Participatory artist/maker (metalwork), Leeds GATE

Leeds GATE is looking for a participatory artist with metalwork/junk-sculpture skills. See details below:

Leeds GATE is a community members’ association committed to improving quality of life for Gypsies and Travellers in West Yorkshire. We seek to achieve our aim via improving homes, health, education and employment, and via increasing social inclusion and citizenship. We are a values-based organisation; our value statements are:
•GATE belongs to Gypsies and Travellers
•GATE is welcoming
•GATE respects people’s privacy
•GATE believes that people should be safe
•GATE helps people to help themselves
•GATE is honest and open
•GATE doesn’t make promises we can’t keep
•GATE is brave and creative
•GATE believes everyone is equal and can be included

We are looking for a participatory artist with metalwork/junk-sculpture skills to work with GATE on an art project, for approximately 6 sessions in Autumn 2016. The work will be based in Leeds.

Metalwork need not be the mainstay of your practice; but you will need to have confident skills in making small objects from scrap metal, teaching these techniques both to adults and young people, and inspiring people to make and create. Attention to health and safety is also important, and so is an ability to work as part of a larger, artist-led project. The role might suit junk sculptors, metalworkers, artists with basic metalwork skills, or even jewellery-makers (if you're prepared to work a bit bigger than usual, and in scrap rather than precious metals!)

This post is subject to funding. If GATE is successful in gaining the relevant funding, this role will form part of a larger art project that we will be realising. You will be working with a group of GATE members to design and make small decorative metal objects inspired by Medieval reliquaries, which will form part of a larger art exhibition.

Please email your CV, and a covering letter explaining how you would approach the role, and what kinds of techniques you might use with the group to make the objects. Feel free to include up to 3 images, either of your own work, or of things that you might use as inspiration in this project.

For more information visit http://leedsgate.co.uk/