Co-collaborator of the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition, here’s a bit more about this Ancoats gem!

‘AWOL Studios located in the heart of Ancoats, is one of the largest creative studios in the North West. We’ve 4 floors of studios, brimming with creatives ranging from artists, fashion designers, tattooists, filmmakers, writers, jewellers, theatre performers, sculptors, photographers and many more!

Our home is Hope Mill, a beautiful grade II listed building built in 1824 as a cotton spinning and fustian weaving mill for Joseph Clarke & Sons. Over the next 177 years it has had many other guises, from engineering works to dog bed factory, gradually and gracefully falling into decline and disrepair until it was rescued by Hope Mill Partnership in 2001. With AWOL being the first business to lay down its artistic roots in Hope Mill in 2007 it has become one of the most important centres for the arts in Manchester, allowing for a natural regeneration of this important historic building and attracting a myriad of other creative businesses. The final piece of the jigsaw saw the mill’s old engine room refurbished and transformed to provide a fitting setting for Hope Mill Theatre and The Engine Room Café & Bar.’

The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 deadline approaches! To Enter, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Ayrton ‘SAM’ Mendes won Highly Commended at our 2023 AWOL Studios X Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition.

Ayrton Mendes, also known as SAM, is a Portuguese artist based in Manchester. He ‘intricately explores the intersections of race, sexuality and gender. His practice weaves a unique perspective, rooted in personal experiences and a profound interest in African and urban cultures. Embracing diverse media, from video to sculpture, SAM employs an interdisciplinary approach, using unconventional materials to express his vision’ Aesthetica magazine.

Mendes kindly answered a few questions about his experience with our Open Call exhibition and gave advice for potential entrants. Check out his answers below:

1 . What is the importance of events like the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition?

Participating in events like the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call can be vital for artists seeking to advance their careers and gain recognition. While these exhibitions offer opportunities for artists to showcase their work and potentially receive awards, their primary significance often lies in the networking opportunities they provide. 

Building connections with other artists and industry professionals can lead to collaborations, future exhibitions, and career advancement. 

I remember that participating last year on Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call and winning the highly commended prize, as a postgraduate, the importance of these events to facilitate professional growth and exposure within the art community is undeniable.

2 . What inspired you to enter our Open Call in particular?

I was inspired to enter Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call by the encouragement I received from my university teachers/tutors that motivated me to take the leap and submit my work. Their belief in my artistic abilities gave me the confidence to participate, and I am grateful for their guidance throughout the process.2

Additionally, the opportunity to showcase my work in a reputable space as AWOL Studios was incredibly enticing.

3 . Do you have any advice to artists on entering an Open Call?

My advice is to approach Open calls like Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios with confidence, preparation, and a willingness to engage with the artistic community. By overcoming any fears and seizing opportunities to share your work, you not only further your own artistic journey but also contribute to the rich tapestry of Contemporary Art.

The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! For more info and entry, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Check out more of SAM’s work here

Co-collaborater, neighbour and gallery venue for our Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition, here’s a bit more about the awesome Comme Ca Art.

Established in 1994, Comme Ca Art pioneered the creation of alternative exhibition venues throughout Manchester City Centre, offering up and coming artists the opportunity to showcase their works to a wide and varied audience.

In autumn 2015 CCA opened the doors to the brand new CCA GALLERY at Hope Mill in Ancoats, Manchester. As well as working on an enviable Exhibition Programme, including the Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition, the gallery is used for Meet the Artist Brunches, Pre-Preview Viewings and Artists in Residence. 

“The Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition is one of the highlights of my year. It’s always exciting to see which artists the Judges have selected and even more exciting to curate the exhibition at the Comme Ca Art Gallery. It’s a great opportunity for artists to meet other artists, for art lovers to find a new piece for their collection and for an artist to win the cash prize and Cass Art voucher. We can’t wait to see this year’s selected artists.” Gallery director Claire Turner

⭐️Head to the Comme Ca Art website for more info about their amazing work HERE

⭐️The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! For more info and entry, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Colette Lilley was the overall winner of the AWOL Studios X Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2023!

