ArtyParti’s “Celebration” events and website are made possible thanks to funding from the Arts Council England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, through the “Unlock” strand of Sunderland Culture’s Great Place scheme.
Sunderland is one of 16 pilot areas of the UK to benefit from the “Great Place Scheme” - which exists “to put arts, culture and heritage at the heart of communities”. Supporting ArtyParti is one way that Sunderland Culture fulfil this initiative - and we are hugely grateful to their backing and support.
ArtyParti broadcasts first in a live radio show format, on the Sunderland-based community radio station “Spark”. We’ve enjoyed this relationship since we began broadcasting in July 2015 - and plan to uphold our partnership into the future.
Having access to the live broadcast studio gives ArtyParti that “live radio” feel as a podcast - which we hope carries over into our edited version.
Tel is the founder of Sister Shack CIC - an organisation which supports female entrepreneurs, creatives, artists, musicians, and DJs.
“Our aim is to promote and empower women to continue their growth in any area they undertake. We strongly believe in female wellbeing and we aim to talk about and tackle any subject - from feminism, relationships, nutrition, boundaries, consent, racism - nothing is off limits.”
Alongside running a female creative collective, and working as a freelance DJ, Tel is currently studying an MA in Radio Production at the University of Sunderland.
In early 2019, Tel joined ArtyParti as a guest host for two weeks.
Photographic artist Jo Howell was born in Sunderland in 1985, and has been creating collaborative artworks with people in the City since 2010.
Her recent projects include:
#Untitled10 exhibition, one of ten artists commissioned for an exhibition with the Bowes Museum in 2019. The artists were asked to create work in response to an object in the museum - Jo responded to a botany cabinet once owned by Mary Eleanor Bowes.
#WeArExperimenting a commission for The Cultural Spring and the North East Photography Network in 2018. This was a large scale commission that Jo designed and delivered to the people of Sunderland across 6 months. Engaging more than 1200 people with science and photography through community learning experiments.
Founder of TryLife TV - an interactive online drama, designed by some of the best people from the creative, youth, education, and health care industries - but the story is moulded and shaped by the user.
“The user guides the character through various different scenarios which are all filmed. The user is faced with decisions and these decisions will change the course of the story line. The outcomes of their decisions and the plot routes are based on probability using real stats and data.
“This game is not about teaching what is right and wrong but more about allowing people to experiment in a safe environment, for them to see the consequences of their choices
“We provide the opportunity for the user to be signposted to a relevant site, government initiative or agency for more information on any issue they encounter.
“Pick a character, guide them through life and make the decisions. You live with the consequences.
“You Try Life.”
Born and working in Sunderland, Smith approaches canvas, sketchbook and sculpture alike with a unique application of the human body.
Through experimental exploration of her craft, and the suggestive displacement of objects and ideas beyond their usual bounds, Smith’s work is at once both unexpected and captivating.
In December 2018, Stephanie’s process of “Skin-Mapping” was the subject of a 28-minute audio documentary for BBC Radio 4, as she invited participants to close their eyes and put charcoal to canvas, to really feel the tactile sensations in their faces & bodies.
Produced by Jay Sykes, as a Soundscape Production.
Laura is currently a BA Media Production student at the University of Sunderland, “where I'm pursuing my passion for radio both on and off campus. I've found a lot of joy in helping speech based shows on Spark find their feet in the radio world, and I hope to professionally produce in the future.”