Students

Surpassing your time during studies requires foresight. How do you maintain criticality whilst validating your practice out with immediate peer groups? How do you locate existing networks beyond the cities you’re used to? Here we identify ways of gaining mentorship and securing networks that work for you.

a-n blogs, Critical Writing Collective, DIY Educate

The a-n blogs: editors as mentors and blogs as self-generating machines

Blogs are a form of show and tell; each post offers a formula to approach new ways of representing your work through writing, film and documented image. Since its beginnings Degrees unedited has offered a platform to extend critical networks throughout your degree. But what happens when you graduate? Do you all of a sudden cease to be involved with periods of research and does the 'real world' have to get in the way? 

a-n makes sure the 'editorial' focus is on individuating practices as both Degrees unedited and Artists talking, with their own online editors, pick topical and insightful blogs out from the crowd. Interviews and profiles - likened to tutorials - are conducted with bloggers on both sites offering the artist an opportunity to shed light on the inner workings of their practice, its validity within an online art community and its applicability from region to region.

By mixing journalism with the unedited aspect of the blogs, and conjoining the voice of the editor with that of the artist, Students community also runs Graduate interviews that facilitate artists and post-graduate students in using Artists talking to forward their research and ideas.

a-n.co.uk/degrees_unedited »
a-n.co.uk/artists_talking »

Critical Writing Collective: writing at the fore

Extending networks post-graduation relies upon working succinctly with critical review. Critical Writing Collective (CWC), co-founded by Leeds based writer Joanna Loveday and Sheffield based artist Charlotte A Morgan, are an editorial body based in Yorkshire. Both Loveday and Morgan, who use text within their own work, encourage the constructing of criticality within the region tying together inter-city activity and networks. They are currently looking at supporting mentorships for graduates and students interested in pursuing critical writing within their working practice.

What's more is that Networking Artists' Network have awarded CWC a 'Go and see' bursary for a period or research in to how other networks are activated beyond Yorkshire. So as a group they are testing the ground, and as a graduate or student its important you're aware of such organisations, the existing networks therein and the level of research that enables their functioning as a group.

CWC are also interested in writing that is synonymous with and supportive or critical of visual art practice, and the placing of this in to the critical sphere. Thematic and curated publications are in the pipeline too, so keep your eye out for how you can get involved.

criticalwritingcollective.wordpress.com »

DIY Educate at Core Gallery: do it yourself with the guidance of others

Led by RCA graduate and satellite board member of AIR (Artists' Interaction Representation) Rosalind Davis, Core Gallery's DIY Educate programme in Deptford, London, looks past academic definition and realises professionalism within prospective networks and creative structures, such as studio groups, artist-led galleries and workshop programmes. A variety of different and creative events match the increasing variety of artists practicing today, acknowledging the misplacing of student achievement during academia, locating it instead within a new peer-led environment. 

'Show and Tell' is a strand of events initiated by Core Gallery in tandem with their existing DIY Educate programme funded by the Fenton Arts Trust. Five different events including talks, peer critiques, studio visits, workshops and one-to-one crits are, as Davies describes; "aimed at supporting recent graduates and early-career artists within the first five years of graduating - often a vulnerable time when new artists risk becoming isolated."

What's more is their allocated funding from Fenton Arts Trust has allowed Core Gallery to offer a subsidised membership offer to students and artists within a year of their graduation. London, especially East and South East, is a hotspot for new artists to germinate their practice and grab at opportunity: but isolation happens to everyone and Core Gallery's programme seems an answer to that.

www.coregallery.co.uk/show-and-tell »

Richard Taylor

Richard is an artist/writer living in Edinburgh and online editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk April 2011