In early 2021 we were pleased to announce a new partnership with Merseyside Arts Foundation who, through their project work funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Workers Educational Association. This projects outcome was to support aspiring and practicing creatives across two different demographics. Fund #1 supported those aged 16 - 24 and Fund #2 supporting those aged 18+ and currently not in employment, economically inactive (can be self-employed but not currently bringing in full time income) or not currently in education.
As part of the partnership we created ten spaces (5 on each fund) for Merseyside based visual artists to work with Convenience Gallery, offering supportive investment for future and critical development. This took shape in the form of one to one support sessions with the CG team and either £150 or £300 from a development fund paid direct to service providers for each successful applicant, depending on which fund was accessed.
This was a fantastic opportunity for us to understand the wide needs of visuals artists across the area and work as a support team to help with the development of personalised and specific plans. We want to see our support do real and measurable good across the local creative community thought this collaborative development fund.
We delivered two fund rounds for local creative offering tailored support from both partners and financial support for essential equipment, training, development or services.
Fund 1: supported creative aged 18-24 - Young people
Fund 2: supported creative 18+ who were currently unemployed and not in education.
Creatives supported by this programme:
- Freddy Francke
- Jon Edgley
- Nil00
- Helen Songa
- Nicole Stiff
- JDOG
- Kate Doran
- Reece Griffiths
- Ollie C
- Tillo Design
- Meg MoonFlower
As part of this support we did a small intervention/installation with Nicole Stiff Called Ladies & Gentleman of the Jury, we do not deserve a single moment of your time. Which you can see more about below. We also went on to exhibit and work with all but 2 of these in future. With Nil00, Reece and Jon all working on solo exhibitions.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury We Do Not Deserve a Single Moment of Your Time!
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury We Do Not Deserve a Single Moment of Your Time!
As art of our support with Nicole Stiff we are helping with the distribution of their latest collaborative work.
We are excited to announce Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury We Do Not Deserve a Single Moment of Your Time! The film by @nicolestiff and @paricebowyer will be premiering in a screening event on May 1st.
To get involved, pre-order a free limited edition DVD by filling out our Google form, link in bio. As a series of performances framed as a film, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury explores performance in relation to camera. The pair have delved into the world of Absurdism, entangling their practices as a means to challenge notions of performance, in a time where traditional methods cease to function. Nicole’s performances echo the destructiveness and violence of Vienesse Actionism, as her autodiegetic character spirals out into existential crisis.
The script, written by writer Kaylen Forsyth and voiced by James Ockenden, is inspired by Kafka’s The Trial and provides the spiralling narrative of the piece, once combined with the piano accompaniment from artist Carys Kilduff. The vast range of influences, from existential texts to contemporary screenplays, speaks of a wider narrative and the prevailing conversation of being defined by the media we consume and its distortion on our world view.