︎
MARIE-CLAIRE
LACEY







Artwork

MUMS






Info

Contact

CV


Marie-Claire Lacey



T: 07915970832

E:  marieclaire.lacey@gmail.com

W: www.whereelse.co.uk



I am a multidisciplinary artist-researcher, working in socially engaged and participatory practise.  I produce exhibition and performance work, both independently and in collaboration with people and communities.  I am also an experienced creative facilitator, and have worked with a broad range of people in this context.

I am interested in uncovering hidden experiences; whether personal unconscious or private worlds, or experiences of people who are silenced in one way or another by society.  My work often begins from an autobiographical premise, but valuing collaborative knowledge production and the expertise that comes from lived experience, I tend to create work that centres around creating space for multiple voices.  I strive to sensitively explore phenomena I might not understand - recognising the validity of every person's experience and valuing communication and understanding as tools for breaking down social barriers.  My work spans photography, film, creative computing, sculpture, and writing.

Prior to studying Sculpture and Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art, I completed a Research Masters in Sociology at Glasgow University.  My current pursuits are a progression of this, in terms of both subject matter and methodology.  My work is underpinned by emancipatory research methodologies and feminist theory.



EDUCATION

  • Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, 2021: BA(Hons) (First Class): Fine Art -Sculpture and Environmental Art
  • Glasgow University, Glasgow, 2014: MRes Equality and Human Rights (with Merit)
  • Sally Golightly, 2022: Circle Facilitation Training
  • Glasgow Code Learning, 2022: SQA Level 6: Software Development
  • Codecademy, 2021: JavaScript Certificate
  • Bernie Clark/Yoga International, Glasgow, 2020: Yin Yoga Teacher Training
  • Kashish Yoga Academy, Goa, 2019 Yoga Alliance 200hr Teacher Training
  • The Garnethill Centre, Glasgow, 2017: COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills
  • Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Dhaka, 2015: International Certificate in Photography



TRAINING

  • TNLCF, 2024: Grant-making Skills, Safeguarding, Risk, Controls & Fraud, Code of Ethics, Data Protection (GDPR, FOI), Brand Essentials, Health and Safety, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Welsh Language Awareness, Anti-fraud and Corruption Awareness, Our Statutory and Regulatory Framework, IT Security, Document Management, OneDrive, Funding Policies, Effective Visits, Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Sustainability, Informed Decision Making and Report Writing, Introduction to Financial Information, Presenting Confidently,

  • GAMH, 2018: Sage & Thyme Foundation Level, Introduction to Personality Disorder,Preparation for Practise Level 1(SCQF Level 6)

  • Unity, 2013: Asylum Seekers and the Law

  • Advocacy Matters, 2012-13: Mental Health Advocacy, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Mental Health/Human Rights/Equalities Legislation

  • Penumbra, 2008-11: WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning), Understanding Personality Disorder, Working with Self-Harm, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Recovery in Practice, Mental Health Awareness, Person-Centred Care, Inclusion and Integration.



AWARDS AND GRANTS

  • Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals, 2024: Motherhood

  • Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals, 2023: Maternal Journal

  • Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals, 2023: It Was The Loom That Broke My Heart

  • Jerwood New Work Fund, 2023: It Was The Loom That Broke My Heart

  • Oppenheim John Downes Foundation, 2022: Maternal Journal

  • Glasgow School of Art, 2021: Essay Prize for Fine Art

  • Glasgow School of Art, 2018: JD Kelly Award



WORK EXPERIENCE


2024-Present                Funding Officer – The National Lottery Community Fund
Based in the Central Scotland team and specifically responsible for the Falkirk area, this role involves working with community groups at all stages of the funding lifecycle – supporting potential applicants through the pre-application enquiry and advice process, carrying out assessments of funding applications, presenting recommendations to decision-making panels, communicating decisions to applicants, and supporting and monitoring the work of grant holders.  A wide range of skills in communication, research, financial assessment, report-writing, relationship-building and workload management are key to this role.  As a place-based role, it is also important for me to develop context-specific understanding of the area I’m responsible for, and the communities within it.


