Call Out: bOlder Greater Manchester Visual Artist Talent Programme for Artists 50+

Castlefield Gallery is pleased to announce bOlder 2020/21. 

Application deadline: 12 noon, Monday 28th September 2020

Castlefield Gallery is calling for applications to bOlder 2020/21, a talent development programme for contemporary visual artists aged 50+, living in Greater Manchester who are currently unemployed or economically inactive*.

We aim to select one artist from each Greater Manchester borough/city to take part in the scheme; a programme of individual and collective development. We are looking for applications from those who would benefit from an intense period of creative and professional development support and can commit to the duration of the programme (on a part-time basis). Each artist will receive support towards their costs of up to £250, 1-to-1 sessions with Castlefield Gallery Director Helen Wewiora and Castlefield Gallery Curator Matthew Pendergast, coaching sessions with a qualified artist coach and professional development workshops. 

The aims of the bOlder 2020/21 programme are to: promote creativity in later life; support artists aged 50+years to progress towards being economically active creative professionals; support the creation of high quality contemporary art in Greater Manchester; support vibrant and diverse cultural activity in Greater Manchester by fostering greater cultural participation. Successful applicants will be selected in relation to how strongly they can demonstrate how participating in the programme will be valuable to their creative and professional development, whilst taking into account the aims of the programme.

By Greater Manchester we mean Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. By visual arts we mean art forms including, but not limited to: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation, artist’s film, moving image, sound, live art, public art, socially engaged practices, design, craft.

bOlder 2020/21 is funded by the European Social Fund Community Grants Scheme and follows the successful bOlder 2019/20 programme, commissioned by GMCA as part of Great Place GM.

MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY: 

bOlder 2020/21 Programme information and Guidance for Applicants

bOlder 2020/21 Application Form

Diversity monitoring survey

If you have access needs that could be a barrier to applying or taking part in this programme 

Please contact Jane Lawson at associates@castlefieldgallery.co.uk If you need to contact us by phone, as at the time of writing our premises remain closed and we are working towards reopening them, please ring on 0161 832 8034. Please leave a voicemail with your name, what you are calling about and your contact number and we will ring you back as soon as we can. Please note Castlefield Gallery office hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm. Castlefield Gallery offices are closed on Mondays.

Access, Equality and Diversity

We are aware that not everyone has internet access and access to IT equipment at home, and will take steps to make sure that this is not a barrier to anyone’s participation.

Castlefield Gallery is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities in all aspects of our work, including management, employment practices with both paid workers and volunteers, access to services and service provision. Castlefield Gallery fully supports the principles of equality and diversity. Castlefield Gallery recognises that certain groups and individuals in society are disadvantaged due to discrimination directed against them. We aim to remove any barriers, bias or discrimination that prevents individuals or groups from realising their potential and to develop an organisational culture that positively values diversity.

Castlefield Gallery is fully wheelchair accessible and assistance dogs are welcome on site. 

*NB Economically active means not currently engaged in paid work, not recently seeking paid work and/or unable to start paid work in the immediate. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are not in any kind of paid employment. If an applicant is registered with HMRC as self-employed, they must cancel that registration before being accepted onto the programme; this is a requirement of the European Social Fund. Applicants can be in receipt of benefits or pensions.

Image: Sabrina Fuller – Crystal