17 September 2008

Nine Trades of Dundee project attracts 'Inspire' funding

A new project at the University of Dundee which links the city’s historic Nine Incorporated Trades to contemporary arts and craft practice has been chosen as one of a handful of projects to receive Scottish Arts Council 'Inspire' funding.

The Nine Trades of Dundee project has been developed by the Exhibitions Department at the University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design.

It is one of only 13 project proposals - out of 423 applications - to be shortlisted for the SAC’s 'Inspire' Fund, which was created to encourage the development of innovative projects to inspire and encourage the people of Scotland to take part in the arts.

The Nine Trades project will see artists working alongside craftspeople and tradesmen across the city.

'Our aim with this project is to de-mystify the public’s preconceptions of who can be an 'artist' and what 'art' is,' said Jenny Brownrigg, Curator in the Exhibitions Department.

'The inspiration is the Dundee organisation 'The Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee', which has been operating since the 1800s and refers to nine trade groups in the city including the Bakers, Shoemakers, Hammermen and Weavers.

'A significant number of artists economically support their practice by working in another trade. For example, a sculptor works on a building site; an installation artist is also a joiner; a socially-engaged artist is a part-time hairdresser.'

'What we are proposing to do is invite nine artists with second trades to lead collaborative art projects with Dundee workers employed in that particular trade.'

'Sharing a trade becomes the common factor that brings artist and group together. A shared language, skill-base and working experience then overcomes that initial barrier of what ‘art’ is and goes on to create a significant exchange and collaboration for both parties.'

'We are hoping the project may lead to jointly produced artworks and new strategies for the workplace.'

The Exhibitions Department has received £5,000 development funding to progress the outline project idea into a fully developed project plan for consideration at Stage 2 of the application process. The final results will be announced in Feb 2009.

The outline project will now progress with the help of three artists linked to Duncan of Jordanstone, who will help develop ideas for the full proposal.

Alan Grieve from Dunfermline is about to graduate from the Master of Fine Art course. Alan has been a hairdresser for 25 years as well as a practising artist with a particular interest in story-telling.

23-year-old Fraser Macdonald is a conceptual artist who graduated from Fine Art this year and has been a refuse collector for three years with Perth and Kinross Council.

Ben Robinson,who graduated in 2007 from Master of Design, has been a customer service advisor for HBOS since 2003.

'Our three artists will develop their ideas to make art with hair salons, bin men and call centre workers, so we are hoping to get some very interesting results,' said Jenny.

During this development phase Exhibitions Department is also conducting a survey of UK and Irish artists to find those who are sustaining their practice by a second, non-art trade. Artists who have already contacted the department include a tree surgeon who is a performance artist, a sculptor who is an accountant and a painter who is a sheep farmer.

NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information on the Exhibitions Department and the Nine Trades project see:
www.exhibitions.dundee.ac.uk/ninetrades.html.

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Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk