Launchgrad News, Events & Opps w/c 29th June 2020

June 29, 2020

LAUNCHGRAD NEWS

I’d like to formally introduce Lily, who will be working with me on Launchgrad communications. I’m hugely excited by this as she has a wealth of talent and ideas to bring. I’m still going to be around, but I’ll be temporarily focussing on supporting the Equality and Diversity working group in college so HCA can stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement by and pro-actively support equality, diversity and inclusion in a time of huge social change. I will be putting out calls here in Launchgrad from time to time and if any graduates are keen to be involved in this work please email me.

Lily has close ties with the college as she completed her Foundation Diploma here back in 2014. She studied Decorative Arts at Nottingham Trent University and graduated in 2017. She then moved back to Hereford and started at working at HCA on Reception in February 2019. She has a studio space at Artsite3 and is passionate about supporting local artists.

I’m also pleased to give you some advance warning of our move across to the main college website. When this happens we will keep this site running for a while, but our regular blogs will be posted on a special ‘Graduate’ section of the main college site.


BLACK ARTISTS GRANT, CREATIVE DEBUTS

The Black Artists Grant is £500 given out monthly to a black artist in the UK. The BAG is no-strings attached financial support to help the selected artist in whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses. Call for applicants live 1 Jun 2020 — 31 Dec 2020. More details on their website.

THE WESLEYAN FOUNDATION – FUNDING TO SUPPORT POST-COVID ACTIVITY

Registered charities, constituted voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises with an income of less than £500,000 can apply for funding of between £2,000 and £10,000 from The Wesleyan Foundation to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable affected by coronavirus. Funding can be used for a wide range of purposes including consumables, and project or activity costs such as pilot projects, salaries, equipment or volunteer costs. Applications can be made at any time.

THE ART FUND RESPOND AND REIMAGINE GRANTS

The Art Fund is offering Respond and reimagine grants that offer funding from £10,000 to £50,000. These new grants aim to help museums, galleries and cultural organisations respond to immediate challenges connected to the Covid-19 crisis, and offer support to adapt and reimagine ways of working for the future. Round two funding ends 21st September 2020. Read more on their website.


THE GAP – CALL FOR SELF-PORTRAITS WITH THE THEME OF SELF, ISOLATED

Self, Isolated is an open call-out for you to create & submit a portrait of yourself during the lockdown period. Artworks can make use of any visual art medium (painting, drawing, collage, digital art, photography, etc) and we encourage you to imaginatively interpret the task in the way that speaks most to you and your experience. All ages and artistic abilities welcome! More on the website.

THE RED ZENITH COLLECTIVE – CALL OUT – EQUALITY

We want to read, see, hear and experience your work, which responds to the theme EQUALITY. You can submit visual material like photographs, videos, animations, collages, and written work.

We want to hear from women, female-identifying and non-binary people with a connection to Eastern or Central Europe. Your work needs to be in some way linked to Eastern or Central Europe, but this can be a loose interpretation.

The Red Zenith Collective, 2020


NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS – BLACK LIVES MATTER

There are some amazing and comprehensive resources and opportunities on the New Art West Midlands site to support with Black Lives Matter – the page is almost constantly being updated with links and also has a live call for further ideas/information.


CREATIVE DEBUTS – A NEW PLATFORM FOR EMERGING ARTISTS

Creative Debuts is a platform celebrating the brightest emerging artists and designers.

Born out of frustration, our aim is to make art more accessible and to tackle the hurdles faced by undiscovered creatives.

Creative Debuts, 2020


HCA MAKERS MEETING

There’s a theme for the first time at this weeks HCA Makers Meeting, who will be using the Black Lives Matter movement as a starting point for a focused discussion. All new members are welcome to join Debbie and colleagues as part of this friendly, informal group. Details and joining instructions below. You can also download a poster below.

Time: Jul 3, 2020, 11:30 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting link
Meeting ID: 750 1835 2543 Password: 2GJK2D

HCA Maker’s Meeting Poster for JulyDownload

GLIMPSE – AN EXHIBITION OF WORK IN PROGRESS

Last, but absolutely certainly not least, don’t forget to check out the amazing ‘Glimpse – an exhibition of work in progress’ which showcases stunning work from students at HCA.