#BeACritic With Tim Marlow! Applications Now Open
Serious about becoming a published arts writer? We announce Round Two of our annual competition – with the Royal Academy’s Tim Marlow — and ask you to step up and #BeACritic…
We are thrilled to announce that Sony Award-winning broadcaster, writer and art historian Tim Marlow is our lead critic for this year’s #BeACritic campaign – coming to Liverpool this summer to work closely with 15 amazing writers from across the North-West of England. And you could be one of them.
The #BeACritic campaign (originally named Thinking>Writing>Engaging) was launched in April 2014 by Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Art and Design, Arts Council England and The Double Negative, in a move to encourage more critical discussion of the arts and to develop vital writing skills.
Becoming the Royal Academy’s first director of artistic programmes in 2014, our guest critic Tim Marlow has over 20 years’ experience presenting programmes for the BBC, Sky Arts, Channel 4 and Five. Founder of Tate: The Art Magazine and former director of exhibitions at White Cube, Marlow has written extensively for newspapers and magazines on arts and culture — including the Times, the Guardian, the Independent on Sunday, Arena and Art Monthly – and as an author — including monographs of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and the Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele.
Marlow will deliver a public lecture at Tate Liverpool on Saturday 16 May 2015, in addition to leading a private masterclass for a small number of carefully selected, North-West-based aspiring critics. This group will then be commissioned to write their own critiques, reviews and features throughout 2015 for The Double Negative, receiving £100, editorial feedback and support.
Following the recruitment of 15 aspiring arts writers in #BeACritic Round One last year, the successful applicants enjoyed a masterclass with ArtReview managing editor Oliver Basciano, receiving crucial writing advice and practical tips on structure and style, research and live note-taking, pitching to editors, and on building confidence, skills and portfolios. The writers put their critical ‘voice’ into action on The Double Negative (through essays and reviews exploring everything from radical gender politics to public art), as well as writing more on their own blogs and for other publications.
One of last year’s aspiring critics, BA Fine Art student Mark Evans, said: “Being part of the #BeACritic project has been amazing, I have learnt so much. The opportunity to have my own words tweaked as well as the ability to have a one to one conversation with the editor has helped streamline my thought processes when writing.”
Caroline Wilkinson, Director of the Liverpool School of Art and Design, said: “The #BeACritic campaign provides another exciting opportunity for up-and-coming art critics to learn from a leading professional with an outstanding reputation.
“Last year’s event was extremely successful and aspiring critics developed skills, such as reflection, perspicacity, and impact. The Round Two event will benefit further ambitious art critics and should directly influence the Liverpool contemporary art scene.”
Sounds like you could #BeACritic and contribute to a much-needed arts discussion in the North-West? Make haste and fill in our simple application form now. And good luck.
Apply now! #BeACritic: Round Two
NOTES TO APPLICANTS: IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ
- Applicants must be free on the afternoon of Saturday 16 May 2015 to attend a special one-off masterclass and public lecture with Tim Marlow.
- Applicants must demonstrate a serious interest in arts criticism and the arts scene in the North-West region of the UK. They must also demonstrate how this opportunity may help their career, and be willing to learn more about what makes a great art critic.
- Applicants must be based in the North-West region of the UK.
- Deadline for entries: Monday 13 April 2015, 9pm. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Fill in our simple application form here
Round Two applicants will be selected anonymously on the above criteria and winners will be announced by 20 April 2015.
See our original callout and all published #BeACritic articles here
Read The Big Interview: Tim Marlow
@TheDbleNgtve // @LSAD_2015 // @ace_thenorth // Hashtag #BeACritic
Graphics courtesy LJMU graduates Jonzo Risograph Print and Design Studio
Film courtesy LJMU graduates GreenBrick Studio
