Professional Practice and Placement Module - Week Two

      After our first meeting, there were a few of the suggested placements that I thought would be great. Restoke, Potboiler Theatre and Appetite sounded like they were most relevant if I wanted to focus on performance and events, and the opportunities at Air Space Gallery to either curate and exhibit work in the window or get involved in the Film Club seemed interesting. I looked at each company’s social media and website to find out more before the next week. Looking up Air Space Gallery actually resulted in booking tickets to see Jimmy Cauty’s MdZ Estate Tour in Hanley, it was inspiring to see a successful Covid-friendly touring art installation and exhibition after being unable to attend anything like that for so long!

      In the second meeting, we heard from a number of people involved with or in charge of the companies mentioned the previous week. All of the speakers had great things to say but mostly it cemented in my mind that the aforementioned placements I had highlighted in my notes were most relevant to my interests and art practice. My next plan is to narrow them down further and then get in touch to find out more. I have some concerns that there may be – for want of a better word – competition for each placement so I would like to discuss what placements other students are interested in either online or in the studio. For some placements there is potential for collaboration which I am definitely open to and, if not, being interested in multiple options means I can happily pursue another placement if someone is particularly passionate about one of them. 

      In the last two weeks, I have made some brief notes about existing contacts of my own that I could approach about a placement and have not ruled out finding my own. Due to Covid-19, I worry that travel will not be an option and that because of social distancing some places will be unable to take on an extra person. If anything does seem viable however, I will ask the lecturer if they are suitable and then get in touch if so.  

[Images from Mdz Estate Tour]