Sarah Nicholson
Education and Training
| 2010 | Arts Award Bronze and Silver Trainer with Curious Minds CP (Trinity College, London). |
| Child Safety with Curious Minds CP. | |
| 2009 | Summer Arts College (SAC) Practioner training with the Youth Justice Board. |
| 2003 – 2004 | MA Fine Art, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. |
| 1998 | NVQ Level Three Business Management at the G.T.R., Liverpool. |
| 1994 – 1997 | BA (Hons) Fine Art, 2:1 University of Central Lancashire, Preston. |
| 1993 – 1994 | Foundation Studies at Liverpool John Moores University. |
Other Details
Driving Licence: Full
Enhanced CRB is available, dated August 2012.
£5M Public Liability Insurance provided by AiR (A-N).
Selected Recent Employment
2018
Ir/reversible a series of small scale interventions as part of a protest supporting the threatened natural environment of Rimrose Valley, Merseyside.
2016-18
Artist in Residence and Archivist for R S Clare, the oldest company in Liverpool. This Dot Art initiated project has led to a temporary exhibition and a permanent display in the new offices of the company
2015
Festival 31, Sola Arts. I was selected to work as one of 8 commissioned artists exploring the theme of Journeys to Freedom during which the artists reflect on articles #1 and #14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2014
Inspired Responses. I was delighted to be invited back into this annual research residency this time working with Cavendish Academy High School, Halton.
2012
Resident artist for Fazakerly Special Needs Project CHASE (Cottage Homes Arts & Sculptural Experience). Working with disabled and non-disabled young people creating sculptural objects from recycled materials.
2011
Creative collaboration with KA-LAS, Liverpool University Laser department.
Two separate Creative Practioner projects for process led enquiries into improved literacy including CPD at the Berkeley Infants School, Scunthorpe and at the Anglesey Primary School, Burton-on-Trent.
2010
Creative Practioner for Cross-Curriculum Project at the All Saints Secondary School, Mansfield.
Exploring risk in the classroom across several areas of the curriculum for year 9 students, with ongoing CPD.
Extending Horizons Inter-generational Learning Project
Two creative learning projects with several family groups from Knowsley Family Services.
Creative Practitioner for Armthorpe Specialist School for the Arts & Sports, Doncaster.
Exploring shared community identity in a cross-curriculum project for Creative Partnerships.
Change School Creative Practitioners, Park Lane High School, Halifax
Using a creative arts programme to encourage pupil voice and empower disengaged young people to take more responsibility for their learning.
2009
Summer Arts College at Glyndwr University, Wrexham.
A 6 week programme funded jointly by the Arts Council and the Youth Justice Board giving 10 young people on ISSP ( Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme) an opportunity to experience high quality arts provision during the summer holidays.
Waste Into Art
Recycling workshop for Red Dot with special needs adults at FACT, Liverpool.
2008
Inspired Responses
I was delighted to be invited back into this annual research residency this time working with Cavendish Special School, Halton.
Curator for PAINT, Transient & Doing Strange Things to Toys at the Kitchen Gallery
Projects focusing on very different conceptual areas and introducing twenty new artists to the area in three exciting shows.
Curriculum Enhancement Week at Westbank Primary
Working with every class in this excellent primary school to encourage creative responses to the curriculum for both staff & students, enhancing staff skill and confidence in art and creating a series of different exhibitions using 2D & 3D.
Bankfield Secondary School Cultural Week
Working with Years 7, 9 & 10 to bring a creative conclusion to areas of study. We focused on Japanese culture (manga inspired felt “dolls”), Music ( designing CD covers) and Identity (self portrait) as the feedback states: “All students loved project and they are still talking about it.”
2007
Fundraiser and Joint Curator for You Are Here & Making Stuff at the Kitchen Gallery.
Successfully applied for two substantial grants from the Arts Council of England and administered them to create an exhibition of local Halton based artists exploring themes of location and a crafts show focusing on ceramics makers from across the Northwest as well as organising and promoting Meet the Artist seminars for both shows.
Inspired Responses
This project offers a unique opportunity to both artist and schools (Chestnut Lodge Special School and Halton High School) involved for a free flowing interaction of ideas, inspiring all participants. Final exhibition of work by schools and artist held at the Brindley Art Gallery, Halton. I was also part of this annual project in 2006.
2006
Fundraiser and Joint Curator for the Kitchen Gallery Open Contemporary Art Competition for Artists in the North West of England and the Kitchen Gallery Contemporary Craft Show.
Successfully applied for a substantial grant from the Arts Council of England and administered it through the processes of attracting applications from 76 artists, jointly selecting 22 finalists, leading workshops to select the Norton Priory Prize Winner, liaising with the press and printers to get the best prices. The Contemporary Craft Show created opportunities for thirteen (mostly emerging) artist/makers from the Northwest to show and sell their work and to engage with the public by organising and promoted popular Meet the Maker seminars.
Permanent Artwork Commission for Norton Priory
The creation of a permanent artwork in the new Eco- House with fellow artist SJ Krakiewicz, we followed the form of a stone alcove which echoes a feature found in the C11th monastery.
