The objective of this new award is: To mentor, nurture and support the professional artistic growth of young, emerging artists across the Visual and Applied Arts 

The Jane Phillips Award is being launched at Mission Gallery on Friday 5th August (7pm) as a memorial to Jane Phillips (1957 – 2011) Mission Gallery’s first director. The bi-annual award is a legacy to Jane’s passion for mentoring and nurturing talent, consistently supporting young, emerging artists across the Visual and Applied Arts in Wales and beyond.

The Jane Phillips Award seeks nominations for ambitious artists across the Visual and Applied Arts at the early stages of their career, who are producing work of high quality, have a clear vision and a strong commitment to career development. Candidates must be nominated for the Award by a tutor, employer or other professional and fulfill the criteria that includes; living in Wales, aged between 18-30 years and demonstrate an outstanding ability or potential in either the Visual or Applied Arts.   

Over the course of a year the Award will provide the candidate support in various combinations of the following:

 6 month studio space residency in Swansea Studios, Gloucester Place, Swansea

 £1,000 funding towards materials, equipment, studying, research and development

 Professional development support and advice inc. artistic, technical, fundraising and marketing

 Funding application support with testimony and feedback on applications and budgets

 Opportunity to have the outcome of the residency profiled with Mission Gallery

 Online publicity, marketing and features via Jane Phillips Award and Mission Gallery

 Professional advice from established individuals/organisations

The Jane Phillips Award has recruited a host of respected mentors and talent-spotters across the Visual and Applied Arts that will assist at both the assessment and development stage of each application.

Selection Committee 2011 

Jane Phillips Award: Claire Phillips

Jane Phillips Award Patrons:  Dr Russ Harris

Mission Gallery Board of Directors:  Hamish Gane

Mission Gallery Friends: Dr Russ Harris

Mission Gallery: Amanda Roderick, Director and Hannah Kelly, Gallery Development Officer

Guest Selector: Karen MacKinnon, Exhibition Curator – Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

Each year of the Award there will be a guest selector; a respected professional working within the arts. The 2011 guest selector will be Karen MacKinnon, Exhibition Curator at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea where Jane Phillips worked for 16 years as Technician and Exhibition Assistant.

Application forms will be available from 5th August 2011 from mail@janephillipsaward.co.uk and further information can be found at www.janephillipsaward.co.uk  

The Jane Phillips Award is administered by Mission Gallery, Swansea.

Jane Phillips Award Patrons 2011: Dr Russ Harris on behalf of Phil Heard | Mary & Malcolm Ellis

This year Art in Action has something entirely new: in the ceramics demonstration tent along with all the demonstrators you will find an exhibition of photographs.  ‘A Moment in Time – Potters in Their Element’ is a collection of pictures taken by Ben Boswell. During the early 1980s, Ben’s interest in pottery led him to start collecting, but a lack of funds restricted his options.  Looking for another way of being part of the lively ceramic scene at that time, he embarked on a personal project to photograph some of the potters he most admired.

Ben’s big break came when Michael Cardew agreed to him taking some pictures at his studio in Wenford Bridge in 1982.  The pictures were a great success and gave Ben something quite special to show other people he wanted to photograph.  The list began to grow and by the end of 1982 there were pictures of Lucie Rie, Katherine Pleydell-Bouverie, Ewen Henderson, Janet, David, Michael and John Leach and many others.  Work, married life and other interests took over and the collection of pictures sat unused for nearly 30 years.  However Ben’s interest on pottery remained strong and following a visit to the new Contemporary Ceramics he looked out his pictures and realized how interesting they were.

Featured in the current issue of Ceramic Review, this will be the first opportunity to see the pictures printed and framed.  The exhibition will be made up of a changing selection of stunning photographs which will be available for sale.

Art In Action is at Waterperry House just outside Thame in Oxfordshire from Thursday 21st July through to Sunday 24th July.

www.artinaction.org.uk/artist-667/Ben-Boswell

One of the great Craft Festivals in Britain. They say:

“A festival of fine art and master craftsmanship which attracts over 25,000 visitors over 4 days each July in the grounds of Waterperry House, Oxfordshire. Over 150 artists demonstrate their skills in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, calligraphy, illustration, glass, metalwork, jewellery, nature in art, textiles, woodwork and more. Visitors can also experience live music and performing arts from around the world, hear lectures on a variety of subjects and learn from the teachers in the hugely popular practical classes. Art in Action champions art in all forms and styles so visitors can find everything from traditional crafts to cutting edge contemporary arts. Every year, artists are invited to exhibit what they consider their best work in the ‘Best of the Best’ tent, this is a particularly good place for the visitor to start as it gives a comprehensive overview of the scale and quality of the event.” and they are right! Visit their website for an offer saving £10 – 2 tickets for £20 instead of £30 at  www.artinaction.org.uk

For us the ceramics area is fascinating with some top class demonstrators, but there really is something for everyone! Try not to miss this one if you love ceramics or crafts generally – it is for you!