Drawing on Heritage: Postcards Commission
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(Image credit: Madge Gill, Newham Heritage Service)
Description: Call-out for artists to complete a mini residency at Rabbits Road Press producing new artwork/designs for a set of postcards. Four selected artists will be supported by Rabbits Road Press over two sessions to produce designs for a set of 4 A6 Risograph printed cards each exploring an aspect of Newham's heritage. An edition of each postcard will be printed and distributed for free through local libraries during Newham Heritage Month.
Artist Fee: £500
Residency Dates: Tuesday 24th June and Thursday 10th July (10am-4pm).
Location: The mini residency takes place over Newham Archive and Local Studies Library, William Morris Gallery and Rabbits Road Press (Old Manor Park Library). All venues are wheelchair accessible.
Applicant Specification: We welcome applications from visual artists who live, work or have a strong connection to Newham and are available for the residency dates. Applicants are expected to identify some aspect of Newham’s heritage that they would like to explore. This residency is especially suited to those who would benefit from learning more about Risograph printing. No experience of Risograph printing is required.
APPLICATION FORM
Application Deadline: Friday 6th June
Successful applicants will be notified Monday 16th June.
Full Description
Session 1
Date: Tuesday 24th June
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: 10am-12pm Newham Archives (Research Session) and 1.45-4pm Rabbits Road Press (Risograph Induction Workshop)
Description: The four selected artists will meet at Newham Archives and Local Studies Library for an introduction to the postcard art of local artist Madge Gill (1882–1961) and will be free to explore a range of other inspiring items of local history from the collections.
The selected artists will be invited to document their visit and the works that speak to them through photography, drawing and notes. In the afternoon, everyone will convene at Rabbits Road Press for a Risograph Printing Induction workshop.
During the induction workshop the artists will learn how to make a two-colour Risograph print and incorporate documentation of their archive visit into their work. By the end of the session they will have produced a set of 4 x A6 postcard designs.
The designs produced during this session do not have to reflect final designs but will familiarise artists with the Risograph printing process, preparing work for print and drawing on archival material in creative ways. Artists are also welcome to bring their own content to work with if they've identified an aspect of Newham's heritage that they would like to explore in their final postcard designs.
Session 2
Date: Thursday 10th July
Location: 10am-12pm William Morris Gallery and 1-4pm Rabbits Road Press (3-colour Riso Printing Workshop + 1:1 studio support session with technician)
Description: Four selected artists will meet at the William Morris Gallery to learn more about the Arts and Craft movement. The Arts and Crafts movement, a reaction against industrial production, significantly influenced the design of some Carnegie libraries. Rabbits Road Press is based in Old Manor Park Library which is a Carnegie Library with many beautiful decorative stained glass and mosaic features. Artists will be encouraged to document works that speak to them through drawing and photography. In the afternoon, artists will meet at Rabbits Road Press for a three-colour Risograph Printing Workshop and/or 1:1 support with their project. During the session, artists will be invited to use their documentation from the morning session or draw inspiration from Old Manor Park Library to produce some test prints using 3 colours. These do not have to reflect final designs but will accustom artists to prepare artwork for 3-colour printing. Artists are also welcome to bring their own content to work with if they've identified an aspect of Newham's heritage that they would like to explore for the final postcards.
Session 3
Date: August, exact date TBC with selected artists
Description: Printing Final Postcards at Rabbits Road Press (artists can send artwork files instead of attending in-person if preferred)
This is a final print day where artists are expected to bring their work print-ready to print the final postcards for their Newham Heritage month commission. Artists can print their work themselves (with technician support) or they are welcome to send files through which we can print for them.
Exhibition/Sharing Event
Date: September but date TBC with artists
The final sharing event will take place during Newham Heritage Month and will allow each artist to display work from their residency including research development work and the final postcards. The postcards will be distributed to local libraries by Newham Heritage month.
Reflection: Each artist is invited to write one short blog piece (up to 500 words) about any aspect of their residency/research to share with the wider public. This will be featured on the Newham Heritage Month website and Rabbits Road Press blog. This post should be completed by September and support with writing/documentation will be available if required.