Artist Call-Out
Man Made is a new 2-year project being set up by Jack Drum Arts with funding from The Baring Foundation and the 3 Towns Area Action Partnership ‘Big Arts Fund’. The purpose of the funding we have received is to address the under-representation of male participants in participatory creative activities in the UK for people with poor mental health and to work with our funders to learn what works in this regard.
Weekly sessions will be delivered in Willington, County Durham, providing opportunities for men of all ages and abilities to come together to learn new skills, rekindle old ones, and collaborate with others to produce exciting new creations with the support of skilled professional artists.
Jack Drum Arts is now looking for North East-based artists, makers, and creatives with experience in disciplines such as carnival arts, woodworking, metalworking, electronics, and visual arts, who have experience working with a social prescribing-style group.
Please note initially, our call-out is for male artists only. Once our group is up and running, we will have a participant steering group who will be supported to select artists they would like to work with on participant-led projects.
The project launches in September 2024, and we aim to expand our pool of artist facilitators to ensure that our participants’ interests are met, horizons broadened, and new skills learned for the benefit of the local community. The group will generally work in 4-week blocks with artist facilitators, working towards our ongoing programme of outdoor events to create puppets, floats, sets, props, and much more.
The freelance fee is £150 per 2-hour session, inclusive of any planning and preparation, plus materials. Commission fees may be available when working on longer projects creating ambitious work with our group for events such as Crook Winter Light Parade.
Sessions are scheduled to take place weekly during term-time from 11am to 3pm, with 30 minutes either side of the artist workshop time to allow for arrival, check-ins, and lunch.
To apply, please send a covering letter and an up-to-date CV to jack@jackdrum.co.uk, outlining your experience and suitability for the role. If you would like to chat with us about this call-out, please email jack@jackdrum.co.uk, and/or helen@jackdrum.co.uk or call the office at 01388 765002.
Expressions of interest will be assessed, and we will respond by the end of August to discuss your application.
NB: We are very keen to learn from artists, so if you are intrigued by this call-out and have an idea for something alternative you could bring to the group, please get in touch.
Images of Lambton Worm Puppet created by Ricahrd Brdoerick. Photo taken at Crook Winter Light Parade 2023 by Scenicview Gallery.