MAIA This May - Week 2 Highlights
Week 2 of our MAIA this May programme brought us powerful, practical, and thought-provoking discussions. From insightful Work On workshops to inspiring Artist Campus and Of the City sessions, here’s a round-up of this week’s highlights:
Image: Jae Tallawah (@unapologeticblackgirl)
Monday
Work On: Managing and Funding Projects with Tobi Kyeremateng
“Don’t be scared to ask for what you want, you’re not going to die if someone says no!”
This week we kicked off our fantastic Work On series: our interactive workshops with award-winning and multi-talented practitioners working across different fields and sharing on how we go from an idea to a living project or commission.
Starting the series, and bringing us WhatsApp group chat vibes on a Monday afternoon, the wonderful Tobi Kyeremateng walked us through how to manage and fund creative projects.
Session Insights
Reach out to board members at local arts spaces - the person to fund your idea may be closer than you think.
Approaching Partners: Is it a building or organisation sharing the ‘risk’ of the project, equally financially invested? Beyond finance - what are the gaps in the things you need?
Juggling Multiple Projects: Be strict with your personal time. Hold yourself accountable to not overworking. Your boundaries are really important.
On Monday, we were also joined by the incredibly talented Jae Tallawah (@unapologeticblackgirl).
As well as giving a Self Talk Workshop later this May, Jae is also jumping on board the MAIA squad this month to creatively document all our #MAIAThisMay talks, workshops and discussions. We cannot get enough of Jae’s beautiful, powerful, and insightful interpretations of our May Programme!
'DECLARE what this space *could* be!'
— Inès Elsa Dalal (@InesElsaDalal) May 11, 2020
- @amahra_ of @MAIA_Group
To me this means daring to dream rather than waiting for someone to tell you when COVID-19 might be over. Garner this time to manifest a future that makes sense to you; nourishing yourself as well as you sector 💞 pic.twitter.com/G6ikq3aUUI
More on the artists:
Tobi Kyeremateng: @tobikyere | Website
Jae Tallawah: MAIA X Maslaha | Self Talk Workshop | 29th May, 12pm | Free | Eventbrite
Next Work On:
Work On: in Theatre with Daniel Bailey, Bush Theatre | 20th May, 11am | Pay-As-You-Can | Eventbrite
Tuesday
Artist Campus: With Amyra Leon
“The answer is in the exhale”
On Tuesday, our second Artist Campus left us all feeling incredibly full, with reflective conversation from Amyra Leon (aka one the most quotable people in the world!)
In discussion with our very own Aliyah Hasinah, #MAIASquad, Amyra shared poignant insights from her artistic journey to help inspire our own.
Session Insights
Take yourself seriously
Your sadness is not a thing to rush
Answer your own questions before you ask someone else for answers
It isn’t just when the sun rises that things get to be new
"I didn't ask to be an artist, I was called to be one... Let the work live its life. Know if you release it, you can release it again later. If I'd have waited to be ready, I would have never known what I was ready for."@amyraleon in conversation with @aliyahhasinah is TEW MUSH pic.twitter.com/N2Zx6zzwG6
— MAIA (@MAIA_Group) May 12, 2020
More on the artist:
Amyra Leon: @amyraleon | Website | ‘Concrete Kids & Freedom, We Sing! ‘ - Book launching October 2020 - Preorder
Next Artist Campus:
With Manuel Bonillo | 19th May, 3pm | £5 or Pay-As-You-Can Donation | Eventbrite
Wednesday
Work On: in Galleries with Kim McAleese, Grand Union
“It’s difficult being and artist because you have to learn how to hustle”
On Wednesday, we were joined by the fabulous Kim McAleese of gallery & artist studios, Grand Union for our second Work On Workshop of the week about navigating visual art & curation.
From building natural relationships with artists across the country, going for opportunities that are right for your practice, to the power of social media, Kim brought us lots of lovely gems as she spoke to us about best practice at Grand Union and how to get on the radar as a visual artist.
Session Insights
Places where you can congregate and collaborate about the world you live in are so valuable
Open Calls: Think about what your practise is. Is it suitable? Does it fit with your work? Don’t apply for everything.
Networking is weird and insipid sometimes, but its just a conversation
How to get an exhibition: Be good at what you do. Be kind. Use Instagram: mix personal and professional. Make your name clear.
DIY: Put on your own stuff. If you think you can do it better, put your energy into it!
