Latest Edition took place throughout 2017 and 2018. Navigator North developed this project, building upon the success and learning from their previous professional development programmes and opportunities offered to visual artists. The focus of this project was sustainable practice for artists. The project had a particular emphasis on the creation of new work for exhibition, the production of artist editions and gift items and the exploration of a range of income streams as part of creative practice.
Offered in partnership with Festival of Thrift, a bursary scheme enabled artists to develop a sustainable creative career. Emerging artists worked alongside and learnt from more established artists. All of the artists created new work, took part in mentoring sessions, developed their professional profile, learnt how to market themselves and their work as well as sharing that work with a public audience. The Latest Edition artists included Theresa Easton, Nick Kennedy, Alex Sickling, Becki Harper, Carol Haughton Devey and Diane Watson.
The project launched at Festival of Thrift in 2017 and was further presented at regional galleries and arts venues in 2018 including; Palace Arts in Redcar, The Witham in Barnard Castle and Hartlepool Art Gallery in Hartlepool.
Visitors to the Latest Edition exhibition were given the opportunity to own an exclusive artwork created specifically for the project by each of the Latest Edition artists. The collection included screen prints, ceramics, letter press prints, gold foil embossed prints and Giclee prints all signed and numbered by each artist. An affordable gift range accompanied the artist editions. The gift range featured notebooks, magnets, tote bags, sew on patches, coasters and greetings cards. Each item featured a different design from each artist and were also available to purchase through the project website shop.
A series of Latest Edition short films documented each artist’s individual practice and provided an insight into their individual creative process. These films were shown as part of the project’s touring exhibition. Watch them here.