Whilst in post as Artist Development Manager at Somerset Art Works, I led the 2025 reconfiguration of our bursary programme in response to the needs of that year’s cohort of eight emerging artists. Instead of pairing participants with established practitioners, the programme focused on sustained development of individual practice, supported through regular one-to-one mentoring alongside structured peer learning sessions.

Artists were then offered the opportunity to present their work publicly as part of Somerset Open Studios, developing confidence and practical skills in curation, installation, display, public engagement, and documentation. The cohort also came together for a dedicated exhibition at the Zig Zag Building in Glastonbury.

The space became a quiet and reflective environment for conversation and connection, offering audiences the opportunity to engage with each artist’s evolving practice at a formative stage of development.

Photographs taken by myself and Kaylee Winchcombe and shared with the consent of the participating artists.