UKNA will be shaping a new creative future with, in and for cities in the UK.

Drawing on our history and learning, UK New Artists has created a new model which offers a new era of support for artists and a new creative ecology for cities, young people and their communities.

UK New Artists is excited to introduce ‘Taking Place’ which is a bespoke programme designed for each place. This innovative programme offers a new journey for artists by delving into unexplored horizons, emphasising the significance of the artist's role in civic engagement. By encouraging artists to engage with and explore new places, collaborate with diverse perspectives, and share their experiences, Taking Place ignites inspiration for artists' practice and the city’s creative landscape.

UKNA launched the first iteration of Taking Place in Lincoln in November 2022. Below you can meet the New Artist Collective and discover the Lincoln public programme. Behind the scenes we are busy creating a new Taking Place and we hope that our next destination will be Derby and then beyond.

New Artist Collective 23. UKNA Taking Place: Lincoln, November 2022. Photo by Sophie Lavender

We have developed two parallel and intersecting programmes which will work with more breadth and depth in places and form the backbone of Taking Place.

New Artist Collective; a cross-disciplinary group of artists who are within the first 10 years of professional practice, from all artforms, across the UK. Each artist in the cohort receives a bursary along with opportunities to present and create new work, and work deeply in the place through micro-residencies exploring themes and creating connectivity. They also have access to a programme of talks, workshops and resources and the opportunity to collaborate, share and network with the other artists in the collective and beyond.

Creative Citizens; a talent development programme for young people (14-19yrs). Built on three pillars – ‘information’, ‘inspiration’ and freedom for ‘exploration’ which are essential for young people to flourish and thrive. For Taking Place, the Creative Citizens programme offers different ways to support more young people to explore their creativity and connect with the work of new artists.

Both programmes cross over at various points, providing a space for collaborative explorations in response to the locality of the ‘place’. Taking Place aims to inspire communities with free access to high-quality arts and celebrates and shows the wealth of new talent in the UK.

Taking Place Projects

Featured

Navigating the Journey for New Artists: Symposium

Join UKNA on Friday 20 October from 10 am at the Lincoln Arts Centre for a day filled with thought-provoking talks, open discussions, and presentations as we discuss some of the key questions for new artists now and going forward. We will delve into topics such as breaking down barriers for artists, how artists can thrive and survive and what we can do together and for each other.

Weekend Celebration of Creativity Programme

UKNA is delighted to showcase the culmination of a year-long project ‘Taking Place: People Place and Practice’ with twelve never-before-seen artworks that draw inspiration from the heart and soul of Lincoln. These remarkable creations are presented across the city, allowing both residents and visitors to experience the essence of Lincoln through the eyes of these talented new artists.

UK New Artists is Celebrating Creativity in Lincoln

The Weekend Celebration of Creativity brings together over 38 local and national artists to Lincoln City. Twelve captivating, never-before-seen commissions, born from the heart of Lincoln and created in collaboration with the people, arts organisations and charities, will transform both cultural spaces and unconventional venues alongside other events taking place across the city.

Taking Place: Lincoln 2023 Programme

Starting from May 2023 the UK New Artists 'Taking Place: Lincoln’ programme fully launches!

In partnership with local sector leading organisations in Lincoln, UKNA are hosting an exciting and informative programme of online and in-person talks; blending the perspective of artists, industry professionals and future producers as part of Taking Place: Lincoln. These free events are open to everyone.

Meet the New Artist Collective 23!

The New Artists Collective 23 has 17 artists, who are working collaboratively for over a year as part of UKNA’s first iteration of Taking Place embarking on an exciting journey in Lincoln; sharing their work, undertaking residencies and collective activities, and taking part in training, networking and mentoring.

Taking Place: The Beginning

UK New Artists celebrated The Beginning of Taking Place: Lincoln with an exhibition and a collection of live performances by the New Artist Collective; a cross-disciplinary group of 18 artists. The exhibition and live performances celebrated the wealth of talent, skill and diversity within the group and offered the public to enjoy work for free.