Dawn Harris Email and Phone Number

A community of Artists benefiting from a collaborative environment.

Ragley Hall is delighted to announce its new Artist-in-residence program, and Dawn Harris as its first Artist in Residence.  Ragley have offered Dawn the time and space for reflection, research, presentation and/or production of work that responds to the environment of Ragley Hall Park and Estate. This Residency will provide the artist with the chance to explore her practice within another community; meeting new people, using new materials, experiencing life in a new location. Art residencies emphasize the importance of meaningful and multi-layered cultural exchange. ‘I am delighted to be Artist in Residence at Ragley Hall and looking forward to developing the residency entitled: ‘Negotiating Heritage’. Dawn will be considering why Heritage is important to the community. People are very proud of their local history, but don’t always express how much they value a place until it’s threatened. Because it adds character and distinctiveness to an area, heritage is a fundamental in creating a ‘sense of place’ for a community. The act of negotiation creates a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding. Through negotiation I aim to begin a dialog that services my interpretation of the heritage of Ragley Hall. Our heritage is not capable of change, but in contrast our culture reflects daily living, attitudes, traditions and norms of society and develops over time. Culture as an outward display of values is often reflected in heritage; throughout the residency I will be exploring the heritage of Ragley by projecting today’s culture on to it. The residency will provide an opening within which, local schools, universities, community groups, Ragley Hall staff and Ragley Hall visitors, can explore through contemporary art  discussion, workshops and exhibitions this valued heritage site.

Harris Visual Arts was established by Dawn Harris and is based in Ragley Gallery and Studios at Ragley Hall. Operating as a community for artists to develop their practices their aim is to provide affordable artist and gallery spaces to graduates, early career and established artists from the surrounding communities. Currently there are few viable options available to graduating students and artists wishing to develop their practice within this area. Often ignored in terms of producing artistic talent, the West Midlands represents a particular challenge both in terms of the commercial arts scene and artists who wish to sustain their practices in this region after graduating. Harris Visual Arts at Ragley Hall is pushing forward to develop an arts market and keep artists in the region. The unique position of the Gallery and Studio, in a site with an audience interested in heritage and culture, will benefit emerging artists by highlighting quality emerging talent and offering a crucial bridge between training and a professional career. This is a positive step; as London continues to draw in talent from across the UK developing off–centre scenes offers an alternative view and a chance for artists to shape their own community.Many arts organisations work in partnership with a variety of host venues, whether locally loved destinations, tourism, heritage sites or historic gardens with an established visitor base. This encourages audience participation, creates new audiences and cross-fertilisation between the contemporary arts and heritage sectors. All of this we aim to achieve. But what is critically different is our provision of a permanent gallery and studios within an established site where a sense of place and reputation can contribute to the growth and development of the Arts. This will also provide opportunities for education and outreach programmes at the heart of our activity encouraging participation, discussion and reflection about contemporary art.