Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley has lent his support to an arts bursary that gives deaf and disabled artists the opportunity to develop their work.

The artist is the new patron of the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary, which is run by the disability led arts charity, Shape.

Adam, who had muscular dystrophy, was a successful sculptor, teacher and curator, and the bursary was set up by his friends and family following his death in 2005.

Antony said: "Adam was inspirational as an artist and a man - seeing his disability as a strength, and always open to new experiences and new expression.

"This bursary is the most practical and powerful way to continue doing what Adam did to make the possible palpable."

Tony Heaton, chief executive officer at Shape, said: "We are delighted that Antony Gormley has accepted our invitation to be the patron of the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary.

"Antony knew Adam and his work well. His quote very much sums up the nature and growing importance of the bursary.

"Shape is proud to continue to promote this wonderful opportunity for disabled artists to work in such prestigious places as Camden Arts Centre, the Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool and currently with Spike Island in Bristol."

The bursary offers disabled artists £5,000 towards materials or living expenses, a residency and support and advice from Shape.

The current recipient of the bursary is Aaron Williamson, who began his artistic career in sculpture, but moved into performance and video art.

Aaron's residency will be at contemporary art and design centre Spike Island, throughout spring.

He said: "Now aged 48, I fit the bill as a 'mid-career' artist still seeking and exploring new areas and ideas.

"The Adam Reynolds Bursary at Spike Island will allow me to continue this process of exploration and discover ways in which to revitalise my artistic work."

Shape is a disability-led arts organisation working to improve access to culture for disabled people. It develops opportunities for disabled artists, trains cultural institutions to be more open to disabled people, and runs participatory arts and development programmes.

For more information about the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary and Shape visit www.adamreynoldsbursary.org.uk or www.shapearts.org.uk.


Antony Gormley, who has become patron of the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary, run by the disability arts charity, Shape. The bursary aims to give deaf and disabled artists the opportunity to develop their work.

 

The DPS Will be at
Focus on Imaging
7th to 10th March - NEC Birmingham
click here for more details

Unlimited is a new £1.5 million UK-wide disability arts commissioning fund being run as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The aim of the fund is to commission new work that is artistically led by disabled people.

Grants of between £25,000 and £50,000 are available to disabled and Deaf artists, and disabled and Deaf-led arts organisations, who wish to develop their work, strengthen their artistic practice, challenge perceptions and forge new partnerships with presenting venues and events.

There are two application deadlines for applications. These are the the 1st October 2010 and the 18th April 2011.

For more information, visit: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/unlimited/

Blind young people wanted

 WHEELFEVER INCLUSIVE DANCE WORKSHOPS

'CROSSING TRACKS'  is a weekly program that offers an opportunity for young people with and without to disabilities to work together to develop dance skills in an imaginative ways led by Tonic Project. 

Sessions are running on Fridays - AT TR2 BETWEEN 5 - 7PM ON THE FOLLOWING DATES

MARCH   12TH,  19TH
With 2 more sessions to be confirmed.

For more information please contact

Paula on 01752 367246 or email paula2hocking@talktalk.net
 

The winning entry will win £50 of Amazon vouchers and the design will feature on the Action for Access campaign toolkits. Click here to find out how to enter.
<http://www.LCDisability.org/lists/lt.php?id=ZEoAAAwBBw9OVwEGTwcJAwcB>
 

For the first time artists and arts organisations will be able to apply to Grants for the arts online. This is a major step forward in making the programme more widely accessible and applications as easy as possible. The online process will be simple and user-friendly with drop down guidance to help applicants. The first applications can be submitted online from 1 March 2010.

The new Grants for the arts centre in Manchester will be staffed by highly skilled arts specialists who have a strong knowledge of the arts and close relationships with regional offices. Final decisions will continue to be made by regional offices. The Arts Council is also simplifying the information required for applications of £10,000 or less. Applicants will be asked for a shorter proposal which will allow a quicker decision, within six weeks.

To ensure that the transition from one way of working to the other is as efficient and seamless as possible Grants for the arts will be suspending new applications between Monday 18 January and Friday 26 February. Decisions will continue to be made throughout the transition period. Applicants who might be planning to submit an application during this time are encouraged to submit earlier or later than they were planning to ensure their applications can be assessed in good time. Applicants for £10,000 or less may find it is better to submit their applications later and get a quicker decision using the online process.

More information about the improvements to Grants for the arts is available from
the website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/grantsfortheartschanges
 

A priceless and unique opportunity for you to celebrate Bournemouth’s past, present and future and leave a legacy!
Would you or your organisation like to be a part of Bournemouth’s Bicentenary Celebrations which will take place throughout 2010. Your activity could be an event, initiative or project. It can be a big or small activity for example a carnival, digital initiative, exhibition, festival, publication, research project or workshop.

To be included it just needs to be happening in 2010 and be open to the public.
For advice and information please contact Bournemouth Bi Centenary Project
Supervisor on telephone: 01202 451705 or email her at:
jenny.warwick@bournemouth.gov.uk