BCN and Eagle Works Studios have come together to organise a day-long event that celebrates the artist-led activity in the area, and supports local artists to form new connections. This event coincides with Eagle Works’ new programme Dwelling, comprising exhibitions, commissions, events and workshops held in celebration of their 40th anniversary, as the oldest running artist-led studio cooperative in the country.
About the Event
Join us for a confidence building workshop for artists at 10902 Urban Rooms from 12.30pm, led by public speaker and coach Mikayla Sinead, which aims to nurture the confidence of local artists. Throughout the day, take the opportunity to visit an exhibition by Eagle Works Studio holders in the Mander Centre Community Hub. This includes a new commission by interdisciplinary artist and social worker Marley Starskey Butler whose current research is exploring the tensions between hostile architecture and creative play in the landscape of the city. Find out more about this commission here.
The day will culminate in an Open Studios evening between 4-6pm, when you can explore the studios of the artists who call Eagle Works home and view more of Marley’s work in the Project Space. Come and hang out! Eat! Drink! Meet other artists in the Black Country arts community and join us to celebrate Eagle Works 40th Anniversary.
Building Confidence and Finding Joy Workshop
Mikayla Sinead
01902 Urban Rooms, 18 Queen’s Square, Dudley Street, WV1 1TQ (behind the Man on the Horse) / 12.30 - 3.30pm
This workshop will focus on tools for building confidence and finding joy in your creative practice, to help you build confidence in your why, how and what you bring. Through this 3-hour workshop, you will uncover why you are creative and how you will confidently showcase your capabilities to future collaborators, clients and investors. Mikayla will discuss the benefits and reasons of why you should promote yourself and your work, and the ways to do it. Topics will include: goal setting and manifesto writing. Expect to set short, medium and long-term goals to reach your potential while collecting tools to keep you motivated and joyful throughout the process.
Access: The event will take place in a ground floor space. There are toilets available on site, however please let us know in advance if you will need to use an Accessible toilet. If you have any access requirements you would like us to be aware of, or any allergies or dietary requirements, please get in touch with us asap, by emailing jesspiette@multistory.org.uk, or calling / texting / Whatsapping: 07922 571832.
This event is free and is open to all artists, creatives and those working in all areas of the arts and the creative industries. Pre-booking is required.
About Mikayla
Mikayla has a passion for leading inclusively, staying curious and finding time for joy. As the founder of Bridge Network Group, she is on a mission, whilst centering Black Women, to encourage under-served communities to unapologetically carve their space in the gaming world whether through play or career. Some of Mikayla’s speaking and hosting engagements have included BAFTA Games, Esports Insider, MAIA Group, UKie, The British Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, SEGA Europe and I was a panellist at the Women of the World Festival and Freira Preta in Brazil.
Open Studios
4-6pm. The following artists currently have studio dwellings within Eagle Works:
Susan Brisco, Sarah Byrne, David Humphreys, Ed Kemshell, Laura Onions, Ethan Milovsorov, Tom Morgan, Simon Harris, Lisa Roffey , Rachel Shakespeare, Rupert Smithson, Rosemary Terry. James Townsend, Shannon Ward, Sarah Zacharek.
Eagle Works is located on the roof of the Mander Shopping Center in Wolverhampton. Easiest access is through the Victoria Street entrance to the Mander Center where you will find a lift on the right next to the YMCA shop. Take the lift to the top floor which brings you right out to the Eagle Works entrance.
About Eagle Works Studios
Established in 1984, Eagle Works is a community of Fine Artists working from Victoria House, on the roof of the Mander Centre, Wolverhampton. Believed to be the longest-running self-funded artist studio group in the UK, Eagle Works previously resided in a Victorian factory building on Wolverhampton's Great Brickkiln Street until 2020. Currently housing 15 artists, we hope to soon offer further studio space as well as a public-facing project space, bookable for workshops, exhibitions and the documentation of work.
About BCN
BCN (Blast Creative Network) is Multistory's artist development programme that offers artists in Sandwell and the wider Black Country a free annual programme of talks, workshops and social events and is a space for mutual support and knowledge sharing. It was set up to provide artists in the local area with opportunities for critical engagement and collaboration outside of formal arts education. The BCN programme informs, and is informed by, Multistory’s wider arts programme that is co-produced with artists and communities living in Sandwell.