Notes 2015 January 2015 | Page 24

AXISWEB What's coming up Original 1905 tile, The Old Library, Wakefield Wha t ' s coming up We're doing some new things in the year ahead First of all, we'll soon be joining the creative community at ≥ The Art House in Wakefield, just as it expands into the city's former Carnegie Library next door. Watch out for the opening of this beautifully refurbished building in June 2015. 2_ 3_ Maslen and Mehra, Rescue, 2014 1_ We'll also be endeavouring to set up projects that connect artists with new markets and contexts for their skills, from the archives sector to the NHS. In the longer term, we see online selling and collecting as part of the mix too. 6_ We'll be looking at how we can support artists in so-called 'mid-career', using the evidence gathered from online consultation and focus group discussion. Following the loss of our regular funding from Arts Council England, we will be working hard to find new sources of revenue and adapt our business model to a climate in which public funding for the arts is no longer guaranteed. It will be a year of testing new ideas and approaches. Is there a case for challenging the inherent ageism of the art world? We certainly think so. 5_ 4_ Research and consultation suggest that opening up our international opportunities service would be a popular move. So we'll be introducing a new membership category that enables anyone to take advantage of it, whether or not they feature in our directory. PG 24 7_ And we’re talking to engage, NSEAD and Access Art about how we can support teachers of art, craft and design to use contemporary art and artists in their teaching. We remain optimistic about the future a