CVAN EM celebrates and supports visual arts and culture in the region, fostering an inclusive long-term future for the sector, emphasising equity and access for all arts workers.
Updates, features, and insights from the visual arts community.
CVAN EM and CVAN WM are proud to announce the artist and organisation partnerships for Ode to the Midlands (OttM), a major new cross-regional programme investing in artists, organisations, and audiences across the Midlands through digital contemporary art.
for emerging lens-based artists living in the East Midlands
Unlock the secrets to a thriving creative career. This event is in partnership with CVAN EM, CVAN WM & Ode to the Midlands.
Discover exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances events and creative activity across the region.
Flat Earth is a solo exhibition by Bristol-based artist Phil Root, presenting new ceramic works. Working with foraged and industrial materials—unprocessed clay, wood ash, and brick dust— Root explores the limits of traditional ceramics through experimental casting, glazing and firing, inviting clay to behave on its own terms. Whether casting asphalt textures from outside his studio or firing slabs of raw clay dug from a Bristol building site, he lets materials shape themselves—altered by heat, pressure, and time.
A new Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition of screen-prints by Eduardo Paolozzi, open at the Usher Gallery as part of a national tour. Paolozzi's General Dynamic F.U.N is a series of fifty screenprints and photolithographs created between 1965 and 1970. Here Paolozzi employs the technologies of mass-reproduction and gorges on its idols – the household names of consumer advertising, high fashion and Hollywood. Image: Paolozzi Eduardo, Totems and Taboos of the Nine-to-Five Day © 2026 The Paolozzi Foundation, Licensed by DACS.
Raisa Kabir is an interdisciplinary artist and weaver based in London. Kabir utilises woven text and textiles, sound, video, and performance to materialise multiple concepts concerning the cultural politics of cloth. Kabir’s practice foregrounds excluded narratives and traces the histories of textile technologies originating in East, Central, and South Asia, which have directly influenced European centres of technology and weaving knowledge.
Funding opportunties, residencies, creative roles, commissions, open calls, and professional or creative development.
Working predominantly at Lincoln Museum and Usher Art Gallery but not excluding the other sites within the portfolio of the Heritage Service including Lincoln Castle, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, the Exhibitions Officer (known internally as the Exhibitions and Interpretation Officer) will deliver an audience focused, exciting public programme of exhibitions and events to assist in driving visitor volume and deepening engagement with our venues and collections.
Insecta Collective CIC welcomes artists at all stages of career to submit climate & biodiversity themed artwork for inclusion in their upcoming physical and digital exhibition and eco extravaganza. Most mediums will be considered, with some size restrictions and limits on film & video, (see website for full details). Small prizes will be awarded to three winners in each category (youth and adult). Alongside the open call, artists can choose to donate a print of their work to raise money for wildlife charities and exhibit eco zines. Additionally, an opportunity to utilise the workshop space within the gallery to make nature themed artwork alongside Insecta Collective during the 3 week exhibition, Mon - Thursday, 9am - 4:30pm. This would be a public facing role, co-creating participatory artwork & interacting with visitors. Email us for further details if this is something you are interest in.
for emerging lens-based artists living in the East Midlands Deadline: Monday 29 June 2026, 10amResponses: Friday 10 July 2026, 5pm Opportunity (summary): 2,500 CVAN EM bursary (artist fee production fee) 2,000 QUAD support (incl. travel, accommodation curatorial support) Solo exhibition as part of QUAD s Montage Gallery programme About QUAD QUAD is Derby city s cultural hub. QUAD has been at the heart of Derby s cultural scene since it opened in September in 2008 and is internationally recognised for providing quality and excellence in the Arts. QUAD delivers an exciting, innovative and diverse programme which is popular with visitors of all ages, with a reputation in Photography, digital innovation family friendly events. The venue organises FORMAT International Photography Festival and Derby Film Festival. QUAD is a partnership between Derby City Council and Arts Council England. About QUAD s Montage Gallery Montage Gallery is dedicated to supporting local and national talent, with a special focus on young and emerging artists working in lens-based media. We provide an inviting space where creativity can flourish. Our mission is to nurture the next generation of artists by offering opportunities to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and become part of Derby's growing cultural story. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and community engagement, Montage Gallery celebrates fresh perspectives and innovative practices, ensuring that art remains open, inspiring, and rooted in the community we serve. Click here to view a PDF of documentation from current and previous exhibitions presented in Montage Gallery. Please use this material to help inform your application. Project Overview CVAN EM s Bigger Bursary, delivered in partnership with QUAD, builds on the success of last year s round and responds directly to feedback gathered from our 2024/25 2025/26 bursary recipients. This next iteration reflects a commitment to strengthening support for artists and arts workers in the region. This exciting partnership with QUAD has been developed to align with and support the organisation s evolving Montage Gallery programme. By working collaboratively, CVAN EM and QUAD aim to create a more visible and professionally supported pathway for emerging artists to develop work and share it publicly. New Opportunity: Exhibition OutcomeA key development for this round is the introduction of an exhibition opportunity. In partnership with QUAD, as part of their Montage Gallery programme, the selected bursary recipient will present a small-scale solo exhibition, developed during the bursary period. The exhibition can include existing work. This addition aims to: Provide a tangible outcome and platform for experimentation and new work/ideas Support artists in developing exhibition-making experience Support public engagement with contemporary visual arts practices in the region Who can apply?We are looking for applicants that meet all the following criteria: East Midlands based artists: Applicants must live in the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland). Emerging or early-career artists: This opportunity is focused on supporting artists at an early or developing stage in their career as defined by the applicant. There are no set parameters regarding years of practice. Artists working in lens-based or new media practices: This opportunity is focused on supporting artists working in everything from traditional photography and archives to mobile phone imagery, film, AI-generated images, and immersive installations. Practitioners committed to contemporary visual arts: Applicants must demonstrate an active engagement with contemporary practice. Applications should be returned via email to colette@cvaneastmidlands.co.uk by Monday 29 June 2026, 10am.Image credit: Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Awards. Credit by Charlotte Jopling
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