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Scotlandslargestartandcraftopenstudiosevent,SpringFling,isseekingtoappointanartist-in-residenceatthisyearsWigtownBookFestival(28Septemberto7October2012).

INTRODUCTION

Wigtown, Scotland'sNational Book Town, is a book lover's haven, featuring 15book-relatedbusinessesandnewandsecond-hand books galore.At its heart isa village green, circled by

historic listed buildings, and the surrounding patchwork of green fields, rugged coastline,

moorlandandmountainincludesBritain'slargestlocalnaturereserve(aviewingroomin the

towns County Buildings offers informationon the reserve as well as video footage of localospreys).Other local attractionsinclude Scotlandsmost southerlydistillery, inneighbouring

BladnochaswellastheseparateRSPNreserveatnearbyCrookofBaldoon.

Theresidencyisanopportunityforanartistworkinginanymediumordiscipline,notcurrently

basedinDumfriesandGalloway,toliveandworkinWigtownfor12daysinthelead-uptoand

duringWigtown Book Festival 2012 (28 September to 7 October 2012). This is one of the

largestartsfestivalsinScotland,consistingofover150events,anditattractsvisitorsfrombothDumfriesandGallowayandbeyond.

Wearelookingforanartisttomakeandshownewworkduringthisevent,inspiredbyWigtown

BookFestival-andbythemeetingofpeopleandmindsthathappensduringthisannual10-daycelebration.

Acentralstrandofthe2012WigtownBookFestivalisTheAudienceasArtistinwhichtheorganiserswillbeencouragingasmanyvisitorsaspossibletomake,paint,sing,bake,sculptor

inanyotherwaycreatesomethingduringorbeforetheirvisit.Itisintendedthatthevisitors

workwillbeshowninarevolvingexhibitionduringthe10daysoftheexhibition.

This years Spring Fling residency will find inspiration in and complement this activity, for

examplebydrawingonthetalentsandenergyofthefestivalaudiencetocreatenewwork.

This residency is open to artists currently working out with Dumfries and Galloway. We

encourageproposalsfromartistsusingsocialmediaanddigitalmediaeitheraspartoftheir

work oralongsidetheirwork.Theselectioncommitteewill also prioritiseoriginalwork that

encouragesparticipationacrossarangeofages,interestsandsocialbackgrounds.

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BACKGROUND

Following a pilot artists residency project that took place duringWigtownBook Festival in

2009,WigtownBookFestivalandSpringFlinghavecollaboratedonthisresidencyprojectboth

in2010(DeirdreNelson)andin2011(KimAyres).Theresultsoftheresidencyeachyearhave

beenondisplayinanopenstudiosettinginWigtownduringthefollowingSpringFling.

SpringFlingisthemostsuccessfulopenstudioseventofitskindinScotlandandamajortourist

eventinDumfriesandGalloway,attractingover10,000visitorsduringtheSpringBankHoliday

weekend.Forparticipatingartistsitoffersachancetoshowcasetheirworktoawideaudience

(www.spring-fling.co.uk).

In1998WigtownbecameScotland'sNationalBookTown.Sincethenthistinytownhasbeen

transformedfromneglectedruralsettlementintodistinguishedliterarycapital,whileitsbook

festival has grown into one of the best-loved autumn arts gatherings in the UK

(www.wigtownbookfestival.com). The festival nowhas an audience ofmore than 15,000. In2012,WigtownwasawardedtheinauguralCreativePlaceAwardforcommunitiesunder2,500,

designedtorecogniseplacesofexceptionalcreativityinScotland.

There is potential for much connection between the audience of Spring Fling and that of

WigtownBookFestival,andwe feelthatbothaudiencesareverylikelytobe interestedinthe

content of both events. It is hoped that the residency project will help to enhance this

relationship-andpromptvisitorstovisittheregionmoreoftenthanonceayear.

THERESIDENCY

Wewouldliketoinviteanartisttoapplyfora12-dayresidencyinWigtownthatwillculminateinanewbodyofworktobeshownduringSpringFling2013.

SelectionfortheresidencywillautomaticallyguaranteetheartistaplaceinSpringFling2013(datesTBCbutitwillbeforthreeorfourdaysoverthelateMayBankHolidayweekend),during

whichtimetheywillpresenttheresultsoftheirresidency,anewpieceofwork,inWigtown.The

selectedartistmustagreetobeonsiteinanopenstudio-styleenvironmentinWigtownduring

Spring Fling hours (10.30am to5.30pm on all three/four days) and available to talk to thepublicabouttheirworkduringthistime.Wewillconfirmthestudiolocationassoonaspossible

afterselection.

