***Apologies for any cross-postings***
NEW WORK NETWORK


Follow this link to view this opportunity online: http://tinyurl.com/5t4wftq

Would you like to root through the past of ‘New Work Network’ and replay the records?

NWN offers a bursary (min 3 months) to support a project examining our archival holdings and representing our historic and ongoing role in the development of Live Art and interdisciplinary practices in the UK.

DEADLINE: Monday 4th April 2011

In December 1995, as a response to barriers in the development of interdisciplinary and radical forms of practice, a small group of practitioners proposed setting up a network. One year later, January 1997, at an inaugural meeting of 70 artists, producers and arts professionals, New Work Network was established. Interdisciplinary and Live Art practices are now arguably more widely appreciated for their unique contribution to civic life and their consistent questioning of cultural values.

Unique as a membership-based organisation, NWN has actively grown alongside the development of the sector. From its informal roots NWN has become a company limited by guarantee with charitable status and a board of Trustees; has over 1500 members in the UK and currently employs four part-time workers. Throughout its development NWN has maintained its commitment to continued support of artist-members through networking, peer development and pioneering forms of professional development.

The NWN archive is not catalogued and is held in a filing cabinet and series of archive folders. The holdings cusp the organisation’s history from its inception - prior to digital mainstreaming - and includes notes, minutes of meetings and documents relating to its development including visual and written documentation of its initiatives. More recent records are held on the office hard drives.

NWN recognizes that the historic narratives of archives can often be contested by complementary activities such as capturing first-person accounts of specific events, organisations and moments that may complement, expand, challenge and periodically contradict archival resources. Our archive may be considered in relation to current areas of interest to NWN – such as the history of avant-gardism, transgressive practice and artist-led culture.  It may be analysed through inter-disciplinary methods and represented by writing and images; and potentially complemented by additional material generated within this project such as video clips or podcasts.

This bursary arrives at a pertinent time as the organisation reaches towards its 15th Birthday, New Work Network is currently developing new programmes relating to custodianship, practice-based inter-generational learning and artist-led cultures.

Accordingly we will welcome a creative response from the recipient/s to establish a process and approach to interrogating and contextualizing NWN archive’s holdings. Integral to the project will be how the recipient ensures the project is designed to be disseminated and reach viewers via a weblog.

The Brief:

The NWN Archive Correspondent will be expected to:


·      Engage with NWN’s archive as a context that includes correspondence, documentation and strategic documents over a fifteen-year period.
·      Develop creative forms of correspondence from their examination of the archive. These may be written text, video, photography, scanned imagery, audio recording, public interviews or dialogues, performance etc.
·      Distribute the correspondence and develop a readership for it. Distribution may include the opportunities of Web 2.0, social networking models, tweeting, blogging, public speaking/oratorship, performance and lo-fi publishing etc.
·      Recognise that some of the data held in our archive must be considered sensitive and confidentiality will be key.

Profile:

You may have come from a variety of backgrounds and been formally trained in research skills; or it may be something you are currently aiming to sustain professionally after discovering you have a proficiency for interpreting and communicating historic material.

You will have existing experience, awareness and knowledge of the Live Art / New Work sector that the role of Archive Correspondent may support you to build upon.

You may already be operating as some form of correspondent within another network or context that allows you to bring an existing readership into contact with this context and introduce a pioneering area of arts practice to them.


You may be an existing member of NWN or intend to become one. Join for £15 at www.newworknetwork.org.uk


The aim of this role is to:

• Consider the potential of the NWN archive in relation to the development of Interdisciplinary and Live Art sectors within the UK.
• Stimulate new forms of awareness of NWN history within and beyond the Live Art and New Work sectors with the potential to reach broader audiences.
• Encourage and develop critically positive discourse around Live Art and New Work sectors.


What we can offer:

• A bursary of £2000 to include all expenditure such as materials, travel, accommodation and fee.
• Access to NWN’s records, which are held at our office at Toynbee Hall in London.
• The support of New Work Network staff in the development of the project.
• NWN has a website that may be an appropriate vehicle for the project but this should not be considered as the only possible means of distribution.

Practicalities:

The New Work Network Archive Correspondent will be responsible for organising any travel and accommodation and technical needs.

The means of how the correspondence is to be distributed will be agreed between the Correspondent and New Work Network. New Work Network will want to inform the editorial parameters of the correspondence with the successful candidate.


The bursary is offered to cover a minimum period of three months of activity with regular Correspondence being an essential component.


Application Procedure:

This is an open call but the successful applicant, if not already, must be a member of New Work Network. Joining New Work Network currently costs only £15. Join at www.newworknetwork.org.uk

Applications should include the following:


1.   A written proposal (maximum 2 pages) including:


• An outline of how you would approach the role of Archival Correspondent.
• Your ideas of what forms of correspondence you may generate from such a context.
• Who you may also target outside of the NWN membership,
and the Live Art / New Work sector and how you may reach them.
• How you may disseminate what you will be doing.

2.   A current CV of two pages of A4
clearly identifying the skill set you will bring to this project.

3.   Examples of your existing and recent work:
We are also willing to look at websites and links.

•       Writing: recent writing (a maximum of 1500 words)
•       Photography: 10 images supplied on disk or by email at medium resolution
•       Blogging: web links to your blogs
•       Video: maximum of 10 minutes of DVD footage or links to videos accessible on the web
•       If you intend to use any unusual software please contact us in advance.


4.   Data and Equal Opportunities Forms

5.   Applications should be typed and emailed to: [log in to unmask] with “Correspondent Archivist” in the subject line or posted to: New Work Network, Toynbee Studios, Commercial Street, London E1 6AB, UK. Please mark all material clearly with your name. Material will only be returned if requested and with the submission of a SAE.

DEADLINE for applications - Monday 4th April at 5pm
Interviews to be held Week Beginning 11th April
Correspondence to begin in May 2011 (minimum 3 months)

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New Work Network
Networking Support for Artists

T: 020 7539 9373
E: [log in to unmask]
Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street
London E1 6AB

Members Area: www.newworknetwork.org.uk
NWN Blog: www.newworknetwork.info

NWN membership is just £15. Click here to find out more!

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New Work Network is financially supported by Arts Council England

New Work Network is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales, number 05085511. New Work Network is a Registered Charity No. 1122268.
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