Advanced Centre In Drawing About ACiD
The Advanced centre in Drawing (ACiD) was formed at UWE Bristol in 2002 with the primary purpose of research into, promotion and the development of current, contemporary drawing activities across both the academic and professional sectors. It has supported a wide range of 'good practice' in drawing through exhibition, publication, curation, seminar, curriculum development, conference and workshop. The initial membership consisted of a loose collection of artists and practitioners mostly from within UWE Bristol who hold a significant yet personal preoccupation with drawing as a central elemental process.
ACiD is committed to the promotion of drawing both as a process and as a creative activity in the widest possible sense. As part of this 'wide vision' ACiD has taken a supportive role in recognising the validity of an increasingly wide range of notions of both what drawing is and can be. This wide spectrum of activities includes both traditional approaches such as life drawing, figurative, reportage and narrative practices, while seeking to embrace, encourage and define the development of creative perspectives arising from new technologies and progressive, contemporaenous approaches to drawing.
Activities
2002 'Markers' Inaugral exhibition of drawings, curated by John France, Queens Gallery, British Council Headquarters, New Delhi, India. Artists included: Amanda Wood, Alistair
Radcliff, Iain Biggs, Paul Gough, Peter Simpson, John France, Deanna Petherbridge, Richard Anderton, Nigel Hurlstone, Linda Meakin, Brendan Reid, Kate
Dukes, Mark Dunhill, Lloyd Rowe, Yvonne Buchheim and Sheron Hemming.
Appointment of Deanna Petherbridge as Arnolfini Professor of Drawing
2003 ACiD appoints Tania Kovats on two year basis as Henry Moore Fellow in Drawing
ACiD appoints Anne-Marie Creamer on one year basis as the Evelyn Williams Drawing Trust Fellow.
2004 First Drawing Quarter : Bower Ashton Campus, Bristol. Workshops run by Caroline Broadhead (Reader in Jewellery and Textiles, Middlesex University), Professor
Grenville Davey (Professor of Drawing at the University of East London), Professor Paul Gough (Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts UWE),
Professor Humphrey Ocean (Visiting Professor of Drawing and Painting, Camberwell College of Arts) Keynote lecture by Professor Deanna Petherbridge (Emeritus
Professor of Drawing, UWE). Project Architects : John France (Director, ACiD), Amanda Wood (Artist). Project Administrator: Angela Cooper.
Establishment of D.R.A.W. , student/artists exhibitions group based in the South West.
2005 Establishment of Line Up, students/artists exhibitions group based in the South West.
Drawing and Applied Arts Student Linda Meakin wins Jerwood Prize
DaD, Design and Drawing Group established in School of Communication Media
ACiD supports 'Cross the Heaven's River' exhibituion by Japanese artists Chaika Kuramazara and Yusaku Fujiwara at The Art Gym, Bristol UK
Second Drawing Quarter : Bower Ashton Campus Bristol. Evelyn Williams Drawing Trust funds three Drawing Quarters bursaries.
Workshops run by Susannah Heron (Artist), Tania Kovats (Henry Moore Fellow in Drawing), Professor Avis Newman (Wimbledon School of Art) and Professor
Deanna Petherbridge (Emeritus Professor of Drawing, UWE). ; evening lecture by Adrian Searle (Art Critic, The Guardian). Project Administrator: Anne Connelly
2006 Third Drawing Quarter : Bower Ashton Campus Bristol. Workshops run by Ann Christopher RWA, Peter Lord (Creative Director of Aardman Animations Ltd),
Roger Conlon (Associate Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts, UWE) and Emma Stibbon RWA.Keynote lecture by Professor Paul Gough, (Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive
Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts UWE) Dean School of Art, media and Design, UWE Bristol.
2007 Fourth Drawing Quarter : Bower Ashton Campus Bristol. Workshops run by Amanda Wood (Artist) and Peter Randall-Page RWA. Keynote talk givn at the RWA,
Bristol by Dr. Nigel Hurlstone (Head of Embroidered Textiles, Manchester Metropolitan University).
Other Objectives
ACiD was designed to act as a focal point in the South-West for practitioners and researchers wishing to contribute to both national and international debates surrounding all aspects of drawing, its practice, research and development in the 21st Century.
ACiD has developed its rôle in acting as a centre for Continuing Professional Development for artists, practitioners, reserachers and academics internationally, particularly through its ongoing summer programme of masterclass workshops and symposia, Drawing Quarters.
ACiD continues to expand its international links with regard to exhibitions, academic exchange and conference activity.
John France writes:
“As part of our continuing and developing dialogue with individuals and institutions, in Britain and abroad, we welcome your input to this site, telling us about ideas, exhibitions and activities in drawing”.
Please e-mail me at John.France@uwe.ac.uk.