Colette is an award winning visual artist based in Liverpool. She explores the process of observational drawing in her work. Colette gained a Masters in Art and Design Practice at Loughborough University where she researched the link between Dyslexia and Creativity. A topic still prevalent within her practice as she explores the benefits of drawing.

Colette also co-founded Liverpool Artists’ Network (2015), a platform whose aim is to connect  artists, art organisations, venues, groups and collectives of Liverpool.

She kindly answered a few questions about her experience with our Open Call exhibition, check out her insightful answers below:

1 . What is the importance of events like the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition?

Events like this are wonderful for many reasons but especially because it showcases regional art. It helps to build a community and is an incredible reminder of the talent and creativity around us, it is so inspiring.

2 . What inspired you to enter our Open Call in particular?

After the success and caliber of work I saw in the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Exhibition, I aspired to be part of it.

3 . Do you have any advice to artists on entering an Open Call?

Take the plunge and just do it! The process of entering is great in itself as you can reflect upon your practice. It is a fantastic opportunity to get your work seen and be recognised by your peers. To be accepted is a boost to your confidence and a great way to make connections.

The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! For more info and entry, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Check out more of Colette’s work here

We’re so excited to have such an eclectic mix judging our Open Call Exhibition this year, read more about them below!

Short Supply –

About Short Supply: Short Supply is an acclaimed artist-led organisation based in the North West of England that creates opportunities for emerging artists within an increasingly competitive industry, producing exhibitions, talks and workshops that address the barriers creatives face to employment and education. They are well known across the UK for their practical advice and playful energy – artist development and grins guaranteed!

Sean Williams –

About Sean: I am an artist and curator based at Bloc Studios in Sheffield.  I was born in Nantwich in Cheshire, and often return there for inspiration for my work.  My paintings are views of the fringes of suburbia, places that feel as though they are familiar, but then escape our conditioned response.   

I have been a member of the Contemporary British Painting group for 6 years. Last year I exhibited in ‘Paint Fiction’, a group show at the International Gallery for Contemporary Art in Anchorage, Alaska, and ‘X’, a group show of painting at Newcastle Contemporary Art.  In 2022 I exhibited in ‘Vitalistic Fantasies’, a group show of painting at the Elysium Gallery in Swansea. 

I am very proud that my painting ‘Our Bloody Hell’, featuring the Nuclear Bunker near Nantwich, is now part of the Priseman-Seabrook Collection in the Yale Center for British Art in Connecticut.  

In the last two years I have curated a number of micro-exhibitions within Bloc Studios and, more recently, at Fronteer Gallery in their Stairwell Space.  These shows usually feature just 3 or 4 paintings on a theme, be it conceptual or something more practical.  I am also delighted to have been invited to curate ‘Autumn Almanac’, the annual show by members of Yorkshire Art Space for the last three years.    

Ceri Morgan –

About Ceri: Originally from Newcastle on Tyne. Studied Interior Design at MMU and qualified in 1994.

I have worked for various design practices and architecture studios in London and Manchester since finishing University, across many sectors so consider myself to have a broad spectrum of influences in my own work. 

For the past 12 years or so, I have ran my own interior design business again on a varied range or projects. 

In my downtime, I enjoy walking, photography of my ventures, visiting galleries and travel.

• • •

The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! To enter & T&C’s, please head HERE ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Matt Davies won Highly Commended at our first AWOL Studios X Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition in 2022.

Matts work ‘develops from found and sought images originating from endless media resources. Magazines, old newspaper clippings, photographs are collected from outings, tangential research and his immediate surroundings.’

Matt kindly answered a few questions about his experience with our Open Call exhibition, check out those answers below:

1 . What is the importance of events like the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition?

Every Open Exhibition especially Comme Ca Art /Awol Open Call Exhibition is a great way to showcase your work. I enter because it’s exciting for your work to be seen by judges who consist of curators and professional artists. It is then extremely rewarding to be accepted.  Bringing confidence in your practice, it is encouraging that your work  has the ability to inspire and influence a mass audience.

2 . What inspired you to enter our Open Call in particular?