@kim_mcaleese of @grandunionltd speaks on building natural relationships with artists across the country, going for opportunities that are right for your practice, the power of social media, starting exhibitions DIY & references @thewhitepube: https://t.co/0apfPvtTi6#MAIAthisMay pic.twitter.com/iEWM2AfFRX
— MAIA (@MAIA_Group) May 13, 2020
More on the artist:
Kim McAleese: @kim_mcaleese | @grandunionltd | Grand Union - Website
Next Work On:
Work On: in Theatre with Daniel Bailey, Bush Theatre | 20th May, 11am | Pay-As-You-Can | Eventbrite
Thursday
Of the City: Valuing Our Ancestry & Elders
“There are some feelings that only exist in the bass of a sound system, the warmth of a Saturday soup, the colour of worn down slippers.”
Thursday’s ‘Of the City’ allowed us to hold space to remember, & reflect on the value of our Ancestors & Elders.
We feel the talented Jae Tallawah (@unapologeticblackgirl), creatively documenting #MAIAThisMay, perfectly captured the reflections of the session:
Knowing. Speaking. Feeling.
There are some things that they just know⠀
There are some secrets that are too sacred for a page⠀
There are some feelings that only exists in the bass of a sound system, ⠀
the warmth of a saturday soup, ⠀
the colour of worn down slippers.⠀ ⠀
Today,
we honour them
For giving us the knowing,
teaching us to listen & know when to ⠀
speak those stories into others, ⠀
gifting us with the tools to feeel the feelings.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at ‘Of the City’ for being so vulnerable & honest.⠀
Pretty much cried all the way through, but @amahra_ hosted the most beautiful lunchtime making space for stories and reflections of our elders, & I just needed it so much, thank you @MAIA_Group ❤️. I was able to share my Vadi Mummy’s ever rising sprits, #ChardiKala 💜 ... pic.twitter.com/dV8uu3Ld7F
— Imandeep Kaur (@ImmyKaur) May 14, 2020
Friday & Saturday
Art-30: Live Art Event
For #MAIAThisMay, we commissioned 5 artists to make available pieces of their artworks for our Art-30 live event.
The premise was simple: for 30 hours only, limited edition, mysterious artworks were to be sold for just £30 each. You wouldn’t know what limited piece you’ll get until it arrived!
As well as an opportunity to get your hands on a piece of limited edition artwork, Art-30 was an opportunity for people to support our artist community in a real practical and impactful way, especially considering the current climate.
At 10am on Friday 15th May, these mysterious artworks went live and were available to purchase until 4pm on Saturday 16th May.
We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made a purchase and supported Art-30. We were blown away by your incredible response: we officially sold out of all pieces before the event ended!
We'd also like to shout out our 5 incredible Art 30 artists.
They know who they are! And so can you: tune in next week to the MAIA blog & socials where we'll be revealing and spotlighting all 5 talented Art-30 artists involved in this exciting commission.
Coming Up
Week 3
We continue week 3 of #MAIAThisMay with more fantastic talks, workshops and discussions, kicking off on Tuesday with our third Artist Campus, in conversation with musician Manuel Bonillo.
Be sure to join us as well for our final Artist Roundtable session for May, as well as for our ongoing Work On and MAIA X Maslaha workshops!
Tuesday - Artist Campus: With Manuel Bonillo | 19th May, 3pm | £5 or Pay-As-You-Can Donation | Eventbrite
Wednesday - Work On: in Theatre with Daniel Bailey, Bush Theatre | 20th May, 11am | Pay-As-You-Can | Eventbrite
Thursday - Artist Roundtable | 21st May, 1pm | Free | Eventbrite
Friday - MAIA X Maslaha | Creative Gratitude Workshop with Joyce Treasure | 22nd May, 12pm | Free | Eventbrite
Also! Keep an eye on MAIA IGTV early next week for an upcoming MAIA X Maslaha session with Glue Collective.
Get involved
Check out our full May Programme: bit.ly/maiamay-programme
Apply to our Open Call Commissions: bit.ly/maiamay-commissions
Be part of the online conversation: @MAIA_Group | #MAIAThis May
Support the West Midlands Artists Coronavirus Emergency Fund: gf.me/u/xq4kgj
Stay in the loop with all things MAIA: bit.ly/maia-mailinglist
Take care and see you again online soon! x