Research towards an MA Module in Participative Practice/Environmental Art (360G-phf-29063)

ArtWorks funding has been awarded to The Stove Network to undertake initial research towards developing an MA module in Environmental and Participative Practice. The Stove Network will work with an existing informal network of other place-based arts projects in Scotland and Wales as part of their research. As well as informing the longer term development of a MA module, they plan, though their engagement with other rural place based partners, to strengthen this informal grouping and share their research at the end of the process. This research will be jointly run with the University of West Scotland as their academic partner (pending match funding from the Innovation Voucher Scheme). This funding will enable The Stove Network the research the feasibility of developing a formal training offer as part of their longer term business plan. The Stove Network is an artist led collective based in a disused three story former shop in the town centre of Dumfries with a membership of circa 200 people ranging from international artists to emerging artists and students. Their core mission is about breathing new life into the town using art and creativity and actively involving local people. They are particularly interested in exploring how they can create a sustainable business model for both the building and the wider network. Part of this is exploring the feasibility of setting up an MA module that would be run through the Stove Network and provide academic institutions a residential course for students to study environmental and socially engaged practice. This would offer employment for their network members, bring new artists into the area to cross fertilize with the existing artist community and potentially offer a sustainable business model in the longer term.