Project Art Works is running a day of experimentation, making and conversation exploring non-verbal action in collaborative artistic production

De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-On-Sea, 13 September 2010 10.00am for 10.30 start until 4pm

We are inviting curators, directors and artists from across the south east to join us in this informal exploration of inclusive practices resonant to all areas of visual arts production and programming. Through a series of short, live sessions we will look at some of the artistic, conceptual, ethical and practical aspects of making and producing art through non-verbal collaborative practice.

An encounter / artist’s workshop will run throughout the day in parallel with a programme of informal discussion sessions. Taking place across two separate but linked sites at the Pavilion, the programme is designed to encourage encounters and new forms of conversations.

We aim to create a lively day of connectivity that moves beyond ‘traditional’ approaches of inclusion in art. We will present new approaches to collaborative practice that have the potential to enrich artistic programming and generate new models of resourcing.

Areas of exploration will include:

• Approaches to non-verbal consent.

• Social care commissioning of art and creativity

• Making art in collaboration with people who do not use language to communicate.

• Positive action, quality and excellence in programming.

• Perspectives and experiences: support workers and artists.

The event will include artistic, verbal and nonverbal contributions from a range of artists, filmmakers, curators, social care practitioners and sector commentators.

Full programme details will be available on registration. Limited places remaining: to book a place or for more information contact: Kate Adams, Director, Project Art Works 01424423555 email: kate@projectartworks.org

This event is led by Project Art Works with the generous support of the De La Warr Pavilion as part of Turning Point South East.

Parallel Worlds is an exhibition at F-ISH Gallery in Hastings that features the work of three artists who are key members of the team at Project Art Works. Kate Adams, Director and Lead Artist of the organization, Sarah Broome, In-House Programme Manager, and Tim Corrigan, a Lead Artist and filmmaker on a wide range of its projects. Parallel Worlds relates to the simultaneity of experience and events across time and place.

Kate Adams works primarily with video, but explores a complex set of territories within an expansive interdisciplinary practice that encompasses installation, construction and drawing. Kate’s experience as a long term carer informs the social, cultural and political connectedness of her own practice and Project Art Works’ programmes of work. For Parallel Worlds Kate is showing a short trilogy of new films that reference a particular Atlantic coastal landscape in southern Ireland that she has periodically visited for nearly 20 years and the shifting terms of human experience against Camus’ ‘benign indifference of the universe’.

Sarah Broome's practice circles an alter-ego, Mother of Grace, who she engages with through video, installation and performance. Now in her tenth year, Mother of Grace has her own personal history, a collection of intimate moments and recordings that build the landscape of her personality. In Parallel Worlds, Broome presents a conversation across time touching upon memory and alternative realities. Broome has worked on various participatory projects linking her art practice to and collaborating with members of the local community.

Tim Corrigan has been filming the shifting political landscape in Cambodia for the past 8 years tracing through film a complex web of connections and events both here and there – including the election trials and resistance work of Sam Rainsy leader of the opposition. His work at F-ISH presents fragments from these years. Corrigan manages a small film production company, Outline Pictures and has worked as a lead project artist on a wide range of socially engaged projects.

The exhibition period (28th August to 3rd October 2010), embraces the highly successful and entrepreneurial local festival of visual arts, Coastal Currents.

For more information: www.f-ish.co.uk

F-ISH – 44/45 Robertson Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1HL

Simon Hedges 07964 545702 - simon@f-ish.co.uk

Jonathan Rogers (Mentoring Studios) was one of 500 marginalised artists to submit work to the biennial 'Outside In' exhibition at Pallant House, Chichester. 150 works were chosen in total, including Jonathan's painting 'Penny'. 'Outside In' tours to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery between 18th June to 12th September 2010.

A selection of works from our highly successful recent exhibition 'If a picture's worth a thousand words...' are being shown in the Museum's Upper Walkway Displays from 10th July to 19 September 2010.

Our 8 artist film makers are progressing well in the making of dvd film portraits in collaboration with 12 young adults with complext needs in East Sussex. We have scheduled a review day to look at drafts in September, and thereafter the artists will submit their masters in early November. We aim to have 12 finished portraits by mid-November for use as advocacy tools by, for and on behalf of the young people. This is the first phase of a 3 year project, and we will be starting to liaise with Adult and Children's Social Services in the autumn, to identify a further 12 participants.

We are grateful to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and East Sussex County Council Adult and Children's Social Services whose support has made this project possible. If you would like to find out more, please contact Alison Digance alison@projectartworks.org

In April 2010, the Trustees of The Monument Trust agreed to make two grants to Project Art Works. £56,650 was awarded over two years towards archiving and a comprehensive catalogue of our work over ten years. A further £118,000 was awarded over three years towards the core costs of the development and cohesion of multiple strands of programming. This will involve an increase in the capacity of the organisation consisting of more core research hours, associated organizational costs and a new post for production assistance over three years.

We are extremely grateful to the Trustees of The Monument Trust for this substantial investment.

Project Art Works has been awarded £89,379 from Arts Council England's Sustain programme to support core activities, sustain the quality of artistic output and maintain cash flow affected by a recessionary decrease in income from trusts and foundations in 2010 and 2011.  The award will allow us to develop a new business plan setting out future funding plans with a view to increasing longer-term core sustainability.

We are continually developing new collaborations with artists and filmakers to work with us on future projects. To register your interest please contact us.