The Hadfield Trust Creative Travel Award is an award scheme which is available to university students up to the value of £500, to part fund an activity or travel which will enhance learning opportunities in the final year of study. I have applied for the award in order to partially fund the trip that I will be taking to Free Range.
The process requires a submission of a form that highlights the ins and outs of the trip. The form required an outline of the trip, how this will help your future career and learning and an outline of the financial implications of the trip. Below are the explanations that I gave in response to this.
I have been invited to be a part of a group exhibition with other photography and fine art students at the University of Cumbria. The exhibition is called Free Range. This is a collective show of graduate art and design courses in the UK. The exhibition will be shown at The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL. The exhibition space is already paid for by the university, and will enable our work to be viewed by potential employers from the photographic industry. The exhibition will be shown from 6th July 2017 to the 10th July 2017. However, I am also required to help with the installation of the exhibition on the evening of the 5th July and dismantle and pack the exhibition on the afternoon of the 10th July and the following day. Showing work in such a well regarded establishment for graduate photographers like myself will potentially kick-start my photographic career and allow for my work to be exhibited to a larger audience. This will help build my reputation and will also allow for networking with other photographers who are working with similar subject matter.
Due to my disability, going on self-funded trips are a lot harder due to my limited mobility and constant pain, as I can’t walk from place to place. As a result, I have often missed out on going to events and exhibitions. I receive a disability benefit, however, this will not cover the extra transport I will need when I get to London. I will need transport from the station to my hotel and from my hotel to the exhibition.
This is a fantastic opportunity that could really open up my career prospects as well as giving me invaluable exhibition experience.
By participating in this event, I will gain experience in both showing work in a large exhibition and invigilating an exhibition. Also, by showing the work to a large audience, some of whom are from the photographic industry, there is potential to kick start my photographic career. I will also be showing my work alongside other likeminded people, which will provide an excellent networking opportunity and the potential to collaborate with people working on similar topics to myself.
I have been shortlisted to be interviewed for this award. The next stage of the process is to attend an interview and presentation, where I will explain the plan for the trip.
Rachel Buxton Photography 