Studios Make Artists: How Studios Can Support Artist Development

This event will explore both formal and informal opportunities for artists facilitated by and within studio environments, and the value in studio providers hosting artist development activities for studio holders and others.

Curators Colette Griffin, Dan Brown and Dr Maggie Matic, who all have experience of developing and delivering programmes of artist development within studio contexts, will be sharing their work in this area, with the following discussion chaired by artist and educator Exodus Crooks.

This event has been programmed to accompany the current ‘Studio’ display in our Library, which includes an installation centring artists’ experiences of their studios and how these spaces support and influence their creative practices.

‘Studio’ is on view in the Library until 29 June, and is open Saturday 12-6pm and Monday-Friday 12-6pm by appointment.

Freelands Foundation is committed to being open and accessible to all.

This event will take place both in-person and online.

If you are visiting in person, we are located at 113 Regent's Park Road, London, NW1 8UR. We have step-free access throughout our public spaces. Read our visitor information.

If you are attending online, live captions will be available.

Colette Griffin (she/her) is a curator, arts writer and artist mentor based in Nottingham. She is Artist Development Curator at Primary, an artist-led contemporary visual arts organisation and Regional Director of Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands (CVAN EM). Colette also provides mentoring provision and supports artists in accessing, developing and writing funding applications. She is a director of New Midland Group and delivered the NMG Development Programme (2020-22). Previously Colette has worked with Mansions of the Future (Lincoln), Nottingham City Museums and Galleries and Ikon Gallery (Birmingham).

Dan Brown (he/him) is a curator and occasional artist. He is currently the Curator of Research at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop a centre for production, research and learning. He has been a Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland, a Visual Arts Advisor to the Scottish Arts Council 2009–11 and Creative Scotland. He was Co- Director of Embassy Gallery 2006 to 2008 an influential artist-run gallery in Edinburgh and is the co-founder of the Shift/Work programme: a participatory research programme for artists, curators, students and academics with the aim of recalibrating artistic learning as a means of generating and transferring new knowledge.

Exodus Crooks (they/them) is a British-Jamaican multidisciplinary artist, educator and writer whose practice centres on the relationship with self. Exodus works as both as a visiting lecturer and mentor at various arts education organisations across England alongside their arts practice. Their breadth of experience in visual and performance art and education can be found in their work with Ikon Gallery, International Curators Forum, iniva, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, The New Art Gallery Walsall and The National Gallery, London.

Dr Maggie Matić (they/them) is a curator and researcher with a specialism in contemporary feminist, crip and queer theory and visual culture. Maggie has a background in supporting artist research, development, and residency programmes and is currently Director, Auto Italia, London. They have also previously worked at Studio Voltaire, Somerset House Studios, Tate, The University of Liverpool and The Royal Standard.

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