Expanded Studio Project

The Expanded Studio Project was a 5 month collaborative initiative between Belfast based artists and artists based at Primary Studios, Nottingham. The aim of the project was to develop external relationships, exchange ideas and explore different modes of collaboration. During this collaboration it provided time for regular exchanges in dialogue between 21 artist researchers - as a research- generation activity they conducted regular sending of images, texts, meetings and sharing of ideas and raising questions between Nottingham and Belfast contributors. A programme of site visits, city tours (Nottingham and Belfast), exhibition and Symposia was designed by the contributors and this was funded by Arts Council England and Belfast City Council. This S.H.E.D collaboration with Declan Proctor focused on SHEDDINGLIGHT, exploring how S.H.E.D can transform into a light installation. The collaboration had two phases, in Belfast the micro-light models were exhibited for a month at PsSquared Gallery in Belfast, to test out the premise for the project. Later on in the process and to time with the symposia, at Primary in Nottingham, the 10x8 S.H.E.D structure was built and installed. A micro and macro construction and play with light and materiality of sheds was created in order to reflect the micro / macro research process between Jones and Proctor from being based near and far at different times of the process. This exploratory series of activities increased their depth in exchange and to share ideas and create new works. Specifically, through this line of research it led to studying how to combine architectural and creative build elements of the design process and combine it with performative strategies for the creation of spaces. As a result it was identified that S.H.E.D is • a place for conversation • a co-creator, working with, and for community • a multidisciplinary space • a social, collaborative and generative space for the sharing of knowledge • a space for shedding preconceptions. For Jones, the Expanded Studio Project specifically provided her with research and development time for the S.H.E.D – by design of the Expanded Studio Project and through these distinct research processes applied to proposal of S.H.E.D Jones was able to test out the conceptual framework for the project within an artistic, public and research network. Working with Belfast based Light Installation Artist, Declan Proctor they spent time researching into the materiality of sheds and its relationship to light. For Jones, it raised questions about scale and form, positionality of S.H.E.D – the role of being inside and outside of spaces and how the notion of a shed as an object was triggering public discourse and engagement and in turn it was becoming a research-generation site of and for itself. It was also driving forward the question of how spaces can be repurposed as sites of curiosity and creativity. Wider research findings on the impact of this project were noted ‘… through the project artists had extended their practice; experiencing collaboration had led to insights about the importance of reciprocity, experimentation, embracing mess and a more conscious appreciation of their process by bringing external dialogue into their practice earlier’. Outcomes – What difference did the project make? For partners (Primary and PS Squared) • Enhanced profile of partners as artist-led organisations with an innovative artist development programme with UK-wide reach. • Improved skills and experience of strategies to support artist-led development to feed and grow future initiatives • Improved knowledge and access to artists, creative opportunities and professional networks in Belfast and Nottingham. For artists: • New ideas and development for personal practice • Improved confidence, skill and experience in approaches to collaborative working • Improved knowledge and access to artists, creative opportunities and professional networks in Belfast & Nottingham (Jo Wheeler, Independent Project Evaluator 2019)

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International