Strategic network increases funding to under-represented east Asian artists in London

Arts Council England,
23 October 2007, England

EAST (East Asian Strategic Training) is an artists’ network developed by Arts Council England, London, to address the disproportionately low number of funding applications received from east Asian artists. Working with Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester, a range of workshops, seminars, information resources and events has been devised to support and develop the careers of east Asian artists, a group who have been until recently under-represented in London and the arts.
EAST is now succeeding in its remit - the Arts Council have recorded an increase in applications to Grants for the arts from artists of east Asian descent from two to ten percent.
Building on this initial success, EAST will continue its programme of informative workshops across the winter until March 2008. The programme includes seminars on applying for funding, writing effective CVs and press releases, training on touring and international working, all led by leading figures in the art world.
Following on from these, a large scale networking event will be held in 2008, to introduce EAST members to a range of London-based promoters, creatives and gallery and museum professionals to help create links between themselves and the sector.
In addition to the programme of events, Eastonline.org, the website and database of artists, has grown at a phenomenal rate, quickly establishing itself as an important information source for east Asian artists in London.
An EAST participant commented: ‘I think that EAST is doing a great job, and I for one am tremendously grateful for the help and attention that we artists are getting.’

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/pressnews/press_detail.php?browse=recent&id=1005