We are very pleased to announce our partnership with the Exhibitions Hub of the Department of Art at Goldsmiths and Forma for the third Exhibitions Hub Alumni Commission Award. The commission invites Department of Art Alumni to develop new work in response to or inspired by LADA’s archive that will be presented at Forma in November 2024.
LADA’s archive
LADA’s Study Room is the world’s largest collection of research materials on Live Art, containing over 8,000 items that include out-of-print books and rare documentation. You can browse the online catalogue of the archive here and find additional LADA resources here.
The outcome of the commission
Following a period of research and development with LADA’s archive, the selected artist will develop new performance work to be presented during an evening at Forma in November. The outcome is intentionally open to allow for creative experimentation and engagement approaches.
Mentorship
Members of staff from LADA and Forma will provide individual mentorships to guide and support the successful artist during the development of the project (three one-hour sessions from each organisation). LADA’s team all specialise in varying areas of Live Art, so mentors can be selected to align with the successful artist’s project. Curator of the Exhibitions Hub: Fran Painter-Fleming, and Director of the Exhibitions Hub: Nick Grimmer will also be providing mentorship throughout the commission.
The Exhibitions Hub will support the organisation and curation of the public-facing presentation of the project outcome at Forma.
Eligibility
The award is only open to Goldsmiths Department of Art Alumni. You should have graduated from the Department of Art between 2019-2023.
Application process
To apply, please submit a statement of interest (max 1 A4 page) that includes the following:
- A brief explanation of how this commission would tie in with or develop your existing practice and research.
- An initial idea of how you would like to engage with or respond to LADA’s collections.
Strong expressions of interest will show an understanding of the collections held within LADA’s archive as well as the mission and ethos of Forma.
We are happy to receive expressions of interest that are recorded on audio or video. If you have a website, please include a link in your expressions of interest. If you do not have a website, you are welcome to include images (no more than 2 pages). CVs, budget outlines or proposals of a final outcome are not required at this point to keep the process simple and accessible.
If you have any access needs that you would like to discuss regarding this open call, please contact Fran Painter-Fleming.
A shortlist of candidates will be invited for an informal conversation with the project mentors to discuss their initial ideas, gauge the feasibility of the project, and to clarify any questions on both sides. These conversations are scheduled to take place during the week commencing the 22nd of April.
Full details about how to apply can be found here.
Fee & Budget
Artist fee: £1,500
Production budget: £500
Public presentation and documentation budget: £500
In addition, the Exhibitions Hub will provide AV equipment for production and the public presentation from its loan store. The Exhibitions Hub Team will support the organisation, curation and production of the public outcome.
Timeline
Please note: This is a part-time opportunity that the nominated artist can undertake alongside other professional and personal commitments. The artist is expected to manage their own time and to work independently on the project, supported by mentorship and regular communication with the Exhibitions Hub.
Deadline for expressions of interest: Wednesday 3 April 11:59pm
Short conversations: Week commencing 22nd April (TBC)
Nomination: First week of May
Research and development period: 6 months from May – October 2024
Public outcome at Forma: November 2024.
Organiser and partners
The project is curated and coordinated by the Exhibitions Hub (Goldsmiths, Department of Art) in partnership with LADA and Forma.
The Exhibitions Hub in the Department of Art at Goldsmiths College has been developed to support public-facing exhibitions held by students and alumni. The Exhibitions Hub also develops partnerships and curatorial initiatives to connect research and practice at Goldsmiths with external venues and audiences.
Forma is a contemporary arts organisation based in Southwark, London. Driven by artists and their ideas, Forma develops collaborative interdisciplinary projects that challenge existing practices, span multiple artistic disciplines and demand new levels of ambition. With a distinct emphasis on collaboration, creative inquiry and production values, Forma works with artists and partners to develop interdisciplinary, site-specific and large-scale projects for audiences worldwide, from community collaborations to institutional programming.