DIY: 2011 – Call for Participants

Professional development projects BY artists FOR artists

Our Call for Participants is now closed.

More info about DIY.

More info about DIY 8: 2011.

DIY 8 is an opportunity for artists working in Live Art to take part in unusual training and professional development projects conceived and run by artists for artists.

All projects take place between August and October 2011.

DIY 8 projects are aimed at both emergent and experienced practitioners, and take place throughout the UK. The DIY 8 programmes take many forms, with a variety of focuses this year including ethics and art, liminality, the queer eye, GPS technology, the blurred borders between live art and progressive cabaret, and even professional wrestling.

All projects are now full and closed to applications. Follow the links for more information about each project.

Pete Edwards
The Invisible Obstacle Course
London
A game of strategy and unfamiliar territory.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

The Committee
The Free University of Liverpool
Liverpool
Where getting into debt for education is outlawed and dreams are not trodden on by the dirty boot of capitalism.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Daniel Belasco Rogers
A Line Made by Walking Without Marking the Earth
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
A GPS Workshop.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Chris Goode
Queer Eye Enquiry: ways of not seeing straight
National/Birmingham
New models of queer performance process and praxis.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Jamie Lewis Hadley
Breaking Kayfabe: a 3 day Professional Wrestling intensive
London
The moves, holds, narrative and character building to put on a professional wrestling match.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Poppy Jackson
‘Liminal Bodies’: A Practical Workshop Exploring Nomadic Practice
London
Transience, travel and ‘borderless-ness’.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Mary Paterson and Natasha Vicars
#dawnchorus
An opportunity to collaborate on devising and piloting #dawnchorus – a live writing work for Twitter.
FULL DETAILS
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.

Scottee
Entertainment Value
London
Bridging the gap between academic and trash, cabaret and gallery, booze and rooibos.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

Cecilia Wee
“I can’t live on vitriol alone!”
London/Kent
Exploring the conditions and possibilities for art that enacts social change.
THIS DIY PROJECT IS NOW FULL.
FULL DETAILS

General DIY information follows below.

I feel I have refined my entire practice and honed it down into being far more workable, productive and efficient. My understanding of the areas I am influenced by is now clearer and I am able to articulate my concerns that will help me when applying for courses, funding or when submitting proposals.
— Poppy Jackson, participant in Practice-based Research for Emerging Artists, DIY 6: 2009

Information for all projects and applicants
Follow the links on the DIY projects above to find details of each DIY project. Each project description has specific information relevant to that project; on this page you can find information about all the projects and answers to frequently asked questions.

Requesting further information
The lead artists are happy to respond to questions about their DIY projects. If something is not clear or if you would like further information (eg about dates and the time you will need to commit) then email the lead artist. In each project description the contact email of the lead artist is included. Please make sure you put ‘DIY 8’ in your email subject line.

Who can apply?
DIY is a scheme for artists working in Live Art. However, many of the DIY projects are relevant to artists who are interested in Live Art but may not have an extensive track-record of Live Art practice. In each case read the project description closely to understand if there is a specific ‘target’ of participants (eg at a certain stage in their career).

Some projects may prioritise artists from within the region in which it is based (except for London which is open to all artists). However, other artists are not excluded from requesting a place on the project. Past experience tells us that there are often places available for all artists who want to take part. Therefore we strongly recommend that if you are interested in taking part in a project – even if it is not taking place in the region in which you live – then you should make a submission.

Deadline and notification
Most DIY projects have an application deadline of Friday 15 July, 2011. If you would like to take part in a DIY project you need to contact the DIY project leader and submit your application to them.

Each project has slightly different selection methods – most often you will be asked to submit a cv or biography and a short statement. You should check each project description carefully to work out what is required for your submission. If in doubt, email the lead artist as early as possible with a question to clarify what is required.

Each lead artist will respond to your submission and let you know if you have been accepted to participate. They will usually do this within a week of the deadline. Sometimes they will request further information to help them work out if the project is right for you.

The deadline is the final date for submission. We encourage you however to make your submission at any time leading up to the deadline.

How much does DIY cost?
Generally DIY projects are free to take part in; however, for some projects you will be asked to contribute to the cost of food and other direct expenses. Mostly you will also be asked to cover your own travel costs to and from the place where the project is taking place. Some projects provide participants for specified costs such as travel.

Where relevant, details of costs are mentioned in the project descriptions; however, if you are in doubt email the lead artist to check.

What happens if I can’t attend all days?
DIY projects are short and designed for small numbers of participants. It is therefore ideal if you are participating that you attend all days/sessions of the DIY project. If this is not possible but you really want to take part, please contact the DIY project leader and outline your availability to determine if they will accept your application.

Access requirements
Unfortunately, some projects require certain levels of physical fitness and/or are not accessible for all artists. If you have access requirements please contact the lead artist to discuss the suitability of the project.

How can I lead a DIY project?
The artists leading DIY projects were selected through an open call. You can read the archive page including the guidelines for the call for DIY project leaders here. We plan to run DIY in 2012 and will again select DIY lead artists through an open call. Join the Live Art Development Agency e-list to remain informed of our projects and activities.

If you require further information about any of these projects or artists, please contact the Live Art Development Agency at [email protected]

DIY 8 is a Live Art Development Agency initiative developed in collaboration with Artsadmin (national), Fierce (West Midlands), LANWest (North West), Live at LICA/Nuffield Theatre (North West), PLATFORM (national), Text Festival (North West), Whitstable Biennale (South East), and Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Yorkshire).