Create/Disrupt

Create/Disrupt is a strand of Artist Development for aspiring artists and art workers who have not been to university. It is made up of a diverse group of people from across the North East with a shared desire to have a career in the arts and to meet likeminded folk with similar experiences.

It aims to provide opportunities to develop personal creative practices through a workshopped and studio environment, whilst opening up access to art spaces and networks for its members. Create/Disrupt intends to create a network of aspiring artists and arts workers who are underrepresented in the sector, and is designed to create alternative pathways to arts jobs and professional development. It is responsive and adaptive to the needs of its members and directly analyses why and how the sector looks the way it does. Create/Disrupt is a political project that identifies the barriers to participating in creative practices and works to centre the voices and work of people who are excluded.

Create/Disrupt was launched in 2020 and co-created a programme of activity that reflected the interests, hopes and desires of the group. This included research trips to national arts organisations, advocacy work within the sector, training and development opportunities that match the needs of the artists on the programme and began building a community and network of atypical arts workers. It is now in its second iteration and the group has worked with diverse artists and practitioners. Workshops have included a session rituals, recipes and sacred knotting with Mani Kambo; a creative session with sign-maker Ash Willerton which saw the group taking chances and making their own signs; and a visit from Kate Sweeney, sharing her milestone moments as an animation artist.

For more info, please contact Izzy Finch: izzy@thenewbridgeproject.com