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Emerge Borough Events 2005

Emerge was set up in 2005 to support artists in outer London Boroughs through offering professional development and networking opportunities.

At the original conference launching the project, artists were asked for their ideas for future, smaller events that would take place in each Borough.  These events then focused on a range of topics including Marketing, Fundraising and Public Art.

The format was to invite not only professionals in particular fields, but also to hear from peers in the Emerge network and to use the opportunity of regular meetings to discuss new projects and to provide new routes into a range of arts professions and projects. 

Events included:
Funding Your Work, University of Westminster, Harrow
This presentation and discussion focused on the major funding scheme for individual artists, Arts Council England’s ‘Grants for the Arts’, through a detailed breakdown of how to apply.  Harrow Visual Arts Forum presented their experiences of setting up and maintaining a support network for artists.   Mark Wilsher, artist and curator and Fine Art Alumni Network coordinator talked about his own approach to getting projects off the ground and led a tour of the exhibition ‘After Art School’ at London Gallery West on the University campus.

Marketing Your Work, The Chocolate Factory, Haringey
Informal discussion and workshop event to help artists focus on their existing networks, how to expand them and how to set and achieve goals as a practitioner.  Brent artist David Blandy gave a very informative and accessible talk about his career to date, including his approach to promoting and marketing his work, and how he secures exhibitions.  Arts Consultant Sarah Thelwall facilitated a discussion around a new networking ‘game’ that drew out artists’ existing connections and created a path for future development.

Working in Public Art, Patidar House, Brent
This event included perspectives from artists just starting out in the field, commissioners and professionals with a wide variety of experience and expertise.  Isabel Vasseur, Director of public art agency ArtOffice talked about some of the projects she has managed and how the art form has changed since pioneering the public art movement in the UK.  Abi Palmer, Arts Development Officer, Brent Council, introduced new opportunities and commissions for the area and invited artists to apply.  Binita Walia, artist, shared her experiences; not only of how to produce commissions for public settings, but also offering invaluable tips on how to secure the contracts, from application form to interview.

Working in Arts Education
Bringing together artists and commissioners, this event discussed issues around commissioning art work, combining an arts practice with art in education, and experiences of getting started in working in educational settings.  Guest speakers were Janice McLaren, Projects Organiser at The Photographers' Gallery who has initiated unique one off projects with photographic artists.  Artist Faisal Abdullah, who has completed education projects with the Serpentine Gallery and many other public galleries, and Othello De-Souza, photographer who has worked closely with schools and been commissioned through The Photographers’ Gallery.  The informal event provided an opportunity for artists to hear from each other, including an update from some of the groups formed at the Emerge conference.