and other expenses.  We encourage project proposals where this support is used as match funding towards an Arts Council England Grants for the Arts small scale funding application for the project.  The Art House is able to offer successful applicants wishing to apply for other sources of funding advice on draft applications prior to the residency period.

Additional Support:

Mentoring and funding advice

Time Frame: 

10 - 12 day residency to take place over 3 weeks in November 2014. (with public event scheduled for Artwalk 26 November 2014). The residency period can be extended for longer, as appropriate to the project and subject to artists raising additional funding. If you would like to propose a longer residency please indicate this is in your project outline.

• Deadline for Applications -  29 June 2014
• Selected artists informed – 21 July 2014
• Support to submit G4A application as appropriate  - August, submit by 1 September
• Residency to take place over min 10 days during November 2014

How to Apply:

Please use the 'Make a Submission' link to apply for the residency.  Please include in your application information about

• The work you intend to make
• How you will engage with an audience
• How the work relates to that site /context
• Any additional support you will require 
• A draft budget

About The Art House

The Art House supports artists to develop their practice, reach new audiences and to work with organisations involved in the arts. We focus on innovating and extending equality in the visual arts for disabled and non-disabled artists. We provide a portfolio of opportunities including residencies, exhibitions, training, membership and 121 advice. We are based in purpose built artists’ studio facility in central Wakefield and a manage a number of temporary studio and project spaces around the district of Wakefield. 

We have a national membership base and work with all visual artists, both disabled and non-disabled, in the development of their professional practice and the realisation of their creative ambitions. This work is as varied as the artists' ambitions. It includes mentoring, coaching, residencies, information, exhibition and teaching opportunities.

www.the-arthouse.org.uk

Wakefield Artwalk

Wakefield Artwalk is a bimonthly arts festival currently spanning 20 venues across the city. Exhibition  and event spaces range from the traditional art gallery space, through to historic buildings, cafes, bars, retail outlets and more. Each venue programmes their own event and opens their doors to the public from 5 – 9pm. It is always programmed for the last Wednesday of every month, starting in January each year. Visitors are free to choose their own route around the walk and the number of venues they wish to visit. Details of events are published on the Artwalk website.

Since the first event in 2008 Artwalk has become a popular, successful and regular part of the cultural scene in Wakefield. An alternative night out for those living and working in the area and neighbouring districts, the Artwalk attracts a broad spectrum of society and celebrates the arts in an informal and accessible way. From children to adults, members of the general public through to professional artists, it’s about bringing grassroots art activity to the fore and creating a sense of community.

www.artwalk.org.uk

Fell House Property details:

Location: George Street Wakefield

Size: 2,789sq ft to 12,793sq ft

A 3/4 storey detached office building close to Wakefield city Centre and Wetsgate Station.

Offering generally open plan accommodation on 3 upper office floors with stoarge or additional office space at Lower Ground level.