Call for Submissions

The British Council Pakistan is sponsoring a one-month textile design residency in England which will be based at Chelsea College of Art, London. During this time the successful applicant will have the opportunity to research, tour the city, and develop their own practice while teaching a workshop in their area of specialisation to first and second year students at Chelsea College. The residency will provide links to an invaluable network of textile, fashion and design professionals.

The aim of the residency is to foster links between the UK and Pakistan through textile design and industry. The educational partner in Pakistan is the National College of Arts, with whom the successful applicant will work closely to prepare their workshop for Chelsea College. Upon their return the successful applicant will also have the opportunity to present their experience in the UK to a students and faculty at the NCA.

The residency is part of the British Council’s ongoing programme The New Silk Road. As part of this programme a series of residency exchanges have taken place between practitioners and schools in the UK and similar partners in Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. To view details of the other exchanges please see: http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-adf-new-silk-road.htm

Dates of UK residency: 18 April – 15 May, 2010  (subject to applicant’s availability)

Criteria:

• 2 – 3 years experience working in their area of specialisation
• A strong background/education in textile design and/or fashion
• A well developed area of handcraft expertise (ex. Natural dying, embroidery, beading, weaving). Chelsea College will give preference to someone with experience in natural dying, which could be in combination with other skills that the applicant possesses.
• Experience as a leader either in a private company working as a designer/maker or in an educational institution working as a design teacher

Please submit the following with your application:

• A current CV
• A covering letter explaining why you are an ideal candidate for the residency; why you should represent Pakistan in Britain (not more than 300 words)
• Examples of your work (please send no more than 10 digital or printed images)
• A brief outline of a short course module that you could teach to students at Chelsea College

Deadline for Applications: 5 March 2010

Apply by email to: Rukhsana.asim@britishcouncil.org.pk

OR

Apply by post:
Head of Programmes,
British Council, PO Box 88, Lahore.