Have you ever noticed how you come across something for the first time and before you know it that same thing keeps popping up in other and unexpected places? This is how I first became aware of Non-Fungible Tokens, NFTs or "Nifties" as they are mostly referred to, and I realise that once one has viewed something online those pesky ‘cookies’ go to work and before you know it not a day goes by without similar content appearing, but NFTs have even popped up in random unconnected conversations this past week or so, such that I swear my phone is somehow listening in. Seemingly as well, all the references to them had a bearing on a sphere much more relevant to me, namely art. So, what is an NFT? Well at this point it’s probably important to mention I’m not the most tech savvy and what I discovered when I started looking into NFTs, is that it all gets VERY technical, but after a bit of unpicking of the various articles, here’s what I think I learnt. In its simplest sense an NFT is akin to a certificate that gives the holder ownership of a piece of blockchain technology on which a piece of coding has been applied to a digital file/image that is unique to that file/image. Once created the blockchain cannot be modified or altered and It can contain any amount of information that is attached to it for example, who created it and when etc. In their application to the art world which has recently hit the headlines, at face value this appears to be not dissimilar to a Certificate of Authenticity that you might get when purchasing a piece of original physical art and I guess in that context then it makes sense. It provides the purchaser with a guarantee and traceability of the artwork and if any of you, like me, enjoy ‘Fake or Fortune’ on BBC then we all know how important that guarantee and traceability is. The difference however, between the digital and the physical is that when one purchases an original physical piece of art, one is purchasing exclusive access and accessibility to that art and ownership of the only example of that piece of art. Only you can decide who gets to see and share the experience of viewing that piece of art. Even if the artist has chosen to produce prints of the original there will still be a distinct difference between the original and those prints. With a digital artwork, the moment that it is uploaded onto the Internet, control over access and accessibility is lost, and whilst you may own an NFT for that work, so may others. The creator may, for example, have chosen to assign numerous numbered NFTs to a file (like a Limited Edition). It may also be that before the file was assigned a blockchain and NFT that it had already been shared widely on the internet,(will go on to that in a second). This surely makes owning an NFT fundamentally different from owning an original physical piece of art, with or without a COA, because whilst you may have ownership of the NFT, it is possible you won’t have any control over access to and accessibility of the work that is attached to it. What may seem strange is that this lack of control over access and accessibility seems to have no bearing on the value placed on NFT’s, indeed it would seem that the wider circulation of a digital file may lead to a greater value and desirability of it. The most sought atter NFTs are generally ones that are the most shared on digital platforms such as ‘Nyan Cat’ or ones that are associated with already well-known public figures. And what appears to be turning the art world on its head is the phenomenal amounts of money that is being paid for NFTs currently. As an example, it has been reported recently that Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, auctioned his very first tweet as an NFT with bidding closing at $2.9million (he’ll be donating the money to COVID-19 relief in Africa). Even the auction houses are getting in on the act and on February 25th Christie’s launched an online auction of an NFT- based digital artwork by the artist Beeple, ‘The First 5000 Days’ (2021) which sold for an eye-watering $69.3 million setting an all-time record for a digital artwork. That is not to say that the more run of the mill digital files/images are not also popular and there are numerous sites springing up dedicated to selling NFT’s such as Crypto Kitties and Nifty Gateway. I guess people are speculating on what may become a popular image. I have to confess when I took a look at the Crypto Kitties site I really did begin to think that the world had gone mad and I am truly still struggling to get my head around that one not least because they appear to trade entirely in a cryptocurrency called ‘Ether’ but that’s a whole other article. I guess that part of the reason for the growing popularity of NFTs is that we have all been living in this virtual World for most of the last year and become used to viewing art in that way. Most exhibitions have happened online, we even took part in an online art fair with a large focus on digital media - CADAF 2020. Weirdly, I don’t recall coming across NFT’s at that time, but some of the speakers did talk of their digital collections of art, and their preference for it over the physical. In summary the concept of being able to authenticate a digital file/image is a good idea, not least because of the protection that it gives to those artists working in digital media and that it also allows for royalty rights and other ongoing benefits for the artist to be added should the piece be sold on. For the buyer it plays into that desire to own something that is unique which mirrors the reason that some people choose to buy a piece of original physical art, ownership of something that no-one else has, albeit with the differences as mentioned earlier in respect of NFTs. But the volatility of the cryptocurrencies that underpin them not to mention the enormous energy consumption involved in ‘mining’ cryptocurrencies and ‘minting’ NFTs is a cause for concern and in these days when we are all more environmentally aware may well lead to their demise. #NFT #DigitalArt #VirtualArt #Crypto #Bitcoin #Nifty

