Artist in Residence

Cranleigh Arts Centre’s Artist in Residence (A.I.R) scheme is one part of Cranleigh Arts... Creates, an initiative that aims to support and develop local artists through residencies, workshops, talks and events at the centre. Artist residencies offer the artist free studio or rehearsal space plus advice and support from the team, in return for commitment to promoting and developing the targeted art forms and increasing audiences attendance at the centre.

 

Penny Green

Potter in Residence
Penny Green

Penny, a local artist based in Dorking, trained at the Slade School of Art in London and has exhibited her highly decorative ceramic figures extensively in London and the UK.

Interview with the Artist…

We asked Penny a few questions so that you could learn more about our Artist in Residence.

What is the best thing about being our Artist in Residence?
It’s a very sociable and lovely place to work, many of the people that come along to my workshops bring so much to the class and it’s a very stimulating and creative environment.

What is your most memorable event at the Arts Centre?
I really enjoyed taking part in the Big Draw, but there’s so many things going on here and I’m always looking forward with new ideas.

What is your greatest achievement as an artist?
I am very proud of my ‘Unraveling the Manor House’ exhibition at Preston Manor in Brighton and also showing work in ‘Ceramic Art London’ at the Royal College of Art.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Visiting lots of exhibitions! My work is constantly evolving, sometimes you discover new things by making many happy mistakes but also unhappy ones!

What do you find most challenging about being an artist?
Lots of time and effort and patience is needed. You really have to love what you do!

The pottery re-launch in Feb 2009 was made possible thanks to donations from One Forty, High Street, Cranleigh and Gatwick Airport Community Trust.


Previous Artist in Residence

Shalini Bhalla (Previous A.I.R)

Dancer/Just Jhoom
In the 3 years that Shalini has been Dancer/Choreographer in Residence, she has re-worked and taken a show to the Edinburgh Festival and initiated weekly Bollywood classes that, due to demand, increased to 6 classes a week.

The residency has spawned a youth Bollywood dance project (Naach), an adult Bollywood dance group (Saffire Dance) and led the 2009 Cranleigh Arts Centre Lantern parade down the high street with flash-mob Bollywood, danced to the strains of Slumdog Millionaire’s Jai Ho!

It’s been a productive and fun relationship for both Shalini and all of us here in the team running the Arts Centre. Shalini now steps down as Dancer in Residence at Cranleigh Arts Centre to enable her to devote more time to Just Jhoom! her new company promoting Bollywood dance-fitness. We won’t be losing Shalini completely as she’ll still be running Just Jhoom! classes at the centre (see our workshops for details).

“I’d like to thank Jenny Squire and her team for all their support over the years and I look forward to working with the Arts Centre in the future in my capacity as a freelance artist and JustJhoom! Director.” Shalini Bhalla

Meanwhile, we’ll be recruiting for a new Artist in Residence shortly which will be advertised on our website and other key locations. If you would like to find out more about our Artist in Residence schemes then please email ctrmanager@cranleighartscentre.org