The project will develop artistic talent and leadership and create a living economy for the arts community that will stimulate and support growth. The ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Culture Consortium (that includes Yorkshire Artspace, ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Theatres Trust, Museums ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, Site Gallery, The University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, and ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Hallam University and ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ City Council) will coordinate a visual art programme that complements the Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016 - a new festival and partnership between culture and businesses.
Making Ways will be funded by Arts Council England, ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ City Council, The University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Hallam University.
The project will include: Artists’ Continual Professional Development, (master-classes, industry residences, a bursary programme), large scale outdoor and digital commissions, exhibitions and promotional support delivered in collaboration with industry. The project will begin during the Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016 and will develop through 2017 and 2018.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Chair of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Cultural Consortium & Director of City & Cultural Engagement at The University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ: “The Culture Consortium is naturally delighted that the Arts Council has demonstrated its belief in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s potential to harness the value of our artistic community for the city and its economy.
“The most recent *research shows that our publicly invested arts still return 0.4% of the UK’s GVA and contribute indirectly to GVA through tourism, overseas trade and regional growth. Arts and culture industries generated £15.1 billion in turnover in 2012-13 and for every pound generated by the arts and culture industry, an additional £1.06 is generated in the economy.
“T³ó±ð&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Visual Arts Report launched just last week cited the Millennium Galleries as the most visited free gallery in the North of England and noted that the Cupola Gallery sold over £2 million worth of artwork mostly by local artists.
“This funding means we can develop a three-year programme to build and sustain initiatives to support artists in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, and to build on the best practice we already deliver in managed studios and galleries. And the Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016 will be a springboard for this activity.â€
Kim Streets, CEO, Museums ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ: “Making Ways is a timely strategic investment in our artistic community and builds on what we do well as a city. ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ has a reputation for making things happen, for an innovative DIY culture and for growing things from the ground up. Making Ways will harness our potential as a centre of excellence within the visual arts and make a real difference for our artistic community and for the people of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.
“Great arts and culture is what makes our city unique – it’s what attracts business investment; a skilled workforce and students from around the world seeking a vibrant and exciting place to study."
Kim Streets
Museums ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ
"ACE support for Making Ways recognises ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s talent and says art is not the icing on the cake – it’s the recipe book and the essential ingredient in a successful international city. This is exciting news for ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.â€
Richard Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ: "We’re delighted with this news at the University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.
We’ve been committed to working with a variety of partners in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ in making the city an even more culturally and economically vibrant place; the Making Ways project is a great recognition of what we’ve been able to achieve so far in uniting culture, innovation and business, and a platform to take those collaborations much further. The Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016 will be a great platform for everybody in the city to get together and make sure the world knows what an exciting place this is to live, work and create in.â€
Professor Roger Eccleston, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences (ACES): “ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Hallam University is delighted to be involved in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Year of Making. The University, and our city, have a long tradition of creativity, innovation, design and artistry.
Being involved in a city-wide celebration such as the Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016 is especially fitting now, as our ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Institute of Arts takes up residence in its new home at the Head Post Office, and we launch our own Catalyst Festival for the arts.â€
Cllr Sioned-Mair Richards, Acting Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods: "This is great news for the city and its creative community. ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ City Council is delighted to support the work of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Culture Consortium, which has become a strong and successful partnership mechanism for bringing cultural investment into the city".
Master Cutler Craig McKay and CEO of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ engineering firm Evenort Ltd: “We need to ensure Making Ways creates strong and productive links between the artists communities and business. “I am part of a group of representatives from every form of making in the city that are working collaboratively to drive activity through the Year of Making ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ 2016.
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ has always appreciated its artistic talent and this funding will be significant in helping us to ensure that the artistic community becomes a greater part of its economy.â€
The Culture Consortium is planning the details of the programme following the funding announcement. Further information about the project and the events and opportunities available through this programme will be published on the Consortium website.