We’re looking for a Textile Artist & a Social Practice Artist to lead on our arts and heritage project Ein Milltir Sgwâr – Our Square Mile.
Closing date: 17th December 5pm
Awel Aman Tawe has developed environmental, arts, education and enterprise projects in the community for 22 years. We are currently renovating the former Cwmgors primary school into an exciting new Zero-Carbon Centre for artists, educators, and entrepreneurs in the Amman & Swansea Valleys: Hwb y Gors. This centre will value an arts-based approach across all elements of the building, recognising imagination, improvisation and play as vital to developing a sustainable future.
In the 6 months prior to the opening of the centre, we are working with the Tawe Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers to run a textiles and heritage project – “Ein Milltir Sgwâr / Our Square Mile” – that will involve and engage local people in creating striking pieces of work for the centre.
Throughout the process of creating original and imaginative textile pieces, the project aims to a) establish the arts as an integral component within the centre, b) engage the community in the development and launch of the centre through the arts and c) promote the Hwb among creatives and freelance artists with whom we will develop our ongoing artistic programme.
The project will involve gathering memories, fragments, photographs etc, textiles skills sharing, and the creation of the final piece/s of work. The pieces will be produced in workshops with community groups, ex-pupils, and local residents. There will be a commitment to making Welsh and English speakers feel equally welcome and to making community members who have disabilities, or who are on low incomes, feel fully involved.
Who should apply?
We are on the look-out for 2 creative practitioners to co-lead this project – a Textile Artist and a Social Practice Artist – who will work alongside the Tawe Guild and Awel Aman Tawe to capture, preserve and exhibit people’s memories through a creative process. We are particularly excited to hear from practitioners who have experience of working with community, adopting sustainable practices and an interest in local history.
Textile artist: We’re looking for an established textile artist who will help to create the overall vision for the piece/s and guide the community and Tawe Guild in achieving this. Tawe Guild members have particular skills in many forms of weaving, along with spinning and dyeing; they also have a keen interest in other areas of textile art, such as felt-making and stitch. We therefore hope for someone experienced in a range of textile techniques to lead a project which draws on, and develops, these skills and interests
Social Practice Artist: We’re looking for a Welsh speaker who is experienced in using the arts as a way of engaging people in projects. We are excited about involving people locally in sharing their stories and memories of the area, and embedding these in the textile pieces. We hope to find someone who shares this enthusiasm.
Fees: £5,000 per artist.
We expect each artist to work 20 days over the course of the project – 6 months.
Location:
Cwmgors and surrounding area
Dates:
Application deadline: 17th December 2021
Shortlisting of candidates: 11th January 2022
Interview date: 17th January 2022
Project start date: 1st February (though this will depend on the availability of our selected artists)
Application process:
There is no formal application form for this appointment, but please send us your Expression of Interest, explaining why you are interested in this opportunity, how you might go about leading on this project and what relevant experience you can bring to it.
Include your CV, along with a summary of your recent experience and any relevant testimonials and links to examples of your work. Please also include contact details for two references.
Email your application to Emily Hinshelwood: emily@awel.coop and cc it to taweguild@gmail.com and angie.dickinson@live.co.uk