It’s always nice to get a COVID related news article that isn’t negative, but it’s especially rare to see a COVID related arts story popping up in the national headlines. So, this article published in the Guardian this afternoon naturally got us a little excited. The Great Big Art Exhibition has been announced with names such as Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Sonia Boyce amongst its patrons. It’s the brainchild of Firstsite, a Colchester-based arts organisation, and the aim, much like “Grayson’s Art Club” a la the original lockdown, is to get Britain creating during isolation. Channel 4 aren’t engaged presently so we won’t expect to see this on our television screens anytime soon, but with brands like Tate, the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery contributing works, it’s fair to predict this will be the 2021 Winter lockdown cultural highlight. So, what’s it all about? Well, Firstsite says it will be “the largest exhibition ever staged”, where our balconies, gardens, windows and roofs will become the gallery walls in a series of fortnightly, themed exhibitions, guided by carefully curated packs with contributions from those cultural institutions I mentioned before. Think NHS rainbows but with a tad more variety and hopefully just as much colour and creativity. Which all sounds pretty fantastic in our opinion so count us in Mr Gormley, where do we sign up? Well, here, as it happens. The first pack is live and whilst there’s no theme for this portion of the exhibition there’s lots of resources to inspire the creative soul. We’re getting ready to put our own creations in the window and we want to see what Devon has got to offer as well. Consider this our call to arms, we want Devon to put itself on the map for The Great Big Art Exhibition; if the UK was the Tate Modern, Devon would be its Turbine Hall! So, if you’re in Devon and you’re taking part, get in touch with us. Tag @artizangallery in your #thegreatartexhibition2021 posts on Instagram, email us the works in your windows and share the creative moments you contribute to this UK wide event. If you want to join us in spreading the word as well, drop us an email at thegreatartexhibition@artizangallery.co.uk Themes and Dates Animals: 28 January to 14 February Portraits: 15 February to 28 February Colour: 1 March to 14 March Humour: 15 March to 28 March Torbay Venues Displaying Your Work During Lockdown Email us with your work and we'll pass on details for how you can get it displayed in the window of one of these Torbay venues. If you'd like to offer your windows as well, we'd love to hear from you. thegreatartexhibition@artizangallery.co.uk The Palace Theatre Paignton Picture House Torre Abbey Artizan Gallery Artizan Collective Gallery #TheGreatBigArtExhibition2021 - Around Devon Patricia Hedges #Firstsite #DevonArt #ArtizanTorquay #TorbayCulture #AntonyGormley

Exhibition Dates: 12th April - 8th May (or November if postponed due to COVID) Deadline for Submissions: Extended to Midnight March 31st Exhibition Fee: £5 Administration Fee or "Postcard Donation Programme". Submit up to 5 works. To relaunch our Lucius Street venue we’re excited to announce the Artizan Small Works Exhibition. This showcase of art will be entirely made up of works with dimensions less than 40x40cm with an upper price limit of £300, as we welcome back artists and audiences to our venues. Whilst the recent UK announcement about reopening has not offered complete certainty, we plan to relaunch with this exhibition on the current planned date for easing of non-essential retail of April 12th with the exhibition running until 8th May. If there is any delay to reopening, rather than shortening the exhibition we plan to postpone it to November where it will be our celebratory exhibition to round off 2021. Given the unfortunate start to the year, we believe this exhibition will offer us the chance to kick off with a vibrant and welcoming showcase, with small works offering an intimate and accessible subject, and hopefully the chance to reflect on the last 12 months. Submissions This is a selective call. Submissions are live from now until March 22nd and deliveries of work will be required by midday on 6th April if accepted. There is a one off £5 administration fee to submit up to 5 works. Alternatively, you can forego this fee and instead donate a small postcard work. See Terms and Conditions, and art-hub.co.uk/postcards for more details Successful artists will also be able to supply greetings cards for inclusion. Works will be displayed across our Main Gallery and Courtyard Gallery. Commission of 30% will be taken on all sales. All sales contribute to our #ArtistSupportPledge work which sees us reinvest a portion of our commission in exhibiting artists. See art-hub.co.uk/artistsupportpledge for more details. 3D submissions can be made. Submissions can be made via Google Forms, Curatorspace or Email. All applicants agree to our standard Terms and Conditions for Open Calls For more details and submissions visit here (art-hub.co.uk/ex/asw21). Submission Form View Externally: https://forms.gle/5sk5qhBknMTCQzcv5 Submit Via Curatorspace: https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/artizan-small-works-exhibition/5276 Submit by Email: Download the PDF details here and submit responses to asw21@artizangallery.co.uk

#UPDATE: With the recent UK announcement of a roadmap out of the current lockdown we can be confident that this exhibition will be able to physically take place in our venue this Spring and we will be using this as our relaunch event. As a precautionary measure to avoid disruption, we have taken the decision to delay the start of the exhibition to April 19th (7 days after the current predicted date for the return of non-essential retail). Additional opening days and hours will be added to accommodate this delay, as well as an extension to the submission deadline, which will now run until Midnight March 14th. Exhibition Dates: 19th April - 16th May (or November if postponed due to COVID) Deadline for Submissions: Midnight 14th March Exhibition Fee: Starts from Free Please contact erps21@artizangallery.co.uk if you have any questions or enquiries about submissions. Full exhibition terms and conditions can be found here: https://bit.ly/2Js7vk8 “Finding A Way Home” 2020 was marked by global hardship and suffering, a year where the term “uncertainty” became near meaningless but the phrase “life changing” became all too familiar. It has already been recognised as a monumental moment in history of comparative significance to the two world wars, the ripples of which will still be being felt for many years to come. But there is a positive legacy of 2020 to be unearthed in the year ahead; one that recognises the strength of communities against overwhelming adversity; one that applauds the extraordinary efforts and individual sacrifices made; and one that celebrates the peace and resilience we were able to find in this new and harsh reality. 2021 promises a chance for recovery and the search for hope, as we step out on a journey, to find a way home. About the Exhibition “Finding A Way Home” is a multi-stranded photographic and digital artwork exhibition hosted by Artizan Collective CIC and co-curated and produced by The South West Collective and Artizan Gallery. Featuring a headline exhibition, a showcase of 5-8 spotlighted artists, and an open selection of individual works, this South West first invites submissions of work that consider the idea of “home” both in the traditional sense and the contemporary context in light of the global pandemic. Full details of the themes, opportunity and how to take part are outlined below. Opportunities There are two open calls which artists can submit work to: - An open call for individual works - An open call for work in series and collections from individual artists All opportunities are for submissions of photography or artists working in digital mediums which include some element of photographic practice. Artists can submit to both opportunities. Individual Work Submissions This call is ideally suited to any artists wishing to submit individual pieces or small bodies of work. Artists can submit up to four works for the exhibition Artists may submit four works that form a series and indicate that these are submitted as one entry but would forego submitting additional works This opportunity is “Pay As You Feel” and artists can submit the maximum number of works for no fee There is a minimum contribution of £10 for an applicant to be considered for prize draws Individual works should be no greater than A2 before framing, and all works must be provided framed for the exhibition (see Terms and Conditions for full details of expectations for display ready work https://bit.ly/2Js7vk8) Works should be available for sale in some format. This might be the displayed framed work or alternatively high-quality print runs (limited or unlimited editions). (you will be asked to provide details of this in your submission form) This is a selective call, and your entry does not guarantee you will be included in the exhibition All selected works will be included in the exhibition zine, with some additional works included from submissions All applicants who make the minimum submission contribution, regardless of selection, will be considered for prize draws A People’s Choice Award will run for the duration of the exhibition with one winner being selected Collection Submissions This call is ideally suited to any artists with a coherent series of 5-10 works. There is an emphasis on the connected narrative of the pieces which the applicant will be expected to outline as part of the submission process. Artists can submit one body of work There are no limits on the number of works that can make up this series, but it is anticipated that a strong application will consist of no fewer than 5 works and that there will be a likely limit of 10 works exhibited from a collection. All works must be provided framed for the exhibition (see Terms and Conditions for full details of expectations for display ready work https://bit.ly/2Js7vk8) Fees for submitting to this show start from £10 (see the submission information below for full details) There are no size restrictions on individual works, but maximum display allocation is likely to be around 2m squared Works should be available for sale in some format. This might be the displayed framed work or alternatively high-quality print runs (limited or unlimited editions). (you will be asked to provide details of this in your submission form) This is a selective call, and your entry does not guarantee you will be included in the exhibition All selected applicants will be included in the exhibition zine and will receive a free copy of this A guest judge will join to select an exhibition winner from the “Inhabiting” showcase Benefits Exhibition exposure in the English Riviera’s premier contemporary gallery Opportunity for commercial sales of work Automatic inclusion into prize draws (full prize list available to view at art-hub.co.uk/ex/erps21) Audience and industry award recognition Features in exhibition print and digital promotional material delivered via the channels of the exhibition curators, prize sponsors and partner organisations Long-term exposure on the exhibition digital hub including micro-profile and the opportunity for additional features Inclusion in exhibition zine Participation in a major photographic event for the South West Prizes and Awards English Riviera Showcase Award - Selected by Robert Darch and other judges for the best artist in the showcase selection - Prize: 1-2-1 Mentorship with Robert Darch The South West Collective Award - Selected by The South West Collective for best entry in the open section - Prize: Limited edition South West Co. T-shirt F16 Camera Store, Film Photography Award - Selected by F16 for the best film entry in the open selection - Prize: 35mm Camera from the F16 Store Take It Easy Film Lab, Film Photography Award - Selected by Take It Easy Lab for their best film entry in the open section - Free film development package and march patch Flourish Travel Photography Award - Selected by editor Lucy Sanders for the best travel photography entry in the open section - Free Issue of Flourish Magazine Honourable Mentions - Selected runners up from submissions that were worthy of note - Selected to be published in the Exhibition Zine Selected Exhibiting Artists - A free copy of the Exhibition Zine to be given to all award winners and showcase entries Payments All fees, go towards running this show or otherwise supporting future opportunities for visual arts and wider cultural engagement in Torbay. Home - Open Call for Individual Works (maximum 4 works) - Pay As You Feel, starting at "Free". - Minimum donation to be in consideration for prizes - £10 Inhabiting - Series Submissions - Fees from £10 - £40 Commission of 40% is taken on all sales, inclusive of all taxes and payment fees. All payment details can be found at the bottom of this page. Make Your Submission Submissions can be made using the form below or via Curatorspace. Alternatively, you can make your submission using the PDF download here and submitting content by email to erps21@artizangallery.co.uk Use the images below to take you to the relevant payment option. About the Organisers Artizan Collective CIC Artizan Gallery The South West Collective Please contact erps21@artizangallery.co.uk if you have any questions or enquiries about submissions. #erps21 #EnglishRivieraPhotographyShowcase #EnglishRiviera #ArtizanTorquay #TheSouthWestCollective #Photography #SouthDevon

With a hopeful end to lockdown announced, Artizan Collective CIC is excited to host a virtual exhibition for what we hope will be the last full month that our doors are closed. For the whole of March, we’ll be hosting an entirely online, exhibition of affordable works; The Virtual Artist Support Pledge Exhibition. This exhibition will build on the work we started in December 2020 as part of our Winter Open Exhibition as well as the global #ArtistSupportPledge movement, bringing together a whopping selection of nearly 1000 works under £200, in an evolving virtual showcase. All the while, we will also be taking new submissions to the collection in what will be our biggest ever exhibition of work. More About the Artist Support Pledge ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE is a culture and economy in support of artists and makers established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project uses Instagram and creatives can post their images using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivalent). If people are interested in buying, they message the artist. Anyone can buy the work and artists don’t need permission to join. Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artist(s). We're supporting our artists by working with #artistsupportpledge and promoting exhibited works under £200. Starting with our English Riviera Winter Open Exhibition, we'll regularly share posts from the show with #artistsupportpledge and every time we reach £1000 worth of sales, we'll reinvest and purchase work from one of our artists. The Exhibition The Virtual Artist Support Pledge Exhibition will run on our website as a curated exhibition page. We’ll be doing regular features on different themes, media, and artists over the course of the month, giving a unique insight into a collection of affordable works. All pieces will be available to purchase and all income will be added to our #artistsupportpledge contributions which feed back to and support our community of talented artists. The exhibition will launch online on March 5th and will run until at least March 31st. Artists can submit work using the simple form here (https://forms.gle/BU3tv9hHKUr8BjRp7) and we will aim to confirm listings within two working days. For more details visit art-hub.co.uk/ex/aspv21 Submit A Work View Externally: https://forms.gle/22VxXAE4NntCprW39

For Devon Open Studios 2021, Artizan Collective are pleased to be working with Devon Artist Network to support Torbay Artists taking part in this year’s event. Following an exceptionally hard year for everyone, but creatives in particular, Artizan wants to ensure Devon Open Studios is an event that as many as possible can take advantage of as the sector and community recover in 2021, recognising its value as a key regional cultural event. As such, we are able to offer 50% fee grants to at least 4 artists based in Torbay (“Torbay Grants”), and one full fee grant along with hosting at our venue for an artist that doesn’t have access to their own studio (“Artizan Gallery Grant”). About the Grant The grants are for any artist working from studios or living in Torbay. Whilst we hope they may be able to help artists who have been financially impacted over the last 12 months this is not a pre-requisite for applications and anyone from Torbay can apply no matter what their situation. The grants will provide a financial contribution to your fees as well as inclusion in a wide range of promotional support that Artizan will be undertaking to promote the event and studios in Torbay as a whole, including membership and presence on our website for the event. Applying for a grant Applying for a grant is easy you simply need to complete two steps: You must have registered your interest in Devon Open Studios by emailing openstudios@devonartistnetwork.co.uk but need not have made your final payment. Email dos21@artizangallery.co.uk with the below details: Your Name A contact phone number Which grant you are applying for (“Torbay Grant” or “Artizan Gallery Grant”) The address of your studio or if you are applying for the “Artizan Gallery Grant” the Torbay address you reside in Images of your work and practice Up to 500 words telling us about yourself and your work, in which you may also want to talk about how the grant and participating in Devon Open Studios will impact you. YOU MUST SUBMIT THESE DETAILS BY MIDNIGHT MARCH 24TH AND BURSARY WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED OVER THE WEEKEND COMMENCING MARCH 26TH How the grant will work Artizan will pay your full fee on your behalf to Devon Artist Network and request your 50% contribution directly. If you have already reserved your space and made your payment to Devon Open Studios you can still apply for this grant. In this circumstance Devon Artist Network will refund your fee to you if your application is successful. The “Torbay Grants” are based on the standard individual fee to participate in Devon Open Studios 2021 and the grant will contribute 50% of this fee. If you want to take advantage of an upgraded listing in the guide you will be required to pay the difference. The “Artizan Grant” is similarly based on a standard individual fee and your listing in the guide will be included in a half page section alongside our other venue contributions to this year’s event. If you are unsuccessful in your grant application, you will still be able to independently confirm your participation with Devon Artist Network for a short window after the deadline for payments of March 31st. What you get for the grant “Torbay Grant” worth 50% of an Individual Artist Standard Fee (£85) A year’s membership on our website normally charged at £75 (if you already have membership with us this will be added to your current subscription) Inclusion in collective print and digital promotional content produced by Artizan Association and presence at the Torbay hub venue for Devon Open Studios 2021 Additional 1-2-1 support on how to get the most out of your Devon Open Studios experience "Artizan Grant" worth 100% of an Individual Artist Standard Fee (£170) All details included in the "Torbay Grant" Studio space in the Basement Gallery at Artizan Gallery for the duration of Devon Open Studios Requirements By applying you agree to comply with the below conditions: You must be based in Torbay by the definition Devon Open Studios adopts in their mapping which is based on Council Tax area You must be a Devon Artist Network member You must have registered for Devon Open Studios 2021 via the Devon Artist Network website but need not have made your final payment You will be required to supply any information requested by Devon Artist Network for your inclusion in the event You will be required to supply content for all promotional materials produced by Artizan in connection with the Torbay studios Your grant award will be acknowledged in the guide on your listing with a note of Artizan’s sponsorship for this year’s event You will be required to list at least one piece of current work for sale on the Artizan website profile included as part of your grant Additionally, the Artizan Grant winner will commit to: Setting up a temporary studio from which they can work at Artizan Gallery for the duration of the event Being present in the venue every weekend of the event Being in the venue for at least half of the 15 event weekdays Devon Open Studios Information Event Dates: Saturday 11 - Sunday 26 September 2021 Devon Open Studios is a unique opportunity to meet artists in their studios in some of the most beautiful, unexplored parts of Devon. In addition to being able to buy art direct from the creator, many demonstrate, give talks or give you a chance to have a go. Registration for Artists Now Open! "We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to provide extra benefits to participating artists for 2021 and can now announce: The return of our 36,000, full-colour, printed EVENT GUIDES. A BRAND-NEW AND BESPOKE interactive website for Devon Open Studios which will be up and running ready for the event, featuring more of your images and enabling visitors to find your venue more easily. NEW BRANDING on its way soon to better establish Devon Open Studios and tie our social media and printed material closer together. A new SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM of members working year round on promotion (contact us if you wish to join the team!) New pilot promotional initiatives and opportunities in some local areas which we hope will grow to other areas in future years.

