Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
Birmingham City University
Turning Point West Midlands, Major Visual Arts Research Network (2010 - present)
Turning Point West Midlands (TPWM) trialled the use of a multi-layered model for strengthening visual arts activities through a regional network led by an HEI http://www.tpwestmidlands.org.uk/. The unusual character of the experiment is the scope and breadth of the players in the network, including 5 universities, 4 major galleries and many other venues, plus a range of art stimuli used to operate the scheme.
Established in 2010 TPWM is one of the most successful visual arts research networks in the UK. This innovative model addresses the need to include arts-based programmes that are often left at the margins of university environments including micro residences, touring exhibitions, experimental craft projects. The network has three novel features.
Firstly, TPWM has rapidly linked galleries, museums, universities, local authorities, national agencies and businesses in a formal regional partnership. This has led to an impressive list of deliverables including establishing New Art West Midlands http://newartwestmidlands.org/ (NAWM) the major new showcase of the best graduate work from across the region’s five universities and selected by internationally renowned curators and artists. The venues are; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Barber Institute, Grand Union and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. It had over 49,000 visitors in its first year.
The second innovative feature is the Artist Research & Development Programme. This programme, led by The New Art Gallery Walsall, provides artist business development sessions, curator visits to artists’ studios and an associated annual research visit for 10 artists to Frieze Art Fair with the Contemporary Art Society.
Finally the research network offers annually four Artist Residencies (£6,000 each) and two writing bursaries with mentoring (£4,500 each) held in venues across the region.
The notable achievement is the continued development and viability of such a broad ranging scheme and how it can be effectively led from a university art school base.