 I am familiar with Comme Ca Art and aware that they have been promoting artists across the North West for a long time.  I have faith in their ethos and attracted by their ability to reach audiences.

3 . Do you have any advice to artists on entering an Open Call?

Do It, Give it a shot! All art is unique and original, meaning you are unique and original. Research the Judges, see what they are about, their history and their practices. This may tailor the type of piece that you want to put forward.

The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! For more info and entry, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Check out more of Matts work here

Nerissa Cargill Thompson’s was the overall winner of the inaugural AWOL Studios X Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2022! Her work ‘explores environmental issues like climate crisis, plastic pollution and waste through textile art using recycled materials and mixed media sculptures of textiles and concrete cast in the plastic packaging that we use and discard on a daily basis’ Nerissa kindly answered a few questions about her experience with our Open Call exhibition, check out her answers below: 1 . What is the importance of events like the Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition? Smaller open calls with affordable entry fees are important to me as my work isn’t highly commercial so unlikely to make the fee back in immediate sales but important to get my work out there. I liked that it was specifically North West artists. It is really nice to get into the big open calls like The Manchester Open that is currently on at HOME but very easy to get lost in the sheer amount of work. At Comme Ca Art x AWOL each work chosen felt honoured and raised up. I feel the selected works in previous years have been curious, interesting works produced with a high skill level 2 . What inspired you to enter our Open Call in particular? It was mainly that part of the prize was working/showing with Comme Ca plus the quality of the external judging panel. It was good to get my work seen by them. Of course the prize money was also great and of a level that didn’t just cover my expenses so I was able, in the spirit of Artist Support Pledge, to spend 20% on adding to my own art collection. Claire at Comme Ca has many connections, a wealth of experience and an enthusiasm for getting artists’ work seen beyond galleries. 3 . Do you have any advice to artists on entering an Open Call? There are so many open calls that it is important to choose ones that feel like the right opportunity for you as an artist as submission fees and hanging fees can really mount up. Read the details of drop offs/pick ups and hanging requirements especially if you don’t produce standard framed works. Some open calls expect sculptors to provide their own plinth. If possible, check out who is on the judging panel as an element of people’s tastes and interests does play a part. Are these people that you aspire to working with in the future? Take a look at previous year’s to feel the vibe. Could you imagine your work in there? I entered the first Comme Ca Art x AWOL one so I had nothing to go on but thankfully I took the risk.  The AWOL Studios x Comme Ca Art Open Call Exhibition 2024 is live! For more info and entry, head here ~ Deadline 10.03.24

Comme Ca Art and AWOL Studios invites submissions from artists living in North West England, South Yorkshire & West Yorkshire. Work can be in any 2D or 3D media, video, sound or performance for the Open Call Exhibition. All work must have been completed in the previous 2 years.

ENTER HERE ~ Please read the exhibition info and T&C’s below before entering.

The artists selected for the Comme Ca Art Exhibition will be judged by an expert panel with the following awards going to the chosen artists:

• The 1st prize winner will receive £2,000, a £150 Cass Art gift card & an exhibition opportunity at Cass Art Manchester
• Highly commended will receive £500

Selected artists will be offered the opportunity to work with Comme Ca Art on future exhibitions.

Submissions will be shortlisted and presented to a panel of external judges from which the winner and highly commended will be chosen. 

The judging panel includes:

Short Supply: Acclaimed artist-led organisation based in the North West of England that creates opportunities for emerging artists

Sean Williams: Sheffield based Artist, Curator & member of the Contemporary British Painting group.

Ceri Morgan: Award winning interior & exterior designer based in the North West.

HOW TO ENTER

Each artist can submit up to TWO artworks.  Please fill in the separate entry form HERE

• If you have any further enquiries, please feel free to email opencallawol@gmail.com •

All submissions to be made by Sunday 10^th March 2024 (midnight)

There is an entry fee for all artists of £10 per work payable via PayPal (PayPal details will be sent after entry)

ADDITIONAL INFO

If selected, please ensure all works come with hanging fixtures or clear instructions on how to display.

Artwork will be installed by our team of technicians; artists do not need to be present.

