Sunny Bank Mills Art Gallery has been awarded £21,262 from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants Fund to improve access and inclusion to its arts programme.
The award supports the delivery of a visual arts exhibition, LORE, which will explore folklore and will run from October 19 to December 24 2024.
Sunny Bank Mills Arts Director and LORE co-curator, Anna Turzynski said: “We are thrilled to receive support from Arts Council England to further our work on access and inclusion.
“I was so inspired by the positive impact that small changes can make to the experience of artists and audiences whilst working at LEEDS 2023 and am excited to continue learning about best practice in this area. The whole team have thrown themselves behind the idea and I am hopeful that the project will be transformational for our approach at Sunny Bank Mills.”
Ms Turzynski added: “Hosting a high-quality group exhibition around the theme of folklore will enable us to commission new artwork, start new relationships with artists and learn from the sector about best practice in access and inclusion.
“Our aim is for the exhibition to signpost new audiences to Sunny Bank Mills. We will use this exhibition as a case study that we can benchmark from in the future, applying the knowledge gained to our work moving forward.
“We need the time to work with experts and to connect meaningfully with communities so that our programme feels open to all. We specifically want to work with more artists from non-white backgrounds and those who have a lived experience of a disability. This could include Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people, or anyone with a protected characteristic.”
Sonia Moran, LORE Co-Curator said: ”Folklore is a really generous theme that can be interpreted in many different ways through many different mediums. Due to the nature of folk culture, it has been historically overlooked by the elite for its inclusivity of many voices shaping and moulding the art forms. It is culture formed outside of elitist institutions by ordinary people who want to share their stories and their culture.
“I’m really excited about this exhibition especially to see how artists, makers, musicians, performers, poets, designers and creatives respond to our Call Out which is now open. Artists can apply with new or existing work in any medium.”
There are ten seed commissions of £154 each to enable the selected artists to make a final proposal to be in with a chance of receiving one of three larger commissions of up to £2,558, plus a materials budget.
The exhibition will platform artists and creatives who are telling stories of their personhood; stories that have been passed down through generations or brand-new lore. Folklore encompasses customs, tales, sayings, dances, material objects or any art forms preserved among a people, rooted in place and time, memorialising communities and celebrating the personal craft of the artist or artists.
To respond to the LORE Call Out, visit CuratorSpace or Sunny Bank’s website.
The Call Out is open from 11 to 30 August 2024. Information is available in a variety of formats including Easy Read, audio and video, and written translations in Polish and Urdu (Pakistani). Contact the Art Gallery by email on arts@sunnybankmills.co.uk or call on 0113 256 3239 for assistance in applying.
The award was welcomed by Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley).
“My congratulations to all at Sunny Bank Mills art gallery on the awarding of a £21,000 grant from the Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants Fund to improve access and inclusion to arts projects a big plus for Farsley,” Cllr Carter said. “Congratulations to all concerned.”
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