Agnes Ársælsdóttir offers an intriguing and thought-provoking discussion, providing a unique insight into the process of using nature and landscape as a central part of creative practice. In this discussion, Agnes opens a gateway to a whole new realm of perception and engagement, inviting us to reimagine our relationship with the world.

Discover how Ioney utilises archives as a powerful method of creative research. In this thought-provoking talk, Ioney reflects on her spoken word practice, providing valuable insights into her artistic process and archives' transformative role in shaping her work.

The winner of the 2022 Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award, Habib Hajallie talks about his work with UK New Artists, winning the Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award and what it’s meant to him to exhibit at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery. He also shares insights into his creative practice and process, his sources of inspiration, top tips on becoming a full-time artist and how to look out for artist opportunities and residencies.

UKNA hosted a discussion with international arts organisations and artists, giving an insight into working as an artist in these countries and discussing what the future of international working will be for all of us.

A talk exploring spirituality in contemporary art practice. How ritual, and tradition have informed the making of two artists: Award-winning photographer Manon Ouimet (UK) and Seoul-based artist Mi Park.

Artist talk from emerging painter, Jarvis Brookfield. Drawn from imagination, Jarvis Brookfield’s paintings contemplate his experiences with mystical visionary states, celebrating the transcendental. A graduate of De Montfort, this will be a great opportunity to hear about Jarvis’ journey ahead of seeing his work at UK New Artists’ Leicester City Takeover in 2022.

Artist talk. Navneet Virk works across fashion and fine art, creating sustainable art from waste material. A graduate of De Montfort, this is a great opportunity to hear about her post graduate journey ahead of seeing her work at UK New Artists’ Leicester City Takeover in 2022.

A two-part online discussion led by Shekayla Maragh Creative Producer and Founder of CUBE who are a midlands based music development agency. CUBE invites industry experts to discuss the fundamentals of breaking into the music industry.

Nottingham based Curator, Saziso Phiri has developed a two-part session which gives an insight into how to work with galleries.

PART ONE features artist talks and Q&A with Ryan Heath and Jemisha Maadhavji, two of the selected artists for UKNA Leicester City Takeover 2022.

PART TWO features a masterclass with leading Curator, Cindy Sissokho.

Streamed live from the LCB Depot in Leicester, 20th May 2021. A trio of talks covering self-employment, managing your creative business and applying for funding. Speakers will include Arts Council England, Mahmood Reza, Management Accounts & Tax Specialist (Pro Active Resolutions), Tina Smith (Freelance Arts Consultant) who will be giving their advice and tips for running a successful creative business.

Whether you are a multi-skilled theatre maker or a practitioner with one core focus (director/ writer) this panel discussion will dive into how you can begin and maintain working within theatres. Suitable for those working within live performance and those interested in getting their work programmed, commissioned or supported by theatres.

Anna Castleton Simmons and Laura Evans share their top tips and advice for artists wishing to build their profile and grow their reach. Anna is a freelance communications specialist and Director of Arts PR London. Laura is UKNA's Marketing and Digital Manager. Together, they bring years of insight and expertise in marketing, promotion and PR.

Michelle Bowen and Olwen Davies share their top tips and advice for applying for artist opportunities. Michelle, Director of UK New Artists, brings her sector expertise across Visual and Applied Arts. Olwen is UKNA's Live Work Producer as well as a Performer and Theatre Maker, and brings her experience assessing and making applications. This informative talk gives you an opportunity to hear from people who might be reading your application, offering their insight to ensure you can present your work in the best way.

It is 13:30 in Oslo. I am sitting by my kitchen table in my one-room apartment and from a tiny window on my computer screen. A woman is reading a poem from her house in the UK. Several people have tuned in through their webcams, listening to her while she reads. The experience feels intimate and personal because although the performer is far away from my physical location, her art is located in my home.

Writer, Katja Fjeld reflects on her experience of the No Jobs in the Arts Fringe Festival.

“The whole festival felt collaborative, it wasn’t simply a case of showcasing early-career creatives in the East Midlands but rather a chance for those delivering workshops to trial ideas, and those attending the talks and workshops to gain confidence, skills and the ability to network. It was, indeed, a risk free way to gain experience in the arts.”

Writer, Kellymarie Palfrey reflects on their experience of the No Jobs in the Arts Fringe Festival.

Header image: Donna Briscoe-Greene by Joe Westley

Northampton based photographer, Joe Westley hosts a talk on documenting live performances and artistic events. He reflects on his professional experience and offers some hints and tips on creative documentation. Anyone interested in capturing creativity though a lens will love this talk. The presentation is followed by a short Q&A.

A panel discussion with Leicester Zine Library's (LZL) Courteney Campbell, Anoushka Goodwin, and Jack Squires. The conversation centres on LZL’s collection and what zines can do. The LZL team showcase some of their favourites from their collections and talk about how they hope to develop as a project. This talk will be of interest to anyone who loves zines or is interested in creative publications. The panel discussion is led by Charlie Collins, the project coordinator of Derbyshire Zine Library.

