DIY: 2015

Professional development projects BY artists FOR artists across the UK.

DIY is an opportunity for artists working in Live Art to conceive and run unusual training and professional development projects for other artists.

In 2015 we supported 20 projects in collaboration with 19 national partner organizations.

DIY 12’s partner organisations include Abandon Normal Devices (North West), Artsadmin (national), Chelsea Theatre (London), Colchester Arts Centre (South East), Compass Live Art (Yorkshire), Contact Manchester, Create (Ireland), Folkestone Fringe, hÅb (Manchester), Heart of Glass, (North West), Home Live Art (national), Live at LICA (North West), National Theatre Studio (London), Norwich Arts Centre, Sound and Music (national), STUN (Manchester), Unlimited (national), Warrington Arts Festival (North West) and Whitchapel Studios (London).

Our Call for Proposals to lead a project has now closed.

DIY 12: 2015 Project List.

Documentation from DIY 12: 2015.

More info about DIY. 

DIY understands that the development of a Live Art practice is as much about the exploration of ideas and experiences as training in skills and techniques, and past DIY projects have proved to be invaluable experiences for project leaders, participants and organisers alike. DIY supports exciting, innovative and idiosyncratic Live Art professional development projects that offer something new and are geared to the eclectic and often unusual needs of artists whose practices are grounded in challenging and unconventional approaches, forms and concepts.
DIY projects can take any form, can be based anywhere, and can be loosely or rigorously focused on a specific theme/content. We particularly encourage proposals from artists from culturally diverse backgrounds and disabled artists, and artists working in other “politicized” territories.

In 2015 DIY awards were increased by 50%, with each DIY project receiving £1,500 support which covered fees and all direct project costs including venue hire, travel, materials and hospitality.

A final networking event — the ‘DIY picnic’ — for all participants, lead artists and DIY partners took place in December 2015 at the Live Art Development Agency in The White Building.

DIY 12 was a part of the Collab Arts Partnership Programme co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.