2005
Residency for Sefton Arts, Navigating a New Home
An Arts Council funded project exploring the processes of immigration and emigration in relation to Southport, a Lancashire seaside resort. Living in the Atkinson Gallery for 10 days I created two new works focusing on the notion of finding and establishing a new home.
Le Petite Prince Cross Curriculum workshops at Lymm High School
Part of a country wide initiate (CLASS) to introduce creativity in the classroom I worked with Year 8 students to explore visually the above famous French language book.
2004
Chemical Landscapes
An Arts Council funded project exploring the industrial heritage of the Mersey Estuary leading the creation of a new body of drawings exhibited at the Catalyst Discovery Centre.
2003
Entry, for The pUBLIC (formerly Jubilee Arts), West Bromwich.
Action research in Greets Green, investigating lifelong learning in new contexts, leading to an exhibition exploring diverse learning experiences via the media of old school desks.
Family Tree, for West Lancashire District Council.
Artist leading a group of young women in the creation of a tree sculpture exploring matriarchal roles during a residential weekend.
2002
Art Form Specialist for the Imprints Project for Congleton Borough Council.
Working with a wide range of groups in the area to find Congleton’s identity. Works included a weaving made with Congleton Visually Impaired Group and a one day travelling intervention on a local bus.
HELP! Workshop Leader for a high profile English Heritage project
Heritage, Environment, Liverpool Project with English Heritage, exploring the nature of culture from the roots up with ladies from the Somali community and young people from the King David’s youth group.
Time Out at the Brooker Centre, Halton.
Short Residency exploring Mental Health issues with older people leading to the creation of a permanent artwork for the Heath Ward at the Brooker Centre, Halton General Hospital.
2001
Artist in Residence for Reflections at Stockton-on-Tees Mental Health Units.
The Reflections project brief appealed directly to me: a collaboration with Mental Health Service users to make artworks exploring issues of perception, isolation, aspiration. A vibrant project with a number of outcomes; a projection work, a series of boxworks and a “treasure hunt” event on the theme under the title Poetic Possessions. Included mentoring of young artist. Commissioned by Cleveland Arts.
Workshop Practitioner for World Book Day (1st March) Project, Runcorn, Cheshire.
Following an approach from Halton Borough Councils Visual Art Officer I held workshops to create a new version of the Off the Shelf Project at Runcorn Shopping Centre with the help of library visitors and a local school.
Educational Workshop Practitioner for the Elements – Art in Education Project, West Lancashire.
Freelance role designing and delivering creative multimedia workshops in 3 schools, targeting Keystage 2 & 3 students, over a 6 month period leading to an exhibition "Light Works" at the Skelmersdale Arts Centre and the Concourse Centre. Art in education programme was in support of Peter Freeman's light installation on Exchange Island.
2000
Workshop Practitioner for the Recreating Cheshire Project at the Salt Museum, Northwich.
Designing and delivering creative mixed media workshops for Keystage 3 students at Leftwich County High School, exploring local museum resources, leading to an exhibition at Woodford Lodge, Cheshire.
Lead Artist on the Outside the Archive Project, Kirkby, Merseyside.
Working with clients drawn from the Kirkby Women's Health Project (YWCA) to develop a unique multimedia installation exploring images of the body in relation to life expectations and perceived limitations. Funded by Northwest Art Board and Knowsley Arts Service.
Workshop Practitioner for SHADO, Liverpool.
Short-term project designing and creating a permanent sculpture on the theme of 'Health' using recycled materials with a small after-school group of at-risk individuals.
Freelance Trainer for the Centre for Arts Development and Training (CADT).
I was approached to provide training to Post-Graduate level clients on the NVQ Level 3 'Vocational Arts Management Programme' for CADT, delivering selected elements of the program clearly and concisely and relating it in the context of the course as a whole.
Sector Specific Advisor and Member of the Advisory Council for the ACID Fund.
As a previous recipient of funding from ACID (Arts & Cultural Industries Development Fund) I have been invited to join the team advising prospective applicants to the Fund acting as a conduit between the grant making bodies in Merseyside and the grant receiving artists. My peers elected me to the Advisory Council at the last AGM.
1999
Visual Arts Training Consultant for Huyton Artworks.
I designed and formulated stimulating programmes in a variety of media, targeting confidence building within Excluded Client groups of 10 – 15 individuals aged between 16 and 24 as part of a larger course.
Curator of the Origins and Evolution Exhibition at the Orrell Arts Centre, Liverpool.
I initiated, designed and developed this project, obtaining an Artist Led Curatorship grant from the Northwest Arts Board. Selected and liased with seven artists to select the best of their works for inclusion in the exhibition. Marketed the exhibition, designing and managing the production of a fine exhibition and catalogue to budget and on-schedule. The exhibition achieved both press coverage and a high attendance for the Private View at a little known venue.
1998
Artist in Residence and Co-ordinator of the Off the Shelf Project, Halewood Arts Association.
