Disruptive Impressions: A Printmaking Residency at Artcore Gallery, in partnership with The Smallprint Company.

Artcore is excited to announce a call for artists for our upcoming printmaking residency, centred around the theme of ‘disruption.’ 

In today’s world, we are witnessing numerous conflicts that disrupt our sense of security and shake our sense of unity. From recent tensions within the UK to the ongoing strife in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and political turmoil in countries like Bangladesh, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the chaos. These events not only impact those directly involved but also disrupt life globally. The ripple effects of these disruptions bring life to a standstill. People feel lost, emotionally disconnected, and caught in a whirlwind of fear and confusion. This alters the fabric of society, influencing how we interact with one another and challenging our sense of belonging. Families are torn apart, communities are fractured, and the once-familiar rhythms of daily life are thrown into disarray.

Are we heading towards a larger global conflict? What can we, as individuals and as a society, do to nurture peace and understanding? How do these conflicts shape our identities, our art, and our collective consciousness?

We are excited to invite printmakers to apply for our residency program, offering an opportunity to explore the theme of ‘disruption’ through an artistic lens. In collaboration with The Smallprint Company, we will provide selected artists-in-residence with valuable support, drawing from the company’s extensive expertise in traditional printmaking. Chris Barker, the founder of this renowned letterpress and design studio in Derby, will mentor the artists throughout the residency.

Additionally, artists will have the chance to connect with the CHHAAP Foundation, an India-based printmaking trust. CHHAAP is well known for its work in creating print portfolios, conducting workshops on printmaking techniques, and hosting talks by distinguished and visiting artists. The foundation also plays a pivotal role in promoting printmaking techniques and organizing print exhibitions both nationally and internationally.

This residency aims to encourage artists to express their feelings, thoughts, and observations about the current state of the world.

We hope to create a space for dialogue, reflection, and creative expression, allowing participants to explore the complexities of the world we live in and the possibility of peaceful coexistence in a fractured world.

We hope that this residency will inspire you to confront these disruptions head-on, using your art as a powerful medium to explore the tension between chaos and order, despair and hope, division and unity.

This opportunity will be for 2 artists.

We are offering each artist:

• A studio space for the duration of the residency

• An opportunity to exhibit the work produced during the residency

• Your very own artist blog

• A chance to deliver talks at the gallery

• Mentoring support throughout the residency

• A catalogue of the works you create during the residency

• An option to deliver workshops or participatory projects

• Publicity and marketing support

• A bursary of £1000 

• In-house exhibition install support worth £500

We would anticipate the artists being present at Artcore (3, Charnwood Street, Derby DE1 2GT) for at least three days each week through the residency period.

There is no additional budget for travel and accommodation, so artists are required to live within a reasonable travelling distance of Derby, or be able to base themselves in Derby for the residency period.

We expect artists to have a commitment to developing their practice, and to engaging in dialogue with the local communities and the wider international contemporary arts and cultural sector.

We welcome artists with an interest in exploring how sharing space and collaborative working can inform the development of their work.

Residency Timetable:

• Deadline for submissions – Please send your submissions by midnight on Sunday, 15 September

• Announcement of selected artists – Selections will be announced on Friday 20 September

• Residency start date – Monday, 30 September

• Residency end date – Saturday, 16 November

• Exhibition dates: Friday, 22 November – Saturday, 18 January

How to apply:

Applications should be made through Curatorspace: https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/disruptive-impresssions-a-printmaking-residency/8589