about usWe (Ashleigh Bowmott and Laura Sweeney) are arts independents working collaboratively to produce, curate, facilitate and advocate.
We’re a bit feral, quite undomesticated and not very civilised, so we are lifelong freelancers who co-dependently work together to offer our combined skillset with one slightly-grating voice. If you would like to know more about the way we work together, please read a short publication about our collaboration from our project Producing Liveness in Interesting Times. Artist and arts worker development is at the core of our practice, and we believe freelancers need to be empowered (with money and resources) to support other freelancers in a way that organisations are not able to. Our view is that sustainability within our sector is in crisis and autonomous, prosperous, healthy lives are often not achievable for those working professionally in the arts. This structural failure needs to be attended to by everyone working within it. Therefore, no matter our line of work, our focus is always on better, more equitable working conditions in the arts. Our work includes: - One-to-one advisory or consultancy to artists, producers, organisations and arts workers - Supporting practice development and step-change through consultancy and application writing - Access support for funding application writing - Producing artistic projects with social purpose, artistic integrity and cultural influence - Facilitating and curating professional development programmes for artists and arts workers at all stages of their careers - Providing free-to-use resources for freelancers - Advocating for the sector and the independents working in it. |
Ashleigh Bowmott (she/her)Ash is an arts producer and facilitator who places the politics and practicalities of work and life at the core of her practice. Central to this is financial stability, safety and liveable working conditions for all those working in the arts. In 2018 she completed a PhD in art, which explored collaboration in performance from a queer feminist new-materialist perspective, specifically through the making of her own live art practice with paper. Ash has delivered talks, workshops and artworks worldwide. |
Laura Sweeney (she/they)Laura is a creative producer and facilitator with a focus on creating strategies for new work, infrastructure and stability, with artist and arts worker development at the core. They were Executive Producer at Chisenhale Dance Space what feels like 100 years ago, were part of British Council's GENERATE producer programme between UK/US and acted as Deputy Chair for Home Live Art for a while. They also have an MA in Choreography which never gets used. Right now, Laura is based between Toronto and Essex. |