ABOUT US
Artist development at Waterside is delivered through Creative Industries Trafford (CIT).
CIT provides support, training, mentoring and opportunities for artists and creatives in Greater Manchester and beyond.
Featuring a year-round professional development programme, CIT covers a number of fields including literature, visual arts, contemporary design, theatre-making and animation. The objectives are to increase artistic quality and to help artists build sustainable creative careers.
Activities include the Cosgrove Hall Film Archive, celebrating the legacy of the renowned animation studio, and curating the gallery spaces at Waterside which focus on photography, contemporary design, animation and the moving image.
CIT runs the Northern Lights Writers Conference, the Puppet Masters Animation Conference; plus a successful theatre development programme that has supported a number of theatre-makers and helped to create touring work.
CIT is supported by Trafford Council and Arts Council England and we’re committed to copyright retention and fair fees for artists. For more information and to discuss our work or partnership opportunities, email cit@watersidearts.org
Visual Arts
CIT manages the visual arts spaces at Waterside:
Lauriston Gallery, the venue’s main exhibition space
Gallery 74 which showcases work from emerging practitioners
Screenlight, a display for moving image art, animation and digital media
For all visual arts or exhibition enquiries please contact Michelle Keeling, Galleries Manager & Curator michelle@watersidearts.org
Theatre Development
Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford are committed to providing opportunities for artists to create work and understand the importance of this for maintaining a dynamic cultural ecology. Acting as creative producers, CIT has created theatre and audio commissions including the National Trust on the Live at Lyme Project.
We are really proud of the collaboration we have had with theatre-makers, which may be through our theatre commissions programme, or just some seed funding and/or space to develop and make new work.
For enquires about our theatre development activity contact:
Sam Danson - Theatre Development Producer sam@watersidearts.org
As well as supporting newly commissioned productions, we work closely with Waterside Arts to support a number of theatre companies in the development of new performances through provision of rehearsal space, where possible within the venue’s busy programme.
For a full list of productions and companies supported by Waterside Arts, please see this link.
ANIMATION
In 2015 we started our Puppet Masters Conference, with talks from animators working in the industry today as well as hosting an exhibition from local makers Mackinnon & Saunders.
In 2016 - 2017 we were called upon to put together a large scale Heritage Lottery Fund bid to raise money to rescue the remaining puppets, production materials left over from the closure of Cosgrove Hall Films Studios, which closed in 2011. The collection arrived with us in 2017, initiating a large scale archival project and building up our reputation as a centre for Manchester’s thriving animation scene. We share this with the public through public exhibitions and our wrap around animation programme, including Puppet Masters Animation Conference, workshops and a whole host of other activities for children, students and adults with an interest in animation.
In 2021 we were called on to rescue the sets from Postman Pat’s Special Delivery Service with the original makers, further expanding our collection. Five years later the collection has found a home in a purpose built space in Sale Library at the heart of Trafford’s community. The exhibition showcases the Cosgrove Hall Films story and breaks down traditional hand drawn and stop motion processes.
Brian Cosgrove told us that Cosgrove Hall Films was like an art school, the team were all learning, experimenting and collaborating. This shared sentiment is what we want this archive to be: a ‘living archive’ sustained by the people that are learning from these traditional creative processes.
To learn more about this specific project, we have our own mini-site: Cosgrove Hall Films Archive
To contact us about animation related projects contact Rosy via the ‘Contact Us’ form on the Cosgrove Hall Films website.
WATERSIDE
WATERSIDE
Waterside is a thriving and vibrant arts venue in the heart of Sale in Trafford. Comprising a theatre, art galleries, studios and workspaces, the centre is an important regional hub for both performance and visual art.
It is a major touring venue for theatre productions, music groups, comedians and art exhibitions, while at the same time providing a vital resource for the local community. The centres hosts classes, seminars and workshops on subjects ranging from drama to salsa and poetry to tai chi. It also regularly serves a base for regional music and performance groups including Touchdown Dance.
The venue is funded by Trafford Council and supported by Engie, Arts Council England, Manchester Airport, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lauriston School Trust.
TEAM
The CIT team features creatives who are specialists across a number of fields.
PROJECT LEAD / LITERATURE SUPPORT
Richard Evans has been leading Creative Industries Trafford since 2006.
He has initiated a wide range of projects and development opportunities for creatives, establishing the Northern Lights Writers Conference and Puppet Masters Animation Conference, along with mentoring and commissions for animators, curators, designer-makers, digital artists, theatre-makers and visual artists.
Working collaboratively with the CIT team, Richard oversees delivery of programmes for Cosgrove Hall Films Archive, Waterside's galleries and for independent theatre makers.
His background includes work with designer-makers, photographers and visual artists, as well as experience in music, literature and filmmaking.
ANIMATION
Jessica Wheeler is an animation director, writer and producer. Her commissioned work includes Euphorbia 2017 (broadcast as part of Channel 4’s Random Acts, Jaybirds 2019 (produced with Little Dot Studios on behalf of Channel 4) and Growing Plains 2021 (New Creatives, co-funded by Arts Council England and BBC Arts).
https://www.jessicawheeler.co.uk
Rosy Whittemore manages the Cosgrove Hall Films Archival Project, developing, curating and touring the collection. In parallel with our animation strand, she has been collaborating with the CIT team to improve the collection as a resource for new animators and members of the public.
https://www.cosgrovehallfilmsarchive.co.uk
CONTEMPORARY ARTS
Michelle Keeling is a glassmaker and freelance curator. She makes handmade contemporary kiln formed glass products and as a curator has organised the British Glass Biennale, as well as exhibitions for Great Northern Contemporary Crafts Fair and Waterside.