Contemporary arts agency Arts&Heritage (www.artsandheritage.org.uk) is pleased to announce the artists that will take part in its Meeting Point programme in 2019/20.
Artists Mel Brimfield (working with composer Gwyneth Herbert), Sophie Dixon, Tod Hanson, Ed Kluz, Lindsey Mendick, Susan Stockwell and Dominic Watson will partner with six museums across the North of England to create a new piece of work in response to the museums and their collections.
Now in its third year, Meeting Point has gained a reputation for its innovative approach to forging relationships between artists and museums and heritage spaces. The programme offers an opportunity for artists to work with unique collections and gives access to the knowledge of museum curators whilst supporting small and medium scale museums to develop their skills and commission new work.
Meeting Point is funded by Arts Council England through Arts&Heritage’s National Portfolio Organisation funding. The programme aims to bring new visitors to the participating museums, to enable audiences to view collections and history in a different way, and to support the future sustainability of museums and heritage sites.
The artists and museums are:
- Sophie Dixon working with Grace Darling Museum (Bamburgh, Northumberland)
- Lindsey Mendick and Dominic Watson working with Washington Old Hall (Washington, Tyne and Wear)
- Ed Kluz working with Colne Valley Museum (Huddersfield, Yorkshire)
- Mel Brimfield and Gwyneth Herbert working with Kelham Island Museum (Sheffield, Yorkshire)
- Tod Hanson working with Port Sunlight (Wirral, Merseyside)
- Susan Stockwell working with Warrington Museum & Art Gallery (Warrington, Cheshire)
Steph Allen, Executive Director at Arts&Heritage, said: “The commissioned artists working with our Meeting Point museums in 2019 and 2020 put forward ideas that were new, exciting and reflected upon the museums and their collections in engaging and innovative ways.
“The process to shortlist and commission the artists has been rigorous and has included a presentation by the museums to a group of over 65 artists alongside site visits and interviews. It has been a valuable learning experience for the museums, which is a key part of the Meeting Point programme.
“We’re looking forward to working with the artists to develop their ideas and present six brand new artworks at our Meeting Point museums that will showcase their collections and locations in a new light.”
Mel Brimfield said: “Composer Gwyneth Herbert and I are delighted to be working with Kelham Island Museum – we’re drawing together Men’s Shed Association members from across the UK to work in collaboration with us. It’s already shaping up to be an absolute treat to work with such an extraordinary army of makers and enthusiasts!”
Sophie Dixon said: “I’m delighted to have been selected to work with the Grace Darling museum. This is an amazing opportunity to work closely with their collection and dedicated team to realise this very exciting project.”
Tod Hanson said: “I’m thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to be working with Port Sunlight Village Trust. Fantastical architecture on psychedelic daisy-covered lawns. The village is the frothy topping of a gigantic soap factory and its pop graphic commercialism.”
Ed Kluz said: “Having spent the last 12 years researching historic buildings and objects as part of my own practice, I was really excited by the opportunity presented by Arts&Heritage to work directly with a museum and its collection as a means of pushing my own processes and ideas. I’m absolutely delighted to have been selected to work with the Colne Valley Museum. The collection housed in the museum is very much alive and being used as intended by the wonderful community of volunteers. The hub of expertise and specialisms in various aspects of craft and making gives the museum the feel of an art school. As a maker I’m looking forward to exchanging ideas and skills in both directions which will result in an exciting collaborative series of artworks.”
Lindsey Mendick and Dominic Watson said: “We’re absolutely ecstatic to be working with Washington Old Hall. To have the opportunity to work with such a historically rich National Trust building and all the wonderful people connected to the site is a really unique opportunity!”
Susan Stockwell said: “I am very excited to be working with Warrington Museum and Art Gallery, it’s a dream come true for me. Its extensive and remarkable collection full of social history, hidden stories, material culture and cabinets of curiosity will be an inspiration for my work. The way that Meeting Point encourages the juxtaposition of contemporary art with historic artefacts and sites is enlightened and visionary. Developing an exhibition about the collection and in collaboration with Warrington’s museums staff and public will be a great privilege.”
Further details of the individual artists’ commissions will be released later in the year.
Since 2016, Meeting Point has worked with 19 museums and 24 curators to create 19 new artworks and over 100 workshops. Arts&Heritage is currently inviting applications for its most recent Meeting Point programme with a deadline of 31 May. For more information and to download an application form, visit www.artsandheritage.org.uk.