Future Forward 1 Scheme

Future Forward 1 is an exciting new mentoring programme tailored to the needs of mid-career designer makers from the West Midlands region. It offers mid-career designer makers the opportunity to be mentored by an arts professional who has knowledge and experience of designer makers practices and market opportunities. The aim is to support the artistic development, advance the quality of work and the ability to access new marketing opportunities of the selected mid-career designer maker.

 

This year’s 3 selected designer makers are:

 

Cathy Miles

Cathy Miles is a metal smith who explores narrative and character drawn from the everyday through the use of wire and found materials. Recently these interests have culminated in a series of over sized tea ware and a set of 'Useless tools.'

 

In undertaking the FF1 scheme Cathy hopes to develop her new direction of work, drawing on everyday objects and experiences to form a more ambitious series, possibly culminating in a solo show and developing the potential of this new work to respond to commissioning opportunities. She would also like to explore her interest in writing and see how this can be utilised with her practice.

 

Karina Thompson

Karina Thompson is a textile artist based in Birmingham who has been exhibiting her work since 1987.  She makes textile wall hangings and framed wall pieces for private interiors and public spaces, using stitch, slashing and heat bonding processes.

 

Karina has two main aims for the FF1 Scheme.  Firstly, to look at ways of raising her profile for large scale Art Quilts within British Contemporary Crafts and secondly to investigate marketing strategies for a new body of digital stitch work.  She is looking forward to the chance to discuss the rationale and themes within her work and examine opportunities to exhibit or work to commission.

 

Melanie Tomlinson

Melanie Tomlinson is an illustrator and metal smith. Her printed tin tableaux are inspired by a passion for nature and the environment and work centres on an interaction with the natural world. The scenes she creates sometimes have roots within other cultures and may appear deliberately mysterious or strange. Traces of Romanian culture can often be seen within her work as well as themes from folklore, allowing her to explore the world of the unfamiliar and transform its stories and symbols.

 

Through the FF1 scheme Melanie is interested in engaging in critical dialogue with her mentor, pushing the ideas and boundaries of her practice in new and exciting ways.  She is looking to explore the development of her work in a public art setting and working across other disciplines. 

 

Further information about the scheme

The intention is for the mentor and mentee to work together to assist the mentee to develop their practice; making new work of artistic quality and to exhibit or engage with a project which will raise their profile regionally, nationally and/or internationally. The programme will provide focused discussion and regular one to one support (9 x ½ days) from an experienced mentor of a period of 9-12 months.

 

The dedicated mentor will support the individual mid-career designer maker by making studio visits, engaging in creative/critical dialogue, discussing a schedule of work and research, planning and accessing new market opportunities. The mentors and mentees will also be involved in activities such as; group discussion days, research trips and evaluation feedback. The mentees will benefit from the mentors experience, research, knowledge and professional networks. Additional support will come from the mentors’ ability to be a sounding board and critic for new ideas. The mentees have all been awarded a bursary of £2100 for materials, promotion, marketing, travel expenses and will be giving a presentation at a dissemination DMWM event.

 

DMWM will be running the programme again towards the end of 2009, so if you are interested in applying for the next round, sign up to our mailing list by clicking here to ensure you receive regular updates about all relevant designer maker opportunities including the Future Forward programme.