Amber Jesson and Jenny O’Sullivan discuss their experiences working as early-career curators in the East Midlands and beyond. The curators talk about their creative roles, themes they are interested in, their routes into the arts, and why they think it is important to collaborate with emerging creatives. This talk may interest those wanting to look at the visual arts from a fresh perspective and networking with a new generation of curators.

No Jobs in the Arts ask ‘What do early-career artists/curators/producers want and need from us?’ with Elizabeth Hawley-Lingham. This talk is a live evaluation of their projects. With this dialogue, they want to think creatively about how they evaluate a project by opening the learning process to others. This event might be of interest to anyone who plans creative events or wants to help shape the future of No Jobs in the Arts.

Artist Talk with Sarah Woolf about her video work, Double Crisis, for No Jobs in the Arts Fringe Festival.

Content warning: mental health In this short artist talk, 25mins, we chat to Nottingham-based photographer and artist Sarah Woolf about 'Double Crisis': a series of work that captures and exposes some of the harsh realities facing people with mental health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst acknowledging the potential for change and ‘recovery’.

Jo Wheeler reflects on collaboration through the lens of her socially engaged practice and past projects. This talk will be of interest to anyone investigating a position of collaboration in creative practice. Jo hopes participants who attend this talk will take away new ways of thinking about collaborative practice through discovery and conversation.

In this talk, creative practitioners Chris Boote (Surface Gallery) and Jenny McKenzie (The Green Man Gallery) discuss their experience of volunteering in the art industry, and how their experiences have shaped their creative careers. The event covers learning opportunities experienced by the panel and why they continue to volunteer in the arts. This talk may be of interest to those who want to gain experience within the arts.

Working off the idea that you need to do a good few ‘bad’ drawings to get to the one you’ll love; this workshop pushes you to start to ignore the perfect and just go for it. Using a series of drawing exercises, Chloe will help you to follow your instincts and start building the basics of your illustrative style. Drawing exercises will include timed drawing, drawing with abstract shapes and drawing from memory. You should hopefully leave the workshop inspired to look for those happy chances.

This short talk that introduces the Fringe Festival’s two-day programme and its theme: collaboration. An opportunity to find out more about No Jobs in the Arts and UK New Artists. The talk is delivered by Ryan and Charlie, the project co-ordinators for No Jobs in the Arts, with Michelle Bowen, Director of UKNA.

We are pleased to share the third film in this series commissioned in partnership with Eurodesk UK as part of Eurodesk’s Time to Move 2020 campaign. Ryan Boultbee was one of the artists that UKNA took to Shanghai for Artshake 2019 with Yiyuan Tang Museum and Seojung Art Centre, Seoul - what an adventure that was! Hear more about Ryan's search for hidden treasures in the sprawling abandoned factory site in China, as well as Ryan's creative process and practice.

UKNA is delighted to share the second in a trio of short films commissioned in partnership with Eurodesk UK, as part of Eurodesk’s Time to Move 2020 campaign.

Here, we meet Producer and Curator Saziso Phiri. Saziso is the Curator for UKNA City Takeover: Leicester 2021; founder of The Anti Gallery; founding member of SHEAfriq Collective; part of the organising team for Nuart Festival, Norway; and has recently been announced as Curator in Residence at City Arts Nottingham.

UKNA is delighted to share the first in a trio of short films commissioned in partnership with Eurodesk UK, as part of Eurodesk’s Time to Move 2020 campaign.

The Art of Working (Internationally) is a series of short documentary films featuring interviews and work from three UK artists. The interviews focus on the influence and impact of having international experiences either through festivals, exhibitions, performances or residencies.

The first film features AJA, who discusses her practice, collaborations, and reflects on her experiences of performing at CTM Festival at Berghain and working with Sounds Queer in Vienna.

This is without doubt a difficult time for artists and the creative industries, with many of the ‘normal’ channels, opportunities and work put on hold. To help guide you through we have compiled a list of resources and signposts for artists, covering financial support; health and wellbeing; a selection of online exhibitions, shows and festivals to keep you inspired; some creative and educational resources; and a selection of commissions/residencies that offer a fee to artists.

UKYA has put together this guide to applying for UKYA City Takeover: Nottingham 19. It includes advice and top tips from UKYA and our expert selection panel. It covers the four application form questions related to you and your work, and provides advice on submitting supporting media that puts your best foot forward and sets your application above the rest!

If you are considering setting up in business then the following might help. For any young artists or arts organisation knowing how to operate as a business can provide the next step in your creative career. We have tried to provide a concise overview of what you would need to consider  if you are looking to register you business and take those next steps in your artist journey. 

At UKYA we won't tell you who to vote for in the upcoming general election, but we want to help you to be informed on the offers from the political parties. So we have read through the manifestos and tried to extract any information relating to culture, the arts and education - issues that are very close to our hearts and hopefully, yours too!