OPEN CALL:Conditions One-year Studio Programme

Conditions is a new one-year low-cost studio programme for 12 artists per year. It gives 24/7 access to studio space and structured critical conversations to develop each artist’s work, as well as encouraging collaboration and collective work on exhibitions and events.

Conditions offers participating artists a programme of talks, teaching and workshops from a wide range of Associates comprising artists, writers, musicians, performers, curators and educators.

It is aimed at addressing the increasing cost of both studio space and education for artists in London, by providing an alternative model.

Conditions is co-founded by artist and educator Matthew Noel-Tod and artist David Panos. It is led by Matthew Noel-Tod, whose work in art education includes previously running the Moving Image degree at University of Brighton: a pioneering course in artists’ film and video.

Conditions has an Associates Group who will input into the programme. Associates working with the programme’s artists in 2018–19 include: Ami Clarke, Paul Clinton, Pil & Galia Kollectiv, Ayesha Hameed, Danny Hayward, John Hill, Jean Matthee, Yuri Pattison, Clunie Reid, Tom Richards, Lou Lou Sainsbury, Sara Sassanelli, They Are Here, Maija Timonen, Nikhil Vettukattil, Marina Vishmidt and more to be confirmed.

Conditions has a first-year advisory group for the future development of the programme, comprising of: Rachel Baker, Richard Birkett, Alice Cretney and Tai Shani.

Conditions is based in the studio space at 89 Gloucester Road in Croydon: an artist-run multi-purpose 1500 square foot warehouse to be used for production, education, exhibitions and events, started by Matthew Noel-Tod and David Panos.

The first year of Conditions will begin in October 2018.

Defining Conditions
Conditions will examine art education and art production and think toward new conditions. We are starting with a space (a studio) and a programme (a structure). The programme is focused around a number of loose themes. We invite new definitions of these to be created by the participating artists.

(1) Seeking to rethink the parameters, aesthetics, social role and politics of what has been called ‘contemporary’ art. We are looking to push beyond current conventions, styles and assumptions to find new ways to engage.

(2) While focusing on individual practices the programme encourages collective decision-making regarding the space and the curriculum, as well as collaboration in production and in the exhibition of work.

(3) A critical engagement with digital media and its prevalence, but not limited to artists working in digital media. The programme is not medium specific, but will draw from a number of disciplines, for example: digital image / moving image / film / animation / photography / performance / music / 3D / fashion / design / architecture.

(4) We are actively looking for a political / critical mindset open to the debates and discussions around representation in art. The programme is intellectually engaged, but seeks to avoid unproductive academicisation in art making. We place a confidence in formal exploration in art, challenging the relationships between politics and form in art-making.

Timeline and schedule
August 15, 2018 midnight deadline for applications for 2018–19
October 2018 programme starts
September 2019 programme ends

Costs
The cost is 230 GBP per month for 12 months = 2760 GBP per person for the year. We regret that we do not have the ability to offer any free places, but we have aimed to keep costs as low as possible. The cost is based on a comparative London studio space, with the enhanced offer of a directed studio programme and framework for public exhibitions and public engagement of the cohort. Applicants must have UK residency.

Please see the website for full details of the programme and application process.