Celebrating 25 years of Brisons Veor
Dear Residents and Friends of Brisons Veor,
This year we celebrate 25 years of Brisons Veor! It is just over a year since I became Trust Administrator for Brisons Veor, and I’m very pleased now to be able to tell you about some of the highlights of the past year.
Residencies at Brisons Veor continue to be sought-after. We accept two rounds of applications each year, and each time receive over 30 proposals from visual artists, writers, musicians and ceramicists. As you can imagine, that is a heavy workload for our Trustees, and it is by no means an easy task to allocate residencies. This year we have tried to extend the reach of our Call to Artists, and have been able to award more residencies to creatives in counties outside the West of England, in Europe and the USA, as well as many artists ‘nearer to home’.
Gifts from residents
It is always a pleasure to receive feedback from our residency artists, and occasionally, as well as thanks, we receive practical gifts for Brisons Veor. Painter Amanda Oliphant donated the money that she collected as part of her Honesty Box project, after her residency last July. Ceramic artist Penny Green made 16 fantastic tiles to form a splashback behind the new oven, which we hope to install as soon as we can make time in our programme.
Writers Bursary
One of our resident-writers, Katrina Naomi, a successful contemporary poet based in Penzance, enjoyed her residency so much that she has helped us to set up a bursary scheme for four one-week residencies at Brisons. Two writers will benefit from the Bursary award this year, and two in 2018.
Poet Louisa Adjoa Parker and flash fiction writer Amanda Mason were selected in 2016, and take up their residencies this year. Louisa plans to use the residency to complete a fourth collection of poetry, one which explores her experiences of adolescence based on her diary entries from the Eighties. Amanda Mason writes flash fiction, short stories and is currently working on her third novel. The bursaries are open to writers who are low-waged and working towards a collection of poetry or short stories, a novel or a play. To find out more visit https://brisonsveor.org.uk/bursary-to-support-writers-with-a-residency-at-brisons-veor/
Katrina shared her residency at Brisons Veor with artist Tim Ridley, and they have produced a film documenting their residency: http://www.katrinanaomi.co.uk/an-hour-from-here
Renovations
In addition to maximizing opportunities through the residency programme, Trustees have had to make decisions about protecting the fabric of the building, which, you can imagine, is no simple matter. Brisons Veor is situated on one of the most Westerly points of the UK, subjected to violent storms and gales, and the constant battering of the sea against the cliffs it stands on. Progress has been slow but steady, and we have to thank Annie Halliday in particular for her tireless dedication to the renovation programme. As Trust Manager since 2011, Annie has successfully applied for funding support for building projects, and has initiated many changes that benefit and enhance the residency experience. We really do owe her a great deal.
Studio by the Sea 2017
In 2017 thirty-one artists and writers will spend time at Brisons reflecting on their practice
and researching new ideas. Take a look at our Residents’ page to discover what a residency at Brisons has meant to them.
In August we celebrate 25 years of Brisons Veor with our Open Day to which Friends and supporters will be invited. We are proud that Brisons Veor continues to offer shelter and inspiration to so many creatives,and that the generous vision of our Founder, Tracy O’Kates, continues to flourish.
Patricia Wilson Smith – Trust Administrator
If you can afford a donation to the upkeep of Brisons Veor, please become a Friend of Brisons Veor, or make a one-off donation.
Your contribution will support other artists in need.