For costs and further details
please email or telephone to discuss.
Events are individually tailored to client’s needs

"The [FF1] programme has enabled me to stand back and reflect on my practice. This slowing down has been important as it has given me time to edit my ideas and consider new ones. I have gained confidence and re-focused on positive aspects of my work. The critical discussions on in-depth topics have been really interesting and thought provoking…"

"The mentoring has been a fantastic experience and Frances has been generous with time and contacts. It has been good to be able to talk to a mentor on a deeper level about subjects I hope to explore in the future in a comfortable and informative way."

Mentoring

Frances mentors artists working in all disciplines, however she is particularly interested in working with artists from an applied arts background to develop their work within the field of public art and site-specific commissioning. Frances was mentor to metalsmith Melanie Tomlinson and jeweller Miranda Sharpe on the Designer Maker West Midlands (DMWM) FF1 and FF2 programmes 2008-11. FF1 and FF2 was set up to support selected mid-career designer makers from the West Midlands to develop and showcase new work and access new market opportunities. The mentoring package included nine days of 121 sessions, research and curatorial trips and ongoing evaluation.

"FF2 has challenged my thinking and approach, I feel equipped with the ability to apply my skills in a number of different ways. A strong foundation has been laid with themes and practical steps to produce future work, fulfilling my aim of having a more diverse work experience. It has been a really positive experience and process, it is great to communicate about the development of my work and not be so insular."

"[the mentoring] has been invaluable just to take a step back from 'doing' to reflect and make considered decisions about the future possibilities for my practice."

www.designermakerwm.co.uk
www.melanietomlinson.co.uk
www.mirandasharpe.co.uk

Training and Professional Development
Frances has an established reputation for delivering public art training, seminars, and events. Clients include a-n the artists company, Cockpit Arts, eta, Fabrica, East Sussex Arts Partnership, Maidstone Borough Council, Persistence Works, Sheffield, and West Sussex County Council.

'Negotiating Public Art Commissions'Training Seminars
These seminars, run on behalf of local authorities and arts organisations. enable artists either new to public art, or wishing to develop their practice in the commissioning field, to gain insight into practical issues such as making proposals, responding to briefs, working within budgets, dealing with contracts, copyright and other legal issues. The usual format is for participants to receive a Public Art Handbook to read before the seminar begins and a Public Art Workbook with background material, exercises and a resources bibliography at the event. The seminar starts with a slide show of nationally and internationally sourced public art case studies to stimulate discussion.

A recent example is 'From Small to Big' devised for Designer Maker West Midlands (DMWM) and held in Birmingham in 2010. This day seminar provided practical advice for designer-makers interested in developing their practice towards working on large-scale commissions.

"I thought the materials Frances produced were very informative, useful and highly relevant."

"The day was very enjoyable and very informative and delivered in an engaging way. The presenter was very professional, knowledgeable and approachable."

"I left the meeting filled with enthusiasm and much more confidence in my own ability. I have already made a 'plan of action' and knowing that there is help in the background I shall be applying for future opportunities by playing on my strengths..."

Naoshima Island, Japan

Lectures + Conferences + Presentations
Visiting International Scholar, series of lectures on public art at Meiji University, Tokyo as part of the University's Visiting International Scholar Programme/International Collaboration Office, Tokyo, April/May 2008

'Heart of Reeds: a case study', presentation at 'Public Art? What for? Who for?' Conference, School of Art & Design, University of Ulster, May 2007

Making it Happen seminars series at University of Portsmouth, Museum of Reading and The Anvil, Basingstoke, (seminar chair)

'Art in the Public Realm' and 'Curating the Crafts' lectures, Royal College of Art, London, 2005.

'Jewellery is Life, new work by Mah Rana' paper presented at 'Locate and Classify: New approaches to curating the crafts' conference, Newcastle University, Sept 2003

Have you ever dreamt that your teeth have fallen out?’ paper presented at the ‘Consuming Crafts’ Conference, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, May 2002