The Comme Ca / AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition Private View and winner announcement will take place on Friday 17^th May 2024.

The exhibition will continue to run until Sat 22^nd June 2024. During the exhibition people can view by appointment, Wednesday & Thursday 11am – 4pm and on Saturdays from 11am – 2pm.

Collection of work after the exhibition will be on Tuesday 25th – Friday 26th June 2024 2 between 11am – 2pm, artistsmust book a time to collect with the gallery direct.

KEY DATES

• Submission deadline: Sunday 10^th March 2024 (midnight)
• Notification of selection: by April 15^th 2024
• Delivery of exhibiting art works: Tuesday 7th May – Thursday 9^th May and Tueday 14^th May 2024, between 11am – 3pm.
• Exhibition Private View and Winner Announced: Friday 17^th May 2024 from 6pm – 8pm.
• Exhibition: Fri 17^th May until Sat 22nd June 2024 (Open times Wed & Thurs 11-4pm & Sat 11-2pm)
• Collection of art works: Tuesday 25^th – Friday 26^th  June 2024 between 11am – 2pm, artists to book collection slots with the Comme Ca Art Gallery first.

Please view our data protection policy here

Please read our our T&Cs below

Terms and Conditions (Please Read)

By entering the COMME CA ART x AWOL Open Call 2024 Artists agree that:

a)     The work(s) is executed by the Artist and declared their bona fide property and that no other person has any financial or other interest in the work(s)

b)     The Artist holds all intellectual property rights in the work(s) and have obtained prior written approval for the use of any third party copyrighted material contained in the submitted work(s)

c)     Work(s) must have been completed within the last 2 years

d)     Work(s) will be available for the dates stated in the ‘Open Call 24 Information Document’

e)     Artists take full responsibility for the delivery, insurance, and shipping of any selected work(s).

f)      If artwork is for sale Comme Ca Art charge 40% commission on each sale

g)     The Artist lives in the North West plus South Yorkshire & West Yorkshire area

h)     Submission does not guarantee selection

i)      Entry Fees of £10 per entry are non-refundable

j)      Artists agree to allow AWOL Studios / Comme Ca Art to use any images of their artwork on publicity associated with the Open Call 2024

k) All accepted works delivered to the gallery must be as per works submitted

l)     AWOL Studios / Comme Ca Art are not liable for any loss or damage incurred to the artwork if shortlisted and exhibited, and advises all artists to seek their own insurance

m)      Any unsold work not collected within 1 calendar month of final collection date becomes the property of Comme Ca Art

🏭 Awol Studios Open Eve 🏭
🗓️Friday 13th Oct | 6-10pm

We’re thrilled to invite you to our 16th annual AWOL Studios Open Evening located in the Grade 2 listed Hope Mill, Ancoats!

Come and explore one of the largest creative studios in the North West. We’ve 5 floors of studios, brimming with artists & creatives all chomping at the bit to meet, greet & share their spaces with you (and maybe a sip or two)
•
Once again a huge thankyou for our amazing poster design by AWOL resident Alex @crookedcartoon 🙌
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Over the coming weeks we’ll be posting more info and sneak peeks on our AWOL Instagram so be sure to follow us and keep checking back in!
It’s gonna be mega, we’re so excited, see you there!

AWOL Studios, Hope mill, 113 Pollard St, Ancoats, M47JA

Heads up from Creative Art Courses!

With dreamy ancoats views from our 5th floor, Creative Art Courses will be offering loads more course choices from September as the studio will be opening FULL TIME!

New courses include…

Creative Life Drawing Foundations ~ A special 10-session Thursday morning course.

Learn Life Drawing ~ A topic-by-topic taught life class on Wed afternoons.

Weekly Art Class ~ Every Wed morning for general art enthusiasts.

Creative Wellbeing workshop ~ Every second Friday afternoon ~ A fab way to distress after a busy week and get ready for a relaxed and creative weekend!

Perfect for beginners and Improvers ~

Please contact Brian for more information
Website: https://www.creativeartcourses.org
Telephone: 07816 791 023
Email: brian@creativeartcourses.org