Material Matters: In Conversation

Deadline: 5pm on 15^th November 2024

Taking place at Create CIC’s community crafts hub in Camborne, this course is for artists from any discipline—including, but not limited to, printmakers, painters, or textile artists. The focus is on how engaging with ceramics or glass can transform and inform their existing creative dialogue, regardless of their primary medium. The course is designed to inspire material exploration for artists who are already established in their own discipline, providing the opportunity to expand their practice through the voice of a new material.

Create CIC is a collaboration between four professionals: Jane Smith, Angela Hatherell, Helen Eastham and Lois Jones. The team share a passion for community engagement and accessibility for all through the diverse disciplines of glass, ceramics and jewellery. Taken over the Donald Thomas Centre in Camborne in 2021, Create has quickly embedded into the communities in the area and has been running community events and workshops working with ceramics, glass and small metal, as well as professional development opportunities for artists.

The course aims to:

• Provide artists with the opportunity to experiment with new materials and broaden their practice
• Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and the exchange of ideas
• Foster artistic growth through hands-on learning and reflective exploration
• Build a supportive, long-lasting creative community

Course Structure
The course will run for 10 weeks, with each week including tutorials and skills training with expert guidance in glass or ceramics. Studio time will be held on Fridays from 10.30am to 4pm. Also included are two weeks of business support and exhibition preparation:

6 participants will benefit from:

• Group tutorials to encourage shared learning and discussion
• 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with in-house clay and glass artists, offering personalised guidance and feedback
• A business mentoring session to help artists explore professional development opportunities
• Studio access to experiment and create with clay or glass
• The opportunity to exhibit and present work, focusing on the process of exploration rather than a final product

The programme is open to all artists, including self-taught and self identifying practitioners, who are excited to push their creative boundaries through material exploration. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Cornwall and able to commit to all 10 weeks of the course. Applicants must have an established creative practice and are ready to explore how working with a new material—either clay or glass—can transform and enhance their existing artistic dialogue.

6 places on this course are fully subsidised. We may be able to offer additional places at the cost of £895. Create CIC will provide studio space, equipment, and all necessary materials for ceramic and glass exploration.

The fully subsidised places are open to Creative Kernow Associates members only. Although you don’t need to be a member to apply for those places, you will be required to join if you are selected. The membership fee starts from £5/month.

The first four weeks will consist of skills lessons in glass and ceramics, held on Fridays (Jan 17th, 24th, and 31st, 7th Feb) from 10am to 12.30pm, followed by open studio time from 1.30pm to 4pm. These sessions are designed to help artists integrate new technical skills into their existing practice, focusing on either ceramics or glass with time in the studio to play.

Week 5 : 14th Feb, 1-to-1 tutorials. With studio access from 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Participants will meet for 1-to-1 sessions with ceramic and glass artist educators and begin to formulate their ideas for their self-directed piece.

Half Term (non-compulsory): 21st Feb. Studio time available to work on own projects. Recommended group crit to formulate ideas: 10.30am – 4pm.

Week 6: 28th Feb. Begin own projects: studio time: 10.30am – 4pm with tutors available for support.

Week 7: 7th March. Work will begin on individual projects.

Week 8: 14th March. Group Crit with tutors re: exhibition prep.

Week 9: 21st March. Studio time available.

Week 10: 28th March. Studio time available 10.30am – 1pm. Business mentoring and advice with Creative Kernow Associates.

Date of Exhibition to be held at Create CIC:

Set up Friday 2nd May. Preview: 6pm – 7pm

Take down: 10th May

Networking & Community Building

This program aims to foster a creative network of artists who can support and collaborate with each other long after the course ends. The final exhibition will provide a platform for feedback, reflection, and new connections within the wider arts community.

Given the anticipated high demand for this course, artists are required to download and fill in the application form below, and submit alongside documentation of your work in your chosen format, including but not limited to:

• Videos showcasing process and/or finished pieces
• N.b: If submitting video files we recommend keeping each file under 100-200 MB for easy viewing and sharing. If sending via email, aim for 25-50 MB per video to fit common attachment limits. Use MP4 (H.264) format with 720p or 1080p resolution to balance quality and size.
• Traditional portfolio images.
• Link to website including some explanation of your creative process.
• Images/sketchbook/notes including explanation of your creative process.
• Any multimedia or creative formats, including work-in-progress, that effectively communicate the artist’s ideas.

Application Details:

Please send your application form and portfolio to Angela Hatherell angela@createcic.co.uk by 15th November 2024.

Applications are open until 15th November. The selection panel will be directors: Lois Jones, Angela Hatherell and Jane Smith and Creative Kernow Associate: Tonia Lu. Selection week will be 18th/19th Nov. We will let everyone know by 20th November 2024.