UPDATE 03-02-2021: Due to the changing situation, the requirement for in person activity outlined within this opportunity is no longer compulsory. In person activity can still form a part of proposals but projects that are delivered entirely remotely are welcomed. We have also therefore extended the deadline to Monday 8th February to allow for applications taking account of these changes. In partnership with Torbay Youth Trust, Artizan Collective is delighted to be commissioning a creative producer to lead a series of workshops with young people to help them explore the “development and evolution of their caring roles”. Delivered over multiple sessions with different age groups, the project will allow individual participants to create their own piece of work that comes together to form part of a collective whole that will be showcased in Spring 2021. More details can be found below, and submission information can be found in the downloadable PDF. Brief It is anticipated that due to the current restrictions resulting from the national lockdown that all proposals for this opportunity will require the flexibility to be delivered, at least in part, remotely. Torbay Youth Trust is seeking applications from artists, workshop leaders and creative practitioners to deliver a project with their young carers that will celebrate the “development and evolution of their caring roles”. The project is to be delivered by March 31st and will work with three individual groups of young carers across three age ranges, Primary School 7-10, 11 to 14, and 15 to 18. Each session will work with up to 8 young people (maximum 5 in face-to-face settings) with participants producing their own individual project that should come together to form part of a collective whole in a final showcase. Project Goals and Criteria The main aim of the project is to celebrate the roles of the young carers supported by the Torbay Youth Trust, with a focus on their changing role during their time with the trust. In addition, Torbay Youth Trust has the following ambitions and requirements for the project: Submissions are welcomed across all artforms; The project should allow each young person to produce their own individual piece of work, with each individual piece coming together to form a collective whole; this may take the form of an exhibition or showcase, a combined installation, or other presentation format that brings together the work of the three groups; The project will in some part be exhibited at Artizan Gallery in 2021, but should not be limited to this display setting and applicants may wish to take into consideration the opportunity for this installation to tour to additional sites; The project should be accessible and rewarding, allowing the young person to achieve a complete work over one or multiple sessions across the project period, inclusive of any finishing processes such as firing; The project should be consistent across the three workshops, but also take into account differing abilities across each age group; The project will be documented as it progresses collaboratively between the successful producer and Torbay Youth Trust staff; By necessity, due to the current circumstances, any activity must conform with current lockdown regulations and may need to be delivered remotely, but should plan to include as much “face-to-face” activity as practical (see section 4.1); For accessibility purposes, face-to-face activity delivered as part of the project must be delivered in Torbay. Most importantly, the project should be exciting and engaging for the young people at the heart of Torbay Youth Trust’s work. Eligibility and Applicant Specification Essential The applicant should: Have professional experience of the main artform in their proposal; Have previous experience working with young people; Be able to provide examples of previous projects and their outcomes; Be capable of delivering project activity remotely via use of appropriate tools; Demonstrate an appreciation for the project ambitions and ethos of Torbay Youth Trust. Preferable The applicant may: Have experience working with young people with additional needs and complex backgrounds; Hold a current DBS check, but this is not essential as the young people will be accompanied by two members of Torbay Youth Trust staff; Be based, reside, or carry out a proportion of their work in Torbay. Fee and Expectations This call is to award one successful project proposal. There is a fee of £2000.00 available to the selected applicant to deliver the project which must cover all the outcomes of the proposal including: All materials and resources Presentation of final project Processing such as firing Any required equipment Payments to any partners, collaborators or service providers The selected applicant is responsible for administering all aspects of the budget for the project and Artizan Collective will release funds incrementally as invoices are received or costs are incurred across the duration of the project. For further information including COVID Secure considerations, Risk Assessments, Evaluation, and Timelines, please download the full submission PDF here. The deadline for applications is Midnight February 5th. All workshop activity will need to be completed by March 31st All application enquiries should be directed to jacobbrandon@artizangallery.co.uk

