Introduction to AA2A

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 2011/12 there will be 32 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 between October and April. A grant of £220 is usually available towards the costs of materials, formal childcare and travel.

Each AA2A Artist has a webpage on 'Dotbiz' - our networking site, which they can use to document their project through blogs and images. Many institutions also offer exhibitions as part of their AA2A scheme.

Since 1999 approximately 1,200 artists/makers have taken part in AA2A and in 2011/12 another 128 will be recruited.

Management of AA2A

AA2A Ltd is a social enterprise company dedicated to running the project. It has five Directors and three part time members of staff - Wendy Mason (National Director) is supported by Georgia Rodger (National Coordinator) and Jim Pledger (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.

History of the project

The AA2A project was set up and has been run by Wendy Mason (AA2A National Director) since piloting in 1994. The initial research was started in 1994, followed by piloting (overseen by Norwich School of Art and Design), and the full AA2A project was launched in April 1999. The first three years were overseen by NAFAE (National Association for Fine Art Education) with funding from the Arts Council's A4E Lottery scheme and the Crafts Council. As the remit of the project was extended to cover craft as well as fine art, the AA2A project came under the umbrella of CHEAD (Council for Higher Education in Art and Design) where it remained until AA2A Ltd was set up as an independent organisation in 2010.