BIZ Q&A Kat Dawe Schmeisser on how local businesses can support The Art Cohort

Kat is inviting thriving businesses to support Bath's local arts scene

BIZ Q&A

Kat Dawe Schmeisser

The Art Cohort is an inter-generational community focused artspace, gallery, art shop and studio workshop. They champion emerging artists and encourage people of all ages to nurture their creativity

How has the business been impacted by Covid? In pre-Covid times our studio workshop programme of art classes and workshops for adults and children paid the rent and bills and enabled us run exhibitions at 13 Chelsea Road. As a self-funding, artist-run artspace we now find ourselves in a very vulnerable position.

Is losing the premises a possibility? Things have been difficult in relation to the rent. We know we need to find new streams of funding to support our exhibitions programme, otherwise we will not be able to maintain the premises in 2021. This is a scary and sad prospect as we support an expansive community of artists and creators across Bath.

What are your plans for funding? We’ve now developed an artspace sponsorship programme for 2021, which has a number of entry points for support: • Sponsorship of individual exhibitions with sponsors named in the exhibition and all supporting materials • Sponsorship of the studio workshop programme, e.g. sponsored installation of new equipment • Sponsorship of artist residencies, which includes their eventual exhibition. Sponsors named in the resident artist studio space, exhibition and supporting materials • Artspace sponsorship. This is top level sponsorship for the total programme of activity at The Art Cohort for 2021

Who are your potential sponsors? We’re very keen to reach out to businesses in Bath that are flourishing in the present climate and may be keen to support the arts sector in the city during this extraordinary time. This type of cross-industry partnership and collaboration is a creative and rewarding way to keep Bath buoyant as we navigate this. Why should businesses sponsor The Art Cohort? The sponsorship model is a great way for businesses in the city to directly support and nurture artistic and creative talent within the city. This year alone we have programmed work exploring a range of social and cultural issues including local community history, a series of exhibitions highlighting the plight of endangered and extinct animals, body positivity, menopause and black culture.

How do you support artists? Mentoring is a huge part of what we do, and our work with emerging artists ranges from development of a new body of work to supporting the professionalisation of their art practice. We work with most artists for a 12-month period to develop an exhibition from idea through to execution. We also run eight-week residency programmes to nurture artists through early stage research to the final exhibition.

WHAT DO ARTISTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ART COHORT?

“Having just finished a Masters at Bath School of Design, and being in such an early stage of my career, it was an amazing opportunity to be able to exhibit at The Art Cohort,” says Millie Clake, whose exhibition Fluorescence showed there last year. “Having a gallery and artspace in Bath that embraces emerging and new talent across the whole art and design spectrum is a real asset to the city. The Art Cohort is the perfect balance between an engaging art gallery, a shop containing handmade and unique products, and a workshop space that encourages the local community to connect with art and design.”

How can individuals support The Art Cohort? Shop with us! Our full range is on our website. You can also make a regular contribution via our Patreon, www.patreon.com/theartcohort

What’s coming up? We have some very exciting projects in the pipeline working with hugely talented artists across many disciplines – including a programme of events on overcoming isolation, community clay workshops, street art, social sculpture projects, creativity for mental health, finding freedom in making art, and so much more. We really hope to see these projects come to fruition in 2021 with the support of Bath businesses.

For more: The Art Cohort, 13 Chelsea Road, Bath; tel 01225 635017; www.theartcohort.co.uk