If you haven’t already heard, we’re engaging with the wonderful pandemic arts scheme #ArtistSupportPledge. Don’t know what that is? Well, here’s the two-minute explainer: It was all started by a guy called Matthew Burrows, an artist type, who could see the big burning issue around the arts in COVID, that, as is regularly the case, it was not to be a priority. Income streams ran dry as exhibitions were cancelled, studios closed, and audiences evaporated overnight. And the support that was there for visual artists? Well, there was nothing really. So, Matthew came up with a devilishly simple idea using a free tool that many artists already had at their disposal, and those that didn’t could setup in a couple of minutes; Instagram and a hashtag. And just like that, #ArtistSupportPledge was born. In his words, “Artist support pledge is a culture and economy in support of artists and makers. It is now a global movement of connected communities committed to an equitable and sustainable economy for artists and makers of all countries, media and ethnicities.” The process is simple. Take a work with a maximum value of £200 and post it to the platform adding #artistsupportpledge to the post. Supporters of the cause, collectors, and arts enthusiasts, browse the hashtag and if they find a piece they like, message the artist and make a purchase. There are no membership fees, no commissions, the only requirement is that if an artist finds fame and fortune to the tune of £1000 worth of sales they re-invest in the scheme and buy a #artistsupportpledge piece from one of their fellow community members. It has proven to be a popular platform for promoting, sharing, and selling work that has undoubtedly done a lot of good during these difficult times. We experienced this for ourselves when we adopted a slight variation on the pledge as part of our 2020 Winter Open Exhibition. Not practicing artists ourselves, we determined to reinvest in work under £200 featured in our exhibition every time we hit £1000 worth of sales. The artist receives payment and the work immediately goes back on sale as part of the galleries private collection, helping us to pass more profits back to the people that make our work possible. To date, we’ve made more than ten pledges and for 2021 we’re expanding the programme. We’ll now be applying the pledge to all sales across our collections not just those in current exhibitions. This means that every sale we make pushes us towards our investment goals. As well as this, we’re expanding the pool from which we’ll select work. Rather than it just being from our own collection, we’re inviting the wider Instagram #artistsupportpledge community to be in with a chance of receiving our pledge. All artists have to do, is follow @artizangallery on Instagram, and tag us in any #artistsupportpledge posts they make. Whenever we reach a target, we’ll include these works when making our selections. So, if you’re out there on the internet engaging with this wonderful arty initiative, make yourself known to us, we’re excited to show our support. #MatthewBurrows #ArtizanTorquay #EnglishRiviera

It’s all beginning to feel a bit “Groundhog Day” isn’t it? Add another notch on the lockdown tally and prepare yourself for the daily “Boris Briefings” because apparently something went wrong New Year’s Eve and January has confirmed we all in fact time travelled back to the start of 2020. Always keen to jump on the bandwagon, if the 2021 trend is to repeat oneself, we thought we’d take the opportunity to retread some positive ground from our pandemic response, with two cultural initiatives that we set up that have been helping support the arts in Torbay. The first, is our Postcard Collections. This all started as part of our plans to help artists take part in our Winter Open Exhibition. With the anticipation the exhibition might not even be able to go ahead, we decided to run free submissions to the show, instead asking artists to donate small postcard works that we could use to fundraise or otherwise help promote the exhibition. What we didn't expect, was the generosity of all the wonderful artists taking part, because what they donated in many cases can hardly be described as "postcard artworks" and we now have a stunning collection of small, unique, gift pieces exclusive to Artizan. After a bit of a rethink, we came up with a fundraising initiative which has been really popular. Somewhere between a raffle and a blind auction, anyone who wants to support us and our artists can make a donation of as little as £10 to have the chance to select work from the collection. You can find out more, make a donation, and get your hands on a stunning piece of original art at art-hub.co.uk/postcards The second, is the Artist Support Pledge. This one’s a little bit bigger than us, a global initiative established on Instagram in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Creatives can post their artworks using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivalent). Buyers then simply message the artist to make an enquiry. Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artists through the pledge. We're supporting our artists by working with #artistsupportpledge and promoting exhibited works under £200. Starting with our Winter Open Exhibition, we regularly shared posts from the show with #artistsupportpledge and every time we reached £1000 worth of sales, we reinvested in work from our artists. The piece would then immediately go back on display, but the artist will receive payment straight away and see the benefit of a sale. You can find out more, view works under £200, and make a purchase that contributes to our pledge fund at art-hub.co.uk/artistsupportpledge #BeachHutMagazine #CultureUpdate #February2020 #ArtistSupportPledge #PostcardArtwork

