Call for Early Career Makers: Rising Stars 2024
30 November 2022
Deadline: January 15, 2024
Rising Stars is open for applications. Rising Stars aims to foster and champion new talent, early career makers, students and graduates from BA and MA crafts, design, and applied arts programmes across the UK. Rising Stars offers new makers a first step into the marketplace, through a curated, selling exhibition.
The programme will consist of the Rising Stars exhibition at New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, which enables:
- new makers to access the marketplace and collectors;
- professional development including knowledge transfer on topics such as pricing guidance, advice on marketing your work and how to gain and manage new connections;
- and a catalogue to act as a promotional tool for the selected makers.
Every year, 20-25 makers are selected for the exhibition.
Rising Stars recognise there is a lack of representation from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ makers and makers who identify as having a visible or non-visible disability in the southeast region and RS are looking to address this imbalance by committing a minimum of 5 places for Rising Stars.
The 2024 focus will be on supporting new makers in a challenging marketplace, impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. Professional development events will be targeted for providing relevant advice.
Rising Stars are also delighted to present a professional development bursary of £1,000 and a solo exhibition at New Ashgate in 2025 for one of the makers in the exhibition. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges that consists of the project partners; New Ashgate Gallery, University for the Creative Arts, and Dan Goode of Making Goode.
Key events:
- Exhibition at New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, 16 March – 27 April 2024
- A private view and award ceremony at New Ashgate Gallery, 15 March 2024, 6-8pm
- A programme of professional development events – details to be confirmed.
There will also be a further opportunity to showcase with Dan Goode of Making Goode at Handmade festivals in 2024. Details of this opportunity, including reduced fees, will be issued in summer 2024.
Submissions are invited from:
- Early career artists and makers (early career is: less than three years in business and those still studying: a business is deemed when you have first registered with HMRC / or sold work)
- This is a selling showcase; this opportunity is for makers looking to work with galleries in the future
How to apply:
The deadline is 15th January 2024, 10am.
For informal enquiries email: risingstars.exhibition@gmail.com/ 01252 713208.