University Campus Suffolk   2009/2010

David Symons

I have found the AA2A experience extremely beneficial to my practise, it has built my confidence and enabled me to reconnect with my creative thinking, following 5 years of working full time and making artwork without a studio. I have very much enjoyed meeting and engaging with the other three AA2A artists and feel that I now have some new friends. I found the students, teaching and administration staff friendly, welcoming and generous with their time and advice. Initially I expected to use the colour darkroom but unfortunately it was out of action. I turned instead to drawing and collage, making surreal images. I then made a series of monoprints using vinyl records, making them unique by drawing on the prints, adding text and colour blocks.

The creative process that enabled me to produce and arrive at the drawings and monoprints fed in to the final project I completed during my time; the photographs of scarecrows. I know that without undertaking the AA2A scheme and producing this preliminary work I would not have made the series of photographs.

We booked an exhibition in May at the Waterfront Gallery, situated in the new Waterfront Building of UCS, Ipswich.

It was a shame that the AA2A artists weren’t given a space to work from but this meant more freedom in being able to wander around the facility. I would recommend all artists to apply for the AA2A scheme, regardless of where they are in their career. To be able to use art college facilities, equipment and to receive advice on a professional level from experienced artist tutors is such a fantastic opportunity. I strongly recommend that every single art college in the UK should run AA2A schemes and that the budget for materials should be increased and an actual payment structure for AA2A artists should be introduced.