In Progress provides artists with space, time and practical support to experiment, take risks and develop work outside the constraints of their usual studio environment. For this edition, artist Ptolemy Mann was given access to the studio for five days, enabling her to produce ambitious large-scale paintings that could not have been made in her own workspace. The project was supported through access to the space, equipment and 18 hours of staff time. Visible Learning and reflection in progress with ptolemy mann.pdf

The residency became the starting point for a wider programme of engagement. Around 100 people attended the public opening, 12 joined an intimate salon dinner and artist talk, and 10 artists participated in mentoring sessions exploring colour, artistic careers and relationships with galleries. These activities created opportunities for professional development, networking, confidence-building and reduced social and professional isolation.  

The programme also extended to a local school. Thirty Year 2 pupils and four teachers and teaching assistants from Mulberry Baird Primary School were welcomed into the gallery for a facilitated creative session. Children encountered contemporary art, discussed their emotional responses to colour and experimented with generous quantities of art materials they would not ordinarily have access to. The evaluation recorded increased confidence, experimentation, resilience through trial and error, and a growing sense of belonging within a fine-art environment. 

One of the most heartwarming observations on the day of the school visit was when the children compared their own artwork to that of Ptolemy Mann's and proudly describe to her how the feelings evoked in both were comparable. It was inspiring to observe how strongly they had taken on the message that making art and experiencing colour can bring joy.

The longer-term ambition is to help build a generation of local young people who feel that contemporary art and cultural spaces belong to them, while strengthening creative confidence, community connection and sustained engagement with the arts.