NAN

In March 2010, Leeds based artists collective Black Dogs was granted a NAN Go and See bursary to establish a network with artists from Nottingham, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh and London  for research and development. Artists’ Networks Coordinator Emilia Telese talks to Yvonne Carmichael of Black Dogs about the bursary and its impact on the group:

ET: Yvonne, tell us about Black Dogs.

YC: We are an artist collective based in Leeds. Our members include artists, musicians, academics, cultural workers, curators and general doers, additional members vary on a project-to-project basis. We have produced various exhibitions, events, multiples, publications, public interventions and community projects since our inception in 2003.

ET: What did you want to achieve through your NAN bursary?

YC: We initiated a 'Free Art School Project' and hosted a series of free presentations, seminars and critique sessions in which artists from across Leeds and beyond will share practice and ideas.  It created a 'space for debate' and helped to fill a gap in provision in the city which has been identified by various forums, meetings, consultations, and within Black Dogs' own experience over recent years. The 'Lab' brought a wide and varied range of creative people to Leeds. The bursary covered travel expenses for visiting artists to Leeds. The Black Dogs Lab held a series of invite-only lectures and intensive critiques and workshops with these invitees who have been selected because of their relationship with members of the project and their appropriate knowledge and experience to the aims of the 'Lab' as a whole.

ET: What did you find out during your project?

YC: The project provided a valuable opportunity to create a space for discussion in Leeds and also the budget to invite people we were of and keen to meet. It has allowed Black Dogs as a collective to become more outward looking and to learn about different models of collaboration and collective working. It has helped to facilitate and contribute to critical debate in Leeds.  It has helped the group reflect on our own ways of working and philosophies.

ET: What do you think will be the effect of your NAN bursary for your group in the long term?

YC: It has helped to raise the profile of Black Dogs as we have acted as hosts for national artists who we hope to continue a relationship with. We hope as a result of the bursary to conduct more projects outside of Leeds and be part of critical discussions in other cities.

ET: Thank you Yvonne!

See Black Dogs' NAN profile on http://www.a-n.co.uk/nan/organisation/33135

First published: a-n.co.uk December 2010