Back in 2020, in one of the few short windows we were able to open, it was great to participate in Devon Open Studios, which thanks to the exceptional Devon Artist Network Committee went ahead against all odds. With the year having been pretty quiet we were determined to put on a bit of a show, and thanks to a lot of hard work and some good fortune we were able to do just that, with a huge Summer Open show, a retrospective showing of never before seen works of Richard Slater, and an active studio hosting with Open Studios Bursary winner William Mills. It was all topped off with a new event for us that we hoped would be a big hit with Devon Open Studios audiences, The Sculpture Studio. And we’re pleased to say, a big hit it was! The Sculpture Studio brought together eight talented 3D artists from Devon and beyond to showcase with us - Kate Lyons Miller, Eilean Elland, Ezra Bailey, David Newman, Rose Ellis, Bev Knowlden, Elisabeth Hadley and Gesche Buecker - and despite the unusual year, we welcomed one of our biggest audiences for the annual event. We even extended the show, with work from the group ultimately being shown right up the end of the year. And in 2021, we’ve decided to keep the ball rolling. Not only will The Sculpture Studio be returning for Devon Open Studios in September, but it will also have a permanent year round place with us, as we look forward to opening South Devon’s first dedicated Sculpture Gallery. Welcoming back some of the 2020 artists and also inviting some new faces, the Sculpture Gallery will occupy our newest space at Lucius Street, with five artists currently confirmed to join our ranks and two still to come. We’ll be announcing details of some of the amazing work you can expect to see over the coming weeks, and until we re-open, you’ll have the chance to get a first glimpse of collections online. To be the first to hear announcements about our new Sculpture Gallery, make sure your signed up to our newsletter, and if you want to get a feel for what it’s all about, why not check out The Sculpture Studio as it was in the 2020 Devon Open Studios event. #DevonOpenStudios #DevonArtistNetwork #TheSculptureStudio #SculptureGallery #ArtizanTorquay #EzraBailey #KateLyonsMiller #EileanElland #DavidNewman #RoseEllis #BevKnowlden #ElisabethHadley #GescheBuecker

I was thrilled this year to have a painting selected to be shown with the 'ING DISCERNING EYE ART EXHIBITION IN LONDON'. 'National Carols' was chosen by the art collector Mervyn Metcalf from 6000 works down to just over 184 pieces in his gallery including my painting. This is an amazing art exhibition, that, sadly, as with many exhibitions in 2020 ended up online only. If you have any spare time please do log on and have a look. My painting National Carols was inspired by a trip last December. I went to london to meet a friend. We had parted and I was having a wander before catching my bus home. It was a special night, a beautiful night and I do think the painting works really well to capture the atmosphere of the evening. There's something else with this painting. This does not happen every time. Some works just have that extra edge, something almost unnerving and yet very beautiful. The screen unfortunately does not do it justice. In my work I am currently drawn to what entertains us. I am pulled into certain situations normally with brightly coloured lights that have the effect on people and objects around them to give a feeling of warmth, cold or a mystery of some kind, often casting shadows. In this painting I was interested in how the lights connect us. The carol singers literally had them strung around each other. I get a certain energy from lights, a buzz, I think we are all a bit like moths to the flame. We use the lights around entertainment to attract attention and in my case they help to lift your spirits. This special painting was not pre planned, I don't think about what I will paint next. I let my mind wander and my feet take me to new situations. If I find something that interests me I will take pictures and make sketches which may or may not make it to the canvas. A picture like this is so rare, everything has to come together at once. For an artist to paint they must be inspired, be in the right frame of mind and full of energy. This year Mervyn Metcalf said about his choices: 'In my mind art should talk to you. It should draw an emotion. You should notice the piece as you walk by. It’s something you are excited to tell your friends about. The works I have selected for my virtual wall all said something to me. They all had a presence that made them stand out from 6000 works I saw over two long days on zoom. If you are lucky enough to purchase a piece in the exhibition then get to know more about the artist. Follow them on Instagram. Post the work once it’s hung and tag the artist – let them see how you display their talented work. Maybe in future add more works from that same artist into your collection. If you see a piece you like, buy it. Don’t worry what someone else might think of you. Collecting and displaying art is showing a part of your soul. If a piece of art has spoken to your soul then it's right for you. You have made a connection.' https://www.ingdeexhibition.org/mervyn-metcalf #jaynefarleigh #ingdiscerningeyeexhibition #contemporaryart

As an Academician with the RWA, and, given that it has been a year where opportunities to show work have been a rarity, I was delighted to be invited to display two of my works in their 168th Annual Open Exhibition that was due to open on 2nd January. But alas it is not to be and although all work has been delivered and is hung, this exhibition, like so many has had to be postponed. One can only imagine how eerie the space must feel, bereft of the crowds of people who would normally attend, lacking those murmurs of reaction and appreciation and conversations around the pieces that made it through the selection process. All works can still be viewed online via their website and whilst no substitute for the experience of visiting a space and to be able to take in the diverse array of art that is a signature of this annual show, at least it is something until such time as the show can open to the public. Shows such as this are to be treasured as they invite submissions from both established and emerging artists working across all mediums, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and mixed media and offer that rare chance to discover a new artist or invest in a well-known name. https://www.rwa.org.uk/collections/events/products/rwa-168-annual-open-exhibition More about my selected pieces View All Works Here Jennifer Harris RWA Academician #contemporaryart #jenniferharris #RWABristol