Artist-led: CAMP
An ongoing series profiling artist-led groups in the South West. This month we are celebrating CAMP.
Can you tell us about CAMP, who you are and what you're about/what you do.
Contemporary Art Membership Platform (CAMP) is a member-led support and professional development network for artists, arts workers, and other creatives. It collectively promotes and supports doing, making, and sharing contemporary art across Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly.
CAMP offers members exciting arts-related opportunities and encourages artist collaboration. Members can get involved as co-directors, set up or join KIN groups, or participate through activities such as delivering workshops, training, skill-sharing or mentoring.
Can you tell us why you set up and why an artist-led approach, how CAMP is important in the context that you are working in.
CAMP was founded by artists, curators and producers based in Plymouth in 2018. It developed in response to the closure of Plymouth Arts Centre’s highly successful artist associate scheme PAC Home. We soon realised that geographically dispersed artists across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly needed a support network too, so CAMP widened its reach.
CAMP is an artist-associate scheme that is run by artists for artists. Our membership model brings in some income to cover basic costs and we fundraise to support programmes of work.
We are all experiencing a lack of funding for the arts and a lack of resources can be even more challenging in rural and remote locations. It is therefore vital that the creative community come together through CAMP to identify and find ways to keep art and culture alive in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. Being artist-led means we can focus activity, support, and development for our artist members, with fewer resources syphoned off by institutional structures.
Can you describe what sort of space you run out of and the context of CAMP, how you do you operate and how are you funded?
CAMP operates through our website and network rather then a building. CAMP is majoritively run on a voluntary capacity by different members taking on different roles. Members can shape both the activity and direction of CAMP by becoming a co-director; joining a working group or organising activity.
CAMP aims to operate with a non-hierarchical structure. The CIC is overseen by co-directors, drawn from the membership, who stay in the role for 18 months to two years. There is a rolling call-out for new co-directors and, along with working on their areas of individual interest, they hold monthly business meetings to oversee the direction of the CIC, review funding, and develop and deliver plans and opportunities. All members are invited to attend the regular business meetings.
The Directors are supported by four Working Groups who lead on different aspects of keeping things running smoothly, such as 'making things happen' and 'gathering resources'.
CAMP’s main source of income is its membership fees, and it offers low-cost options to be as accessible as possible.
CAMP provides members support via its accessible online spaces – its website and its membership platform run on Mighty Networks. It partners with other regional arts organisations when physical spaces are required for projects, exhibitions, workshops and other in-person events. Members can join or create self-organising KIN groups designed to support shared creative interests, a location, or other common ground, such as the Eco KIN, 3D & Sculpture KIN and Exeter Peer-support KIN.
Project grant funding from Arts Council England and other trusts is also sought. Through partnerships, the CIC gains in-kind funds and access to resources.
CAMP aims to create several creatively diverse opportunities each year. This may include residencies, bursaries, and exhibitions, including online and in-person events, to ensure inclusivity as much as possible across a large area and varied membership demographic.
Can you tell us about what you are currently working on and if you have any projects coming up you’d like to share with our network?
CAMP’s members can initiate projects at any time. One of the latest shows has been produced in collaboration with MAKE Southwest, based in Bovey Tracey, Devon. The Flow State: Immersion, Movement, and the Act of Making exhibition showcased 12 members work.
In April 2026, we are collaborating with Creative Kernow Associates on its next 'Art Surgery'. These events create a supportive, peer-led space where member-artists of all backgrounds and experiences can share work, raise questions, or simply listen and connect.
At the end of April, CAMP members can enjoy a free tour of Beryl Cook's Pride and Joy exhibition at The Box, Plymouth, and explore the most extensive display of the artist’s work to date. Then, inspired by Beryl Cook’s love of animals and her unique style, they can join a pet portrait session led by artist Fatima Al Duhaimi. Participants will learn the basics of creating a Beryl-style pet portrait using acrylic paints and collage.
In May and June 2026, participants on the CAMP-led KINections project will present exhibitions of new work at The Plough Arts Centre in Torrington and at Fish Factory in Penryn. KINections, which is part-funded by Arts Council England and The Fenton Trust, has offered 14-months of professional development support to artists across Cornwall and Devon facing barriers to their creative practice.
We recently launched An Tobar / An Fenten, a creative exchange project in partnership with Creative Kernow Associates and An Tobar Arts Centre in Tobermory, which will link artists working in Cornwall with artists in Mull and nearby. The participants will take part in a series of facilitated conversations and will share their work in an exhibition toward the end of 2026.
