The University of Cumbria is offering the opportunity for four local artists to utilise its arts facilities in Lancaster and Carlisle for free, thanks to the Artists Access to Art Colleges (AA2A) project.
Local artists can apply to use the University’s facilities in woodwork, jewellery, textiles, printmaking and ceramics at the Brampton Road campus and sculpture (bronze and aluminium casting using sand, lost wax processes, MIG and TIG welding and plasma cutting facilities) both in Carlisle and printmaking at the Lancaster campus.
The scheme entitles each artist/maker to 100 hours of access to workshops and supporting areas, from 19 October 2009 to 26 March 2010.This allows students to work alongside artists and gain a valuable insight into the art world outside university.
AA2A is a national set of schemes which give artists the chance to undertake a project or research using workshop and supporting facilities in fine art and design departments of higher and further education institutions. It enables artists to use equipment that might not otherwise to available to them and benefits the institution by bringing in ideas and techniques which may not otherwise enter the education environment.
“The AA2A scheme enabled me to make use of splendid facilities on campus, especially the large plaster room,” enthuses artist Hilary Harrison from Burgh by Sands, Carlisle, who recently took part in the scheme at the Brampton Road campus. “I really enjoyed my time on the scheme. It was good to be able to develop ideas and experiment without feeling under any pressure.
“The scheme provides valuable experience of being amongst other makers and gave me the chance to see others at work, to exchange ideas and be of mutual help. Staff and students alike were very friendly and supportive. I would thoroughly recommend it to others.”
The University of Cumbria is one of only 37 colleges and universities across England that has been successful in its application to host an Artists Access scheme within its Faculty of the Arts. It will be the eighth year that the Brampton Road Campus has been involved in AA2A.
• To get an application pack contact Olivia Toppin the University of Cumbria coordinator on 01228 888740 or e-mail her on olivia.toppin@cumbria.ac.uk
• For more information about AA2A, visit their website at www.aa2a.org.