Call for artists
South West Showcase Open Call
MIRROR is seeking applications for exhibition proposals from contemporary visual artists based in the South West Region.
The South West Showcase is a recurring project established in 2013 as a strategic response to the lack of talent development and professional exhibition opportunities for artists based in the region. The showcase aims to support contemporary artists working and living in the South West through a year-long programme of mentoring and support with an exhibition outcome; presenting a long-term commitment to profiling and supporting the practices of artists in this region.
Exhibition dates:
Two artists will be selected for solo exhibitions in our Gallery in 2024. Exact dates for each exhibition are to be confirmed but are expected to fall between Feb-April 2024 & April-June 2024.
Budget:
Artists will be awarded a fee of £2000 to produce their exhibition. Additionally there will be a flexible budget of £3000 to cover costs including production, travel and accommodation and transportation.
Who can apply?
Artists must:
-Be operating professionally with a track record of presenting work in professional exhibition contexts.
-Be able to demonstrate their ability to deliver a high quality, ambitious solo show.
-Have their own public liability insurance and be registered as self-employed.
-Be based within the South West region, which is defined by Arts Council England as including:
Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, South Gloucestershire, Southampton, Swindon, Torbay and Wiltshire.
What else is involved?
As part of the specified fee, artists are expected to give a public talk about their work, attend their private view event and take an active role in the production and installation of the exhibition. Additionally artists are expected to work with the team to support student engagement, marketing and the production of a Gallery Short video.
Criteria:
-Based in the South West region
-Has a track record of operating professionally as an artist and can demonstrate that they are able to create an ambitious solo exhibition
-Has written a realistic, clear and compelling proposal and has thought carefully about what they want to do and how they will do it
-Has well presented documentation of their work that demonstrates the quality of their work well
-Will benefit from and make the most of this opportunity
Selection Panel:
Hannah Rose - Curator, MIRROR
Elaine Sinclair - Assistant Curator & Programme Producer, MIRROR
Lorna Rose - Independent Curator & Artist
Nella Aarne - Assistant Curator: Exhibitions & Public Programme, Spike Island
Feedback
As MIRROR has a tiny team working in a part time capacity, unfortunately it is not possible to offer individual feedback to all applicants. The final applications that are reviewed by the panel will however be given feedback.
How to apply:
We recommend that you download the application form questions and complete and save your answers in advance (checking the word counts) before copying and pasting your answers into the form and submitting.
Video Applications:
We also accept applications via video. If choosing to submit a video file please see the application form for specified time limits in which to answer the questions.
Exhibition dates:
Two artists will be selected for solo exhibitions in our Gallery in 2024. Exact dates for each exhibition are to be confirmed but are expected to fall between Feb-April 2024 & April-June 2024.
Budget:
Artists will be awarded a fee of £2000 to produce their exhibition. Additionally there will be a flexible budget of £3000 to cover costs including production, travel and accommodation and transportation.
Who can apply?
Artists must:
-Be operating professionally with a track record of presenting work in professional exhibition contexts.
-Be able to demonstrate their ability to deliver a high quality, ambitious solo show.
-Have their own public liability insurance and be registered as self-employed.
-Be based within the South West region, which is defined by Arts Council England as including:
Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, South Gloucestershire, Southampton, Swindon, Torbay and Wiltshire.
What else is involved?
As part of the specified fee, artists are expected to give a public talk about their work, attend their private view event and take an active role in the production and installation of the exhibition. Additionally artists are expected to work with the team to support student engagement, marketing and the production of a Gallery Short video.
Criteria:
-Based in the South West region
-Has a track record of operating professionally as an artist and can demonstrate that they are able to create an ambitious solo exhibition
-Has written a realistic, clear and compelling proposal and has thought carefully about what they want to do and how they will do it
-Has well presented documentation of their work that demonstrates the quality of their work well
-Will benefit from and make the most of this opportunity
Selection Panel:
Hannah Rose - Curator, MIRROR
Elaine Sinclair - Assistant Curator & Programme Producer, MIRROR
Lorna Rose - Independent Curator & Artist
Nella Aarne - Assistant Curator: Exhibitions & Public Programme, Spike Island
Feedback
As MIRROR has a tiny team working in a part time capacity, unfortunately it is not possible to offer individual feedback to all applicants. The final applications that are reviewed by the panel will however be given feedback.
How to apply:
We recommend that you download the application form questions and complete and save your answers in advance (checking the word counts) before copying and pasting your answers into the form and submitting.
Video Applications:
We also accept applications via video. If choosing to submit a video file please see the application form for specified time limits in which to answer the questions.