2024-Present                Project Co-ordinator/Lead Artist - MUMS  
A self-initiated project, funded for two years by Creative Scotland. The project aims to support new mothers during the period of matrescence and has multiple strands: creative wellbeing sessions for new mums in the Southside of Glasgow, collaborative research into sustainable working models for people with caring responsibilities, production and curation of socially-engaged and autobiographical artwork around themes of matresence, production of a research guide for Glasgow Women’s Library. The project in its current form will culminate in a physical and online exhibition and at least two publications, accompanied by discussion sessions. Beyond the funded period, the project will formalise into an organisational structure to continue the work. An individually-run project, I am responsible for a number of areas including project planning and development, financial management, staff/collaborator management, overseeing of delivery, research, curation and outcome production.


2014 – Present              Artist – Freelance
As a practising artist working in interactivity, and digital media, I create immersive and experiential installation work. I combine creativity, technical expertise, and project management skills to create thought-provoking artworks which explore autobiographical and social phenomena.  Most recently, I produced a large-scale funded exhibition work, which experientially explored the heritage of French Street Gallery as part of Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2023.


2014 – Present              Community Artist - Freelance
Facilitation of art workshops with participants of all ages, with a wide range of diverse access needs.  Previous partners include Glasgow Women’s Library, The Hidden Gardens, MILK Community Space, Govanhill Baths Community Trust, RIG Arts, Scottish Maritime Museum and Glasgow Association for Mental Health. Workshop topics have included Creative Coding, Photography, Film, Art in Activism, Visualising Sound, Visual Poetry, Performance, and Creative Journaling. Currently I am delivering a six-month self-initiated project, funded by Creative Scotland, aimed at promoting wellbeing through creativity for new mothers.


2022-Present                Arts Facilitator – Freelance
This element of my arts practise relates to providing professional support to other artists. In 2021 I co-founded Velvet Donkey Studios, an artists’ studio housing thirteen artists, which aims to exist as a community of peer support, facilitating crit groups and skills sharing workshops.  The studio also offers shared facilities, and opportunities for skills development and showcasing of work.  I also provide professional development support for artists.  Most recently, I worked with the Culture Collective, delivering training in research methods for artists, as well as leading on developing a peer support programme for the network.



2018 –2020                   Project Worker - GAMH
Working with individuals with mental health problems in both individual and group contexts.  A recovery focused, person-centred role, working mostly with people within their own tenancies in whatever capacity support is needed by them, both on a day-to-day basis, and with a longer-term view to recovery and integration.  Support can involve domestic, health, emotional and financial support, as well as pursuing learning opportunities and community involvement.  My role also involved the delivery of art workshops to groups of service users.



2011-2022                     Course Writer/Tutor – Absorb Online Learning
Provision of course materials for an online learning provider. Development and maintenance of curriculum materials including GCSE and A Level English courses, and providing support to students in the form of facilitating student discussions, answering queries, and marking and providing feedback to assessments, including essays, coursework and mock exams. The courses use a VLE and support was provided through Moodle. The role also involved supporting students through university applications.



2013-2021                     English/Art Tutor – Freelance
Working with school students of varying ages and stages of education on a one-to-one basis. This role involved providing extra support with schoolwork, both in exam years and in earlier stages of education. I worked with students with the curriculum being followed in school and to prepare them for exams and other assessments/coursework.



2014-2018                     Art Tutor – New International School of Japan
Working with young people aged 3-16 in a full-time summer school programme, lasting four weeks each year. Delivery of a vast range of arts lessons, primarily focused on digital media, culminating in an exhibition and performance at the end of the programme. Working with young people with a range of English language skills and abilities. The school works on a multi-age platform, so lessons had to be designed to be simultaneously accessible to numerous levels of ability.



