This programme is made possible through a collaboration involving the Cathedral, the City of Gloucester and the University of Gloucestershire as lead partner and coordinator.
Commencing in 1997, the Artist in Residence programme at Gloucester Cathedral has run continuously with the support of a generous grant from Arts Council England. The work that the artists have created during this programme has made a major contribution concerning how the Cathedral can be seen and interpreted within a contemporary context, as well as assisting the professional careers of these artists.
For the Artist in Residence programme to continue beyond June of next year, when the current cycle of ACE funding comes to an end, it is seeking further funding in the region of £12k pa for the next three years to supplement the amount it hopes to be awarded by ACE. Should you be interested, or know of an organisation that might be interested in funding all or part of the £12k, would you please contact Professor Andrew Stonyer, coordinator of the programme, at astonyer@glos.ac.uk
The residency is awarded annually to a visual artist in the early stages of their career. The artist receives living expenses, a materials allowance, a studio and living accommodation. Residency artists are expected to become involved in an aspect of the Cathedral, in ways that inform their practice and enhance a wider understanding of the Cathedral in terms of its architecture; liturgy, congregation and history etc. During the residency they exhibit their work in the Cathedral with a major exhibition at the end. Artists are primarily expected to concentrate on their practice, though they do some teaching at the University of Gloucestershire, and a workshop in a Gloucester school.
The residency is advertised annually attracting around 60 applicants from around the world. Normally the successful applicant is in the first stages of establishing their career as a professional artist, following completion of an MA or similar. The most recent artist in residence was James Wright, whose residency finished very successfully at the end of May. In addition to his other achievements, James was a prize-winner in ‘Jerwood Contemporary Painters, 2008’ as well as in the ‘Jerwood Drawing Prize, 2006’.
James was preceded as Artist in Residence by Elpida Hadzi-Vasilva 08/09, Onya McCausland 08/07 and Catherine Herbert 07/06 etc. The current Artist in Residence is David Behar who commenced this July. David runs a very informative blog on his residency which gives a revealing account of the day to day issues and considerations that arise in connection with the Cathedral that are of interest to David. This can be found at http://davidbeharperahia.wordpress.com/ .
What will shortly follow is a brief chronological survey of the work of the artists involved in the residency, together with their accompanying statements.