Since 2012, AirSpace has been running an annual Graduate residency scheme, which looks to target a problem with Graduate retention in the city whilst also offering an opportunity for new graduates from outside Stoke-on-Trent to come and work here, in a new city.
Each year we offer a graduate from Staffordshire University's Fine Art course and a graduate from one of the the UK's many and varied fine art courses, a 6 month residency which comprises free individual studio space, monthly mentoring meetings with both Gallery staff, and independent external artists. There is a continual focus on professional development support, with help to access funding and encouragement and opportunity to exhibit outside the Gallery. Finally, each graduate is offered two exhibiting opportunities - a mid residency, interim short run exhibition, either in the Gallery window or in our Resource Room, and then a culminative solo exhibition in the main gallery space. The all important solo is delivered with full backing from the Gallery ( technical, marketing and promotion) and also with the assistance and mentoring curatorial support of a practising artist selected through conversation with the Graduate.
We can point to some real success stories since our programme started - as residents have gone on to continue and progress successful arts practices.
At this link you can meet each of our residents so far and see what they've been upto since their time with us. And in the next post meet the 2017/18 residents, Amy-Lou Matthews and Natasha Brzezicki
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