http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/nervecentre/whats_on.php

Questionnaire - Platform Creative Network Space

Dear artists and creatives,

Please help Platform with their research by completing a short questionnaire to gauge need for a creative network space in St Helens. The survey will take around 5 minutes and will help us in our planning.

Click here to take survey

Many thanks
Platform

Platform Update 30 January 2011

- Platform are planning a research visit to Bolton-based Neo Artists, to find out how they set up and sustain their studio provision. Check back for a report on the visit.

-We are looking into feasible locations for setting up studios in St Helens, with contacts flying around. If you are a landlord with a space that needs looking after, please get in touch with us.

-Are you a studio group that would like to share your wisdom with Platform? We are looking for examples of best practice from across the UK.

- Platform are planning events including exhibitions and community involvement activity.

- Are you interested in getting involved? Want to help set up studio space and add to the cultural provision in St Helens? Our next meeting is Wednesday 16 February 2011, 2pm at MASH Gallery, Haydock Street, St Helens.

Work in Progress.

Piece of work from the pop-up studio event, I've called it- Mark the Day on the Street - 15/12/10. Two young graphic art students from the college drew onto my canvas which I have now worked into. Found it interesting to do because I felt I needed to be aware of their marks as part of the development of the work,

St Helens Star Coverage

From St Helens Star website:

Artists campaign for studio space

6:00pm Sunday 2nd January 2011

A GROUP of artists seeking an affordable ‘platform’ to work in St Helens took their campaign the town’s streets.

They produced artworks in the town centre to highlight their need for affordable and accessible studio spaces.

Calling themselves Platform, the 15 strong art squad – made up of painters, photographers, poets and filmmakers – produced their art in public.

Claire Weetman, one the art campaigners, told the Star: “Whereas in Liverpool and Manchester or other towns there is studio space for artists to work in together that is affordable, there isn’t any in St Helens.

“If you want studio space, you have to go out to one of the cities. We are looking at suitable venues and are trying to access bursaries to support us.”

To keep up to date on the campaign see platformarts.blogspot.com

Platform pop-up studios

Platform is a group of artists based in St Helens, UK, who are working together to share their practice and to address the lack of affordable, accessible, studio spaces in the town. On Wednesday 15th December 2010, the artists took to the streets of St Helens to produce artworks within the town in order to highlight this to a wider audience.

Claire Weetman produced 'Recording the Journey' a drawing intervention on the pavements of St Helens, which visually charted an audio recording of a journey through the town, and used snippets of overheard conversation.

Above: 'Recording the Journey', Intervention, Chalk on pavement, Claire Weetman
Photograph courtesy Tony Glover

Below left: Work in Progrees, Joan Birkett
Photograph Courtesy Angela Wilkinson

Joan Birkett created a temporary exhibition of some works in progress and invited the passing audience to make marks on canvas which she could later develop. Photographers Jon Holden, Tony Glover and Angela Wilkinson exhibited some of their works, produced new work and documented the event, whilst Tony Maher from the organisation 'Art from a bag' invited the public to take photographs and email them back.

Michael and Adam from Renaissance Film Productions filmed the event, and Tina Culshaw from T5 magazine was present and will no doubt feature Platform's efforts in an upcoming issue.

Audience pulling events came from poet Raphael Hart, who performed his works to gathered students and shoppers, and the installation 'Restricted Movement' by Pauline Heyes brought humorous responses and engaged debate from those who saw it.

'Restricted Movement', Pauline Heyes, Installation
Photograph courtesy Angela Wilkinson

Raphael Hart performing his poetry outside St Helens College
Photograph courtesy Tony Glover

Platform plans to hold more events in 2011 in its efforts to work towards the establishment of affordable studios in the town of St Helens.

To keep up to date on Platform events see platformarts.blogspot.com

Dont forget platformers 11-30 @Mash