Duringtheir12-dayresidencytheselectedartistwillbeexpectedtoengagefullywiththebookfestival, attending festival events and engaging with festival visitors and speakers. We will

provideastudio-stylespacefortheartisttocreateworkinduringthistimeandtheartistwillbe

expectedtobepresentinthestudiototalktovisitorsabouttheirworkforacertainamountoftimeduringtheresidency.Timesforthiscanbelimitedandagreedinadvancebutthismustbe

doneimmediatelyfollowingselectiontoensurethatdetailscanbelistedintheWigtownBook

Festivalbrochure.

TheselectedartistmustagreetocreateartworkinspiredbyWigtownBookFestival.Thisshould

includetheactualfestivalitselfbutmightalsocoveritsengagementwiththetown,withlocal

inhabitants,withvisitorsandwithideas.

Weareopentotheformatoftheresidency,whichcouldbeanexhibitionorinstallation.The

residency opportunity is open to artists working in all practices but we believe it will

particularlyappealtoartistswishingtorisetothechallengeof:

-Developinganewpieceofworkinashortperiodoftime

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-Developingworkwithnewmaterialinanewspace

-Presentingnewworktoanewaudience

-Workingindependentlyinanewenvironment

-Developingworkincorporatingsomeformofaudienceparticipation

-Usingsocial/digitalmediaaspartofthecreationorrecordingofthework

TheartistwillbesupportedbySpringFlingmanager(LeahBlack).Asthispostisnotbasedin

Wigtown, the artist must be willing to work independently. There will also be some localsupportfromtheWigtownFestivalCompany,timeallowing.

THEFEE

Thesuccessfulapplicantwill receivea feeof2,000,to includeanymaterialsandtravelcosts

bothduringWigtownBookFestival2012andduringSpringFling2013.

Accommodationwillbeprovidedfreeofcharge(possiblysharingacottagespacewithwriters

attending Wigtown Book Festival) throughout the residency and again during Spring Fling2013.

TheartistwillbegivenfreeentryintoSpringFling2013(participationfeefor2012was250).

Inaddition,theartistwillbegivenafreepasstoWigtownBookFestivalevents,accordingto

availabilityandbypriorarrangementwithWigtownBookFestival.Thisissothatthesuccessful

artistwillhavetheopportunitytoattendeventsandexperienceWigtownBookFestival.

SpringFlingandWigtownBookFestivalwillallocate substantialresourcesonpromotingthisresidencyasamajorattractionofbothWigtownBookFestival2012andSpringFling2013.

ThisresidencyisfundedbyCreativeScotland.SpringFlingbenefitsfromthegeneroussupport

ofDumfries and Galloway Council. The Springboard Project 2011 2013 is funded byThe

DumfriesandGallowayLEADERProgrammeandTheHolywoodTrust.WigtownBookFestivalis supported by Creative Scotland, EventScotland and Dumfries & Galloway Council, with

sponsorshipfromBaillieGifford.

HOWTOAPPLY

Ifyouwouldliketoapplyforthisresidencywewouldrequestthefollowing:

Siximagesofyourworkindigitalformat Astatementaboutyourpractice Anup-to-dateCV Upto400words(maximum)abouthowyouwouldspendyourtimeinWigtown,whatyouwouldproposetoproducebytheendofthe12-dayresidencyanddetailsofany

relevantexperienceyouhaveinthisarea.

Applicationswill be reviewed by a panel, including committeemembersofSpringFling, theSpring Flingmanager and the director and manager of Wigtown Book Festival. Shortlisted

artists will be expected to attend a brief interview on 5 July 2012 in Dumfries, for whichexpenseswillbepaid,providingthesearereasonableandagreedinadvance.

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PleaseemailyourapplicationtoLeahBlackattheaddressbelow.

TIMELINE

Thedeadlineforsubmissionsis9amonThursday14June2012.

Applicantswillheariftheyhavebeencalledforinterviewby Thursday21June.

SelectioninterviewswilltakeplaceonThursday28JuneinDumfries.Applicantswillhearif

theyhavebeensuccessfulby5pmonMonday2July2012.

Theresidencywillrunfrom28Septemberto7October2012,withtheartistexpectedtobe

presentinthestudiototalktovisitorsabouttheirworkforanagreedamountoftimeduringthe

festival itself. The artist will then be expected to present their artwork in Wigtown during

SpringFling2013(datesTBC).Openinghoursforthiswouldbe10.30amto5.30pmdaily,with

anoptiontoopenuntil7pmononeevening.

The artistmust vacate their accommodationon 7 October 2012 and their allocated studio

space by the end of 7 October 2012. Similar conditions will apply to their Spring Fling

accommodationandstudiospace.

FURTHERINFORMATION

If youwould like anymore informationabout the residency,Spring FlingorWigtownBook

FestivalpleasecontacttheSpringFlingManager,LeahBlackon01387213218orleah@spring-

fling.co.uk