HI-Arts Making progress Mentoring Scheme

HI-Arts have launched a new mentoring and business support programme aimed at mid-career and established makers. Making Progress aims to provide valuable support and advice to craft makers as they develop their work.

Pamela Conacher, HI-Arts Craft Development Coordinator, said: “We are delighted to welcome four outstanding makers onto the project; embroiderer and printmaker, Jenny Deschenes, bookbinder Laura West, jeweller Lucy Woodley and Daniel Kavanagh who is a ceramicist and metalworker.”

“Running as a pilot project for 2010, our four makers will work with their individual mentors and HI-Arts Craft Development to move their work in a new direction and to build on their skills and talents. The highlight of the programme will be 4 individual Spotlight shows at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, opening on the 1st May and running concurrently until mid September 2010.”

The two main mentors are Highland based makers Eileen Gatt and Gilly Langton, alongside other makers such as Ingrid Tait.

craftscotland spoke to some of the makers involved, to see what their aspirations for the scheme were.

“I'm very excited about the 'making progress' scheme as it not only gives me the opportunity to create a new body of work specifically for exhibition, but I also have the opportunity to discuss ideas and thoughts with the mentors assigned to me. The hope is this will help me with the business side of things and having a critical eye to look at my work is great as it is something that you miss when you are working on your own.” - Jenny Deschenes.

“It’s January and the Making Progress programme is already providing me with the impetus, support and encouragement to bring a fresh, feminine approach to the personal book; be it a notebook, journal, sketchbook, album, memory book or accessory: the Haute Couture Book.

I’m confident that the traditional styles, structures and colours of the once male-dominated craft of book-binding can be shaken up and evolve and respond to this century’s mores. That books can again prove a chic, luxurious, desirable, inspiring and indulgent companion to anyone who ever has a thought, to anyone who has a memory, to anyone who has a desire.” - Laura West

“My hopes for this project are primarily the opportunity to showcase a new body of work which will represent a distinct move forward within my practice as a maker. This will provide a chance to demonstrate my ability to explore and push the boundaries in combining my use of ceramic and bronze in more sculptural forms. I intend to produce a collection of exhibition works that are one off pieces, consisting of free standing forms which are created using traditionally thrown and hand built ceramic techniques as well as using cast bronze as part of the pieces.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with my mentor and to be able to bounce ideas and thoughts about the direction I wish to take my work in, both in terms of my making and the sort of venues where I would like to exhibit my work, this feels a new way of working as like most makers in the Highlands I am often working in isolation. This will also be my first opportunity to exhibit a body of work in a solo exhibition and I am looking forward to working towards this and all the practical tasks it will involve. The other aspects to the program such as visiting prominent craft events and marketing workshops will all add to the enriching experience of being part of this programme.” - Daniel Kavanagh

All four makers will write updates and blog posts on their experiences throughout the programme. 

Find out more and keep up to date with the scheme on the HI-Arts website 

HI-Arts (Highlands & Islands Arts Ltd) is the arts and cultural development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.