TOMA open call for artist-run contemporary art education programme 2019/2020

The Other MA (TOMA) : OPEN CALL 2019/2020

November 2019 to November 2020, Instagram: @theotherma

About TOMA

The Other MA (TOMA) is a 12-month artist-run education model based in Southend-on-Sea. TOMA is currently the only postgraduate level art programme in Essex after all others were stopped by their host Universities. It was set up in 2016 to offer responsive, affordable, accessible art education to artists.

Designed to fit the everyday lives of 21st century artists TOMA was created in response to the hierarchies surrounding accessing higher education. Obstacles which uphold these hierarchies include a lack of mental + physical space to self-invest due to other life commitments, which is often required when taking on further education. Hidden hierarchies such as not having the art specific language needed to access the contemporary art world or a certain art school training which can make a traditional MA feel inaccessible. Other obstacles can take the form of time, cost, age, geography, disability, gender + ethnicity as well as needing to care for family or work commitments. TOMA is looking for 12 artists to join the 12 month programme for 2019/2020.

TOMA is open to all + welcomes everyone. We want our programme + the dialogues within it to represent the diverse world we live in.
We are not interested in your CV, just the work you make + how you want to interact in the world.
TOMA takes on parts of the traditional structure of an art MA, it is also responsive to its artists. Fluid + open in its evolution, TOMA creates an independent space where there is freedom to choose, learn + grow alongside a community of peer-artists.

TOMA structure

TOMA is coordinated by a small team who are responsive to the artist group. TOMA wants to encourage independent thought alongside close knit community spirit. It is a non-accredited programme which aims to foster experimentation, responsiveness + collaboration. TOMA artists experience this through self-directed + collaborative study meeting at least three times a month to take part in a variety of activities. These meetings mainly take place at the weekend or in the evening making the programme accessible for those who have weekday work or family commitments.

TOMA provides educational opportunities + support in the form of…

Tutorials
Group crits
Day-long visiting artist / practitioner sessions
Seminars
Lectures
Critical theory sessions
Practical workshops
Peer feedback
Support in the production of projects
Off-site trips to art spaces
Collaborative project opportunities
A residency
Exhibition + public programme opportunities

TOMA artists also have access to bookable spaces for…

* Photography, filming, performance + making work (TOMA Project Space)

* RISO, printmaking press + dark room space (The Old Waterworks)

* Digital studio with editing facilities + Adobe software (Metal Southend)

TOMA dates + info

Drop in days for interested artists > > >

12-8pm, Wednesday 28 August @ The Old Waterworks, North Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7AB
12-8pm, Saturday 14 September @ Metal, Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8NB **join us for an open crit from 12-3pm**
Application > > > form available online https://form.jotformeu.com/92134269301350
Application deadline > > > Midnight Monday 30 September
Interview dates > > > Friday 11 October, Saturday 12 October
Course cost > > > Per year £900 / per month £75 \ can work out a payment plan to suit individuals
Supported spaces > > > There are 2 supported FREE spaces available this year for artists who could otherwise not access the programme.
Programme starts > > > Saturday 30 November

For more information contact Emma Edmondson on toma@metalculture.com