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The AA2A project provides placements for visual artists and designer makers in Higher and Further Education institutions across England.Introduction to AA2A

See website  http://www.aa2a.org/

Project description

The AA2A project is a national set of schemes, providing visual artists and designer makers with the opportunity to undertake a period of research or realise a project, using workshop and supporting facilities in fine art and design departments of Higher and Further Education institutions. This gives participating artists and makers the opportunity to use equipment which otherwise might not be available to them, as well as benefiting the institution by bringing in ideas and techniques which may not otherwise enter the college environment.

In 2010/11 there will be 31 colleges in England hosting AA2A schemes. Each participating institution offers places to four artists or designer-makers. Typical supporting facilities available to artists/makers include college lending libraries, access to lecture programmes, life rooms, etc. Each artist/maker has at least 100 hours access, which they can use over a period of at least 17 weeks, between October and April. A grant of £220 is usually available for materials. A proportion of this can be used for formal childcare or travel (if the distance between home and college is more than 30 miles).

Each AA2A Artist has a webpage which can be updated at the end of their scheme. They also have the use of a networking site to record their ongoing project. Many colleges offer exhibitions as part of their AA2A scheme.

Since 1999 approximately 1,100 artists/makers have taken part in AA2A and in 2010/11 another 124 will be recruited.

Management of AA2A

The AA2A project was set up and has been run by Wendy Mason (AA2A National Coordinator) since piloting in 1994. Georgia Rodger is the AA2A National Administrator. The AA2A websites are maintained by Robin Keech.

AA2A is funded by the Arts Council England through the National Lottery Grants for the Arts programme and through contributions from the individual institutions. Funding has been secured until 2011.

History of project

After initial research and piloting (which was managed by Norwich School of Art and Design), the full AA2A project was launched in April 1999. This phase of the project was managed by NAFAE (National Association for Fine Art Education) with three years funding through the Arts Council's A4E Lottery scheme. As the remit of the project was extended to cover craft as well as fine art, the management of the AA2A project moved to CHEAD (Council for Higher Education in Art and Design).

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