The progressive visual arts charity based in Hulme will use the funding over the next 18 months to build on the progressive work Venture Arts do in the North West to support and promote learning disabled artists, and continue to champion equality, diversity and artistic excellence in contemporary visual arts.
Developments will include a new studio space in addition to the current studio in Hulme, Manchester, which will allow more emerging artists to develop their own personal practice and work with other lead artists in the field. This grant will also help the organisation to diversify its income streams to become a stronger more resilient organisation in order to grow and develop its artistic programme reaching out across the North of England
Amanda Sutton, Director of Venture Arts said: “We are over the moon to receive this funding from Arts Council England. With our current ACE funded project OutsiderXchanges already in progress, this feels like the perfect time to build on the momentum and springboard our organisation into an exciting future.
Our OutsiderXchanges project will be presented at the Manchester Contemporary in September. Our other plans include a symposium on Tuesday 18 October, hosted at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts, to discuss collaborative practice in contemporary visual art, and present the work of emerging artists both with and without learning disabilities. We’re really excited about embarking on further projects and reaching a wider audience with our work.”
Howard Rifkin, Chair of the Board of Trustees said: “This funding marks an exciting and ambitious new phase for Venture Arts. It will enable the organisation to offer further opportunities to emerging and exciting visual artists in the North West. It also enables our team to share their best practice with other leaders in the field, to work towards a greater diversity in the visual arts on a national level.”
Photo credit -Yes I Wanntt Do Trricksserr, Barry Anthony Finan courtesy of OutsiderXchanges
