Seasons Greetings from YVAN
YVAN wishes you a very merry festive time and best wishes for 2022
Our Christmas illustration by Mick Marston, du.st represents the vitality of the artist and artist-led networks across the Yorkshire and Humber.
Each constellation celebrates you as one of Yorkshire's artists with your networks of fellow artists, peers and audiences - indeed, everyone who supports the power of creativity in these precarious times. Together we can make creative change happen and our region a great place for the arts!
YVAN's office will be closed from 22nd Dec 2021 and will re open on Wednesday 5th January 2022.
YVAN Team Highlights
The YVAN project team take some time to reflect on their highlights of the year.
Sue Ball - Executive Chair
“Museum and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief - I honestly feel that, with the broad sector support and evidence that the YVAN team presented, we did make the case for MGETR retention. Super-charging messaging and advocacy through CVAN, this saw the UK Govt pledge its support for the next two years whilst doubling the claim rate on the costs of exhibition production to 45% from October 2021 to March 23. MGETR sounds so un-sexy and complicated, but it represents a massive investment for organisations that produce exhibitions - £34million since 2017. YVAN will continue to support wider types of organisations, such as artists studios, in 2022 and encourage uptake where possible.”
Roger McKinley - Research and Evidence Lead
'“There are many highlights for 2021 for me, from The Artist Journey Conference with Sheffield Hallam University in June, to the Nourish programme with so many amazing new Artist Network organisations, to being part of the MGETR team supporting museums and galleries for another 2 years (at least) of Tax Relief.
Outstanding for me though was working with partners at Newcastle University and the University of Leeds to secure 2 fully funded Collaborative practice-based PhDs. Researchers Melissa Burntown and Alice Chandler, both outstanding artists in their own right, joined the team in October on a four year journey of research and discovery into Artist Networks using arts methods. It’s really exciting to be part of an expanding team generating an evidence base to support artists in this innovative way. Congratulations to Mel and Alice!”
Sarah Yaccabe - Administrator
“My highlight of the year was attending the Social Art Network Leeds launch event. Being new to YVAN at the time, having the chance to meet with some of the members of the Nourish Network and artists in Leeds was a wonderful opportunity. The ‘speed dating’ element of the evening was great for getting to meet to as many people as possible and having insightful discussions about what social arts means, what the positives and challenges are and learning about other artist’s creative practice.”
Lydia Cottrell - Communications and Engagement
“I am really proud that as an organisation YVAN has committed to raising awareness and confronting issues surrounding Climate Justice. Standing up for the moral, social and political side of the climate crisis. I am looking forward to creating a programme including events, discussion and dialogue in the new year.”
