Art Events and Opportunities: August 2019

Events and Exhibitions

August is always the peak of cultural activity in Scotland, thanks to the various Edinburgh Festivals. Here's a broader look at what's coming up in art events and opportunities in the next month across the country.

In Glasgow, the exhibition space Celine has put together an exhibiton of work from the archive of the photographer and photojournalist Phyllis Christopher. She’s a notable contributor to On Our Backs, the first lesbian erotica magazine published in the USA. Her work also documents the 80s, 90s and 00s in San Francisco, at a key juncture in gay rights, 'straddling the boundary between voyeur and participant… Operating in the studio and the street.' The exhibition continues until 22 September, and is open by appointment, which can be booked through Celine's Facebook page. 

Opening on 2 August, Tramway in Glasgow present the work of American artist Nick Cave (not that one) who has for several decades built his rich textile and sculptural practice. His Sound Suits are his best known work, often made of bright and flamboyant materials covering the whole body of the performer. Cave’s work is a vibrant and nuanced response to the experience of racism, creating camouflaging body armour. Tramway presents the huge scale project that was originally organised by Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, until 24 November. 

Edinburgh Art Festival brings many high profile exhibitions around the city, and a series of events, too. See edinburghartfestival.com for more details of individual events. Every Thursday of the Festival, there is Art Late which covers a different area each time, combining some high class drinks with curated performances around the exhibitions each evening. Tickets are £8-10. 

Also on a weekly basis and to accompany their EAF exhibitions and commissions, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop host Sculpture Saturdays through the entire EAF. The works by artists Lucy Wayman, Adam Benmakhlouf (The Skinny’s own and writer of this very piece), and Caroline Achaintre, are the starting point for workshops through August. 

Artist Patrick Staff’s exhibition at the DCA has gained a five-star review in this month's magazine, and if you’re not Dundee-based there are two events this month that might be good to keep in mind for a productive visit. On 26 August from 6-7.30pm, writer and critic Isabel Waidner is the centre of conversation as Waidner has written a new text in response to the exhibition, and will lead the conversation of the themes involved in Staff’s work. Then on the last week of the exhibition on Thursday 29 August from 6-7, Waidner, Staff and the curator of the show Eoin Dara will present an in-conversation event about the entire show and Waidner’s text.

Opportunities

Jerwood Bursaries have opened applications, and provide grants for artists one to five years into establishing a professional practice for up to £1250. They are open to the applicant proposing how best to spend the money, provided the suggested budget is oriented to development of their career and artistic practice. Deadline: 9 September, 5pm

The Banff Centre in Canada is renowned for its work with artists all around the world. At the moment, they are offering a residence especially for artists that have completed art higher education in the previous five years (preferably). The application fee is $65, and the opportunity is supported by Jarislowsky Foundation. Deadline: 5 September, 5pm

One of the main highlights of the emerging artist opportunities in Scotland, there is the graduate residency at Hospitalfield. Renowned for its support of working artists, this is the entry-level residence for recent graduates. It is a two-week residency, and asks for applicants to propose a project that is achievable and realistic within this time scale. Deadine: 19 August, midnight.