Contemporary Art Festival Conjunction 08 : FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Deadline for Submissions is on the 1st July 5pm
Background
Conjunction 08 is a Contemporary Arts Festival in Stoke-on-Trent and is intended to take place bi-annually. This year's festival will be based on the thematic response to FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE. Stoke-on-Trent is changing, through the organisations involved in this project we want to ensure this is a change for the better, by ensuring that contemporary arts are seen to be at the forefront of redevelopment and regeneration. The key partners are Staffordshire University, The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent City Council, Wren Park and Winning Moves and AirSpace Gallery, http://www.airspacegallery.org/. It is hoped that this project and subsequent bi-annual projects will help engage communities in a rich arts experience.
Artists Brief
FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE, could apply to much of what is considered relevant in the sphere of contemporary art, for this project we wish the artists to examine the theme in ways similar to the following examples, either as a whole or separately.
FANTASTIC: an exploration of environments, in which the division between reality and unreality cannot be distinguished. Or on the other hand an examination of ways in which the divisions are all too clear.
FOUND: Work, which makes use of found, items, detritus, spaces, sounds, comments and imagery. The theme could also explore ways in which people find themselves, their response to the environment in which they find themselves, or perhaps on a level more close to enlightenment than experience.
FAKE: Subverting the everyday, disturbing that which is truthful and expected, this could be the subversion of commonplace objects, the replication and replacement of these objects in order to disturb or entertain an audience. We are looking for a diverse range of work, and media, which will be considered on the availability of suitable venues and the quality of work proposed. Role of the Artist The Artists will be expected to create works based on FANTASTIC, FOUND and FAKE, the artwork can be in any art form but must be contemporary in its nature.
The majority of Artists will be expected to install their work towards the end of October 2008 ready for the Festival in November. With additional activities scheduled to be developed and installed during the duration of the festival. The Artists may also be asked to give a presentation of their work to the local community and University groups. If you need support or advice before you submit a proposal regarding sites, venues, or any other aspect of the project please contact the Conjunction team on 01782 261221 or email [email protected]
GUIDELINES FOR ARTISTS
What we are looking for Artists will be expected to create works that respond to the above theme in any artform, that can be delivered in November 2008. But we are particular interested in artists that work with found objects, photography, or operate with an inter-disciplinary approach such as music and art. We are looking for artists that work within a certain budget (see below). Notes on the separate Commissions Currently the intention of the core group is to commission a range of projects; two projects up to £8,000 (two at £4000), and a number of small projects in the range £500 - £1000 , and we will be seeking to commission from Students at the lower range £250 -£500. It should be borne in mind that these are guidelines not ceilings and that value for money will be a consideration. Please note that these commissions are based on successful funding bids Proposals
Artists should create proposals that details: . The project idea - your vision, what you expect to create, the process that will be used to achieve this and who will be involved (artists/ participants) and how it response to the theme.
where the work will be created/ sited/ distributed/ exhibited (please see venues for details) . An indicative budget- what proportion of the budget is to be spent on artists' fees and how much on other expenses .
Images, artists should supply images as jpegs and there should be a selection of no more than 5 images to represent your practice. .
DVD's - artists submitting films/vidoes should save their film in a PAL format or as MPEG, the film should be no more than 10 minutes long .
Artists must supply a press statement that represents the work they are thinking of submitting (no more than 50 words please) Venues The Event will contain venues that are suitable for films, photography, installations, sculpture, sound art, music, performances and prints. Other temporary spaces and non-gallery sites (as appropriate to specific artists' proposals) around the city centre (Hanley) will also be considered Artists are advised to visit Stoke-on-Trent if they prefer to work within a particular area of the city or if they wish to seek their own venues and are advised to do this through AirSpace.
Deadline for Submissions is on the 1st July 5pm, artists
will be notified by the 12th July. We cannot return submissions.
