I am very honoured to have been awarded grant funding through Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants for Earth, Water, Fire, Hands – Creative Flow in Clay Development of Artistic practice where I will explore ceramics through the four elements and the four seasons in 2023. I am deeply grateful that such funding exists for new artists to explore a new creative avenue and supports individuals to take time to focus on their creative development.
This grant will enable me to learn from various studios, residencies and practitioners in Devon, UK; Berlin, Germany; Aqtushetii, Georgia and Svitene, Latvia as I explore the changing patterns of the seasons, rituals and cultural traditions of each of these diverse countries alongside the UK’s strong tradition in ceramics. Having this exposure to a series of working ceramics studios, in varied cultural contexts will provide a key project focus area around the four elements and four seasons, as a means to shape and nurture my newly formed creative art practice in ceramics. My practice will have the solid foundation set from four renown residencies and allow me the scope to step into a new and creatively exciting position as a ceramic artist.
National Lottery Project Grants is the Arts Council’s open access programme for arts, museums and libraries projects. The fund supports thousands of individual artists, community and cultural organisations thanks to National Lottery investment. I am deeply grateful for this honour and privilege to explore a new found love for this tactile and wonderfully enriching medium. I look forward to documenting my journey here on this website.