I initiated, designed and developed this project; liasing with a wide range of organisations to deliver targeted workshops. School groups explored Keystage 1-3 Maths, English and Art, while Third Age workshops introduced the process of "directed reminiscing". The resultant artwork "The Book Tower" was a true collaboration between ages and abilities and became an important feature within the community life.
Awards
| 2007 | Arts Council of England funding for the You Are Here and for Making Things at the Kitchen Gallery. |
| 2006 | Arts Council of England funding for the Kitchen Gallery’s First Open Competition and for Contemporary Craft at the Kitchen Gallery. |
| 2004 | Arts Council of England funding for Chemical Landscapes. |
| 2003/4 | AHRB full funding for MA Studies. |
| 2000 | Capital Investment Grant from ACID. |
| NWAB Individual Development Award for Outside the Archive. | |
| M.O.V.E. Project Award for Light Sensations. | |
| 1999 | Target Marketing and Publicity Grant from ACID. |
| 1998 | Business Start Up Grant from the Graduate Training Resource. |
| NWAB Artist Led Curatorship Grant for Origins and Evolution and Production Award for Archival Silence.. | |
| Princes Youth Business Trust Business Start Up and Capital Investment Grant. | |
| 1997 | Princes Youth Business Trust Test Marketing Grant. |
Selected Solo Exhibitions
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| 2010 | Ganglion, a new installation at Roadside Attractions, Toronto, Canada. |
| 2005 | Navigating a New Home, a new installation at the Atkinson Gallery, Southport. |
| 2004 | Chemical Landscapes, at the Catalyst Discovery Centre, Halton. |
| 2003 | The Look of Love, a romantic installation reflecting on Valentines Day at Norton Priory. |
| 2002 | Clutter, a new installation at the Alsager Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University. |
| 2001 | Poetic Possessions a multimedia exhibition and event for Cleveland Arts, Stockton-on-Tees |
| New Works at Saunders and Senior, Norwich. | |
| 2000 | Outside the Archive, an installation at Kirkby Gallery, Merseyside. |
| New Works at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. | |
| 1998 | Off the Shelf, Residency and Community Workshops at Halewood Library, Liverpool. |
| What’s in the Box? at the School of Architecture, Liverpool. | |
| 1997 | Casting, an installation for Prema Arts Centre, Stroud, Gloucestershire. |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2012 | Two exhibitions with TAG, Love or Nothing and Over the Water, Into the City, Through the Park |
| 2011 | Memory B(l)anks at Axis Open Space, MMU Cheshire. |
| Freedom From Selection at Blank Media, Manchester. | |
| 2010 | Meleager’s Garland at the Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory, Lincoln. |
| Nerve Centre at the Old Paint Shop, Liverpool | |
| 2009 | Pink & Blue at the NOVAS Cultural Urban Centre, Liverpool. |
| Waste Into Art at the Liverpool Academy. | |
| 2008 | Migration for Red Dot at the NOVAS Cultural Urban Centre, Liverpool. |
| Pink, at the NOVAS Cultural Urban Centre, Liverpool. | |
| People & Love at the Grange, Liverpool. | |
| 2007 | Artists & Identity at the Grange, Liverpool |
| 2006 | ]Bracket This[ Going Native, curated by Show Mercy held at Arena in Liverpool. |
| Fire & Eurhythmy at the Ikonography Gallery, Liverpool. | |
| 2005 | Head-Land, working with SJ Krakiewicz exploring Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Cheshire. |
| Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, with the Barn Gallery. | |
| 2004 | MESH, various galleries on Hackney Broadway, London. |
| 2003 | Entry, for the PUBLIC, West Bromwich. |
| 2002 | Ladies Only, Northwest women artists show coinciding with the 2nd Liverpool Biennial. |
| Subversive Testimonies, at the ‘Meno Projektu Studija’ (Arts Projects Studio), Vilnius, Lithuania. | |
| Telling Tales at the Artstation, Crewe. | |
| New Works at the Woolff Gallery, London. | |
| 2001 | Second Hand Suits, Brixton Art Gallery, London. |
| Fab-rick, Stroud House Gallery, Stroud. | |
| 2000 | International Women’s Day Exhibition at Blackburn House, Liverpool. |
| Light Sensations, an Installation with Susan Leask at Stockport Art Gallery. | |
| 1999 | The Box Room, a collaboration with Stanislaw Jan Krakiewicz for the First Liverpool Biennial. |
| Artspace, at the Barn Galleries, Henley on Thames. | |
| 1998 | Delicate Dissidence: Five Women Artists, at the Woodlands Gallery, London |
| Vital Art at Atlanta Gallery, London. | |
| 1997 | First Graduate Exhibition, Stroud House Gallery, Stroud. |
| Wax Works, a touring exhibition organised by the Collins Gallery, Glasgow. | |
| Visionfest at the Atkinson Gallery, Southport. | |
| 1996 | Stairways Exhibition, a show of drawings at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston. |
| From the Fibre, at the Sugar Store, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal |