Ker Wallwork announced as recipient of Baltic x Shape Arts Emergent residency

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead and Shape Arts, London are delighted to announce Ker Wallwork as the recipient of the first Emergent residency.

This summer, Baltic and Shape launched Emergent – a new hybrid residency and support programme for early-career disabled artists with a £5k bursary. The open call welcomed applications from disabled artists/creative practitioners in the first five years of their career who have met with significant barriers in developing their artistic practice. The three-month residency programme combines digital and physical elements of delivery, supported by both organisations.

The shortlisting process was competitive with a high volume of applications. The awarded artist, Ker Wallwork has a multi-disciplinary practice focusing on moving-image, also incorporating drawing, text, sculpture and archival projects. Recurrent themes in their work include language, queerness, sickness, and the welfare state.

Ker will take part in the residency online and at Baltic, where, in addition to receiving support and mentoring to inform their practice, they will use the facilities and have curatorial and technical input to extend their current research and develop new work. A showcasing or broadcast opportunity will also be provided as part of the programme.

‍Baltic and Shape are offering a package of support to a small number of shortlisted artists: Grace Fairley, Katayoun Jalilipour, Abigail Jacqueline Jones, Day Eve M Komet, Kaiya Waerea.

Sarah Munro, Director of Baltic said: “We are thrilled to be announcing the selected artist for the Emergent residency, in collaboration with Shape Arts. Supporting artists is key to Baltic’s mission and it is vital that we continue to evolve our practice of providing that support in ways which are relevant to artists and to life today. Ker’s work will have opportunities to grow, stretch creatively and develop technically through this new hybrid residency model. This will include both time spent online and at Baltic with access to curatorial and technical expertise and guidance. We congratulate Kerr and look forward to learning about and experiencing more of their work and practice”.

David Hevey, CEO Shape Arts, said: “The quality and diversity of applications we received for this pilot year of Emergent was astounding. As such, awarding Ker Wallwork is a true testament to the quality of their practice as well as their vision for socially engaged creativity. This is only the beginning, and we are incredibly excited to see how Ker’s work develops and the programme evolves as a result”.

The Baltic x Shape Arts Emergent residency is supported by The Foyle Foundation

Header Image: Ker Wallwork - 'Whatever, Pendant'