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.
We are accepting applications from independent makers, designers, small businesses and more to fill our venue with a vibrant range of handmade goods for the weekend. We will start on Friday at 5pm with a launch evening and open again on Saturday from 10am - 4pm. This event will take place at Modern Painters, New Decorators. Please note, we will only be taking applications for both Friday and Saturday. Stallholders will be required to accept their own payments at their stall – please ensure you have a suitable point of sale system. Each stall holder will be provided with 1 table and chairs. The fee for each stall is £50 for a standard table or £60 for a table with wall space. The deadline for applications is Thursday 4th June, and successful applicants will need to pay the stall fee by Saturday 20th June to confirm their spot.
We are currently looking for a bold, people-focused Programme Director to lead Changing Places, who is enthusiastic and experienced in community-led creative programming. This role is funded to March 2029 thanks to Arts Council England. (with intention of permanent employment within Coalville CAN). We’re looking for: A track record of developing cultural initiatives and commissioning creative projects within a range of public spaces. Experience working in communities and building relationships, ideally with a knowledge of North West Leicestershire An effective project manager, able to be flexible and adjust plans. Experienced managing budgets and resources. Confident working with and influencing a wide range of people and partners and working together to shape strategies. Knowledge and experience of co-creation and empowering others through the process. Aligned with our values Positive and enjoys their work and celebrating others' success. A natural connector, curious and open Passionate about making creativity accessible to everyone
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.
Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates on exhibitions, opportunities, and events across the East Midlands visual arts community.
