- Critical Mass / / DRAW
Application deadline: Sunday 23 June 2024, 5pm
Critical Mass / / DRAW is a new course for artists whose work uses drawing as a prominent medium in their practice. Programmed and delivered to each participating artist’s requirements and ambitions, Critical Mass / / DRAW will provide tailored critique, professional development, inspiration and new lasting networks.
Start Date:
10/09/2024
End Date:
25/03/2025
Venue:
Online (Zoom) & in-person
Following on from our successful first iteration of this programme – Critical Mass / / SCULPT, we are excited to be supporting the practices of artists who use drawing* within their creative practices. This course continues our ethos of collaboration, sharing and support between the MDP team, visiting speakers and participating artists.
Previous courses led by Mark Devereux Projects have received wide acclaim for the long-term developmental impacts the can have on the participating artists’ practices and careers. Read more via our Testimonials…
* Please read the FAQs for further information about what we classify as a drawing-based practice.
One-to-one meetings with selected artists to develop course programme: 8-19 July
Critical Mass / / DRAW introductions: Tuesday 16 July, 9:30 – 11:30am
Course start date: Tuesday 10 September 2024
Away-day 1 – London: Tuesday 8 October 2024
One-to-one mentoring sessions (round 1): 4-22 November 2024
Away-day 2 (location TBC): Tuesday 25 February 2025
One-to-one mentoring sessions (round 2): 24 February – 7 March 2025
Course end date: Tuesday 25 March 2025
Full cost for the course: £680 *
Our Studio member cost: £578
Payment options are available to spread the cost in instalments across 2-6 months. There is no charge to apply.
Additional course costs will include travel & accommodation for the two away-days.
* A discretionary discount for the course costs is available for individuals who are unemployed or from low income households. Please contact us in advance of making your application to discuss this on an individual basis.
Critical Mass / / DRAW is aimed at early-mid career artists who are ambitious and developing their practices within drawing. We are keen to receive applications from a wide range of practitioners including people who identify as disabled, LGBTQIA+, from the Ethnic Global Majority and those that have not received formal arts training / education. All artists must live and work in the UK.
We are committed to creating Safer, Braver Spaces for artists to share, learn and make. All workshop sessions will include breaks to rest and take time away from the screen. Please contact Mark directly at [email protected] if you would like to discuss any access needs in advance.
All sessions will include live Zoom transcriptions and will be recorded and shared via a password protected Vimeo video link for the course participants only.
Application deadline: Sunday 23 June 2024, 5pm
Artists notified by: Friday 28 June 2024
To apply please send the following:
Applications may be made via video or audio to support those with dyslexia or unable to make their application in writing.
Please send your application via WeTransfer to [email protected]. If you do not receive email notification of the receipt of your application within 48-hours please contact us.
We will be holding Zoom drop-in sessions on Tuesday 4 June (10-11am) and Thursday 13 June 6-7pm) for artists who may be interested in applying to meet Mark Devereux and ask any questions you may have about the programme. Booking is required (click on dates above to register your attendance).
Further information and insights into the course structure will be shared via our social media channels.
If you would like to arrange a private conversation with Mark to discuss your application or if you have any questions about Critical Mass / / DRAW please email Mark at [email protected].
“I came on the course because I wanted more input and mentoring from Mark Devereux to question and reflect on my practice, plus access to and feedback from other artists whose practice includes sculpture/installation. The course fulfilled all of that for a few reasons. I felt safe. The space was respectful and caring, grounded in a thoughtful & professional holding of the sessions. I felt challenged and supported. With the safety in place, the sessions were robust enough to explore ideas freely and be challenged as well as supported to try things out. I learned so much from the monthly discussions and critiques due to Mark’s knowledge and experience of the contemporary art world and also the experience of fellow participants. The standard and ambitions of individuals felt really high.”
[Helen Acklam, Critical Mass / / SCULPT participating artist]
“Mark Devereux Projects is a very friendly, grounded, and considered environment, in which, I felt very safe to be vulnerable, while exploring my crazy ideas, dreams and ambitions. This was my first time taking part in a mentoring / group programme outside of Academia. It is a great introduction to first-timers wanting to explore 1-2-1 mentoring and I can’t imagine my practice developing, unless I embed this well needed support structure into my future plans.”
[Michelle Forrest-Beckett, Critical Mass / / SCULPT participating artist]
“Working with MDP on Critical Mass // SCULPT has provided me with in-depth knowledge of the practicalities of working in sculpture and installation. I’ve also gained invaluable critical feedback on my work and met a new group of artists who have inspired me to feel more confident and take more risks in my own practice. This course managed to strike a great balance between practical and creative support that will help me to maintain and grow my practice for years to come.”
[Stevie Ronnie, Critical Mass / / SCULPT participating artist]
Critical Mass / / SCULPT was an eye-opening and enabling experience. Mark brought us together as a group supporting each other’s artistic development with insight from industry professionals, artists and curators as well as his own expansive knowledge of the art world. Attending the course gave me time and space to engage with the sculptural aspect of my practice and follow to my ambition to work on a larger and more public scale – which I am now doing. Thank you Mark!”
[Ellie Shipman, Critical Mass / / SCULPT participating artist]
We are open to interpretation of drawing in it’s widest sense. This could include drawing in the expanded field and using alternative materials to create spatial drawings. If you have any questions about how your work and practice may fit within the medium of drawing please contact us.
No. We are keen to receive applications from artists that work across various mediums but that have (or want to have) a prominent place for drawing in your practice.
There is no charge to make an application for the course.
Selections will be made by the Mark Devereux Projects team. The key selection criteria will be the quality of the artist’s previous artwork. We will also look at the reasons for applying. CVs and past experiences are not required.
Up to 12
In advance of the course starting we will meet with each individual artist online to discuss their requirements and ambitions for the course. We will also host a group discussion session, which will be a chance for each artist to meet, get to know one another and share their ideas for Critical Mass / / DRAW. This will then be used to design the content of the programme.
Every fortnight on Tuesday morning’s between 9:30am – 12:30pm via the online video platform Zoom. Full course dates:
We have developed the programme to avoid national school holidays to help the course to be accessible to those artists that may have parental, caring or other commitments. This includes the Christmas holidays and half-terms.
Yes, ideally you will be able to commit to all programmed sessions in order to fully experience and get the most from the course. If you availability changes for individual sessions, they will all be recorded and shared via a secure YouTube link afterwards.
The first away-day will take place in London (further information will be given on selection). The second away-day will take place at a prominent cultural venue and will be decided once the participants have been selected and will be dependent on geographic location.
These sessions will be led by curator and mentor, Mark Devereux.
These sessions will be an opportunity for each individual artist to ask questions, receive critique/advice/feedback and have an in-depth discussion about any area of your practice.
Your fee covers the total cost for the delivery of the course and no other overheads. We have tried to make the course as affordable as possible to enable access by all. The costs include full facilitation of the programme, led by Mark Devereux, plus fees and expenses for guest speakers.
We are happy to have a private conversation to discuss this and would aim to come to a mutually agreeable solution if you were to be selected.
Yes. This course would be suitable to be included within an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice application and/or a-n Professional Development bursary. We will also be happy to support your application through a letter or recommendation if required.
Yes. We are happy to set up individual instalment payment plans according to your personal circumstances.