2013 –2016                   Caseworker - The Unity Centre
Performing an advocacy and support role, this voluntary position involved working with Asylum Seekers and Refugees through every stage of their claim for asylum in the UK.  The centre primarily works with refused/fast-track Asylum Seekers in detention across the UK, ensuring clients have access to legal representation/information and are fully aware of their rights, as well as providing them with practical and emotional support through this difficult process, signposting to other organisations where appropriate.  We also work with Asylum Seekers at all stages living in the Glasgow area, and work with them in a range of ways, according to their specific needs.



2011 –2013                   Advocacy Worker - Advocacy Matters
Providing advocacy services to adults with mental health problems in Glasgow.  I began this role as a volunteer advocate and commenced a paid role in October 2012. Advocates receive full professional advocacy training and work in a number of contexts, including hospital and community settings, on a range of issues. Issues can include legal, housing, financial, healthcare, employment, child protection and many other matters.  The role of an advocacy worker is to facilitate empowerment for the client by ensuring they are aware of their rights, are informed about decisions taken about their lives, and have a say in these decisions.  During my time with Advocacy Matters, I successfully worked with clients to achieve resolution to issues they have had surrounding services they received.  I also had the opportunity to take part in organisational activities through participating in the development of the volunteer programme.



2008 – 2011                  Mental Health Support Worker - Penumbra
Working with individuals with severe mental health problems in supported accommodation and supported living projects.  This position entailed providing recovery focused, person centred care for service users.  The service exists to promote recovery through social integration and realisation of personal goals.  The organisation also works towards raising awareness of issues surrounding mental health through creating dialogue between service users and the wider community.  A person-centred philosophy requires a responsive approach to the care of individuals and the inclusion of service users at every level of care planning and delivery. Practically, my role involved identifying clients' personal goals and supporting them to achieve them, encouraging clients to actively seek opportunities and to become involved in the community and supporting clients to develop practical skills, which would enable them to live independently.




EXHIBITION/PERFORMANCE


  • Glad Cafe, 2024: ‘Hokey Cokey’

  • French Street Gallery, Glasgow, 2023: Glasgow Doors Open Day Festival – ‘It Was The Loom That Broke My Heart’

  • SaltSpace Gallery, Glasgow, 2023: International Women’s Day Exhibition – ‘Dyad’

  • Seedhill, Paisley, 2022: ‘Passing Places’

  • Mid-Wharf Art and Design, Glasgow, 2021: GSA Graduate Degree Show – ‘This Too Shall Pass’

  • Hidden Gardens, Glasgow, 2021: Gathering Among Reflections – ‘We Are All In The Same Situation’

  • Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, Glasgow, 2020: All, Entire, Whole – ‘How Quickly Dark Envelops Light’

  • Studio Pavilion, Glasgow, 2020: Inevitable Mash – ‘How Quickly Dark Envelops Light’

  • The Flying Duck, Glasgow, 2020: ‘Meditations on Nationalism’

  • Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, 2019: SEAing is Believing – ‘Women Who Should be Seen’

  • Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival, Stirling/The Rum Shack, Glasgow, 2019: ‘The Company’

  • The Old Police Station, London, 2019: ‘The Prison Will Not Be Silenced Until It Contains’

  • The Rum Shack/Stereo, Glasgow, 2019: ‘Eternal Game’

  • George Square, Glasgow, 2018: ‘Women Who Should Be Seen’

  • Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, 2018: ‘Incarceration’

  • Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, 2018: ‘Individual Sounds’

  • Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, 2017: Lost at SEA – ‘For Whom’

  • Nikon Centre, Kuala Lumpur, 2016: Exposure+ Exhibition – ‘Komorebi’

  • Muse Gallery, Mumbai, 2015: Focus Photography Festival – ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • Photo Circle, Kathmandu, 2015: Kathmandu Photo Festival – ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • Forrest Café, Edinburgh, 2015: Scottish Refugee Festival – ‘Life Outside’

  • Six Foot Gallery, Glasgow, 2015: Six Foot Exhibition - ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • Various Locations, UK, 2015: What Is It To Be Human? – ‘Nuru Pagla’



PUBLICATIONS

  • Culture Collective, 2023: ‘Peer Support Guiding Principles’

  • Self-Published Zine, 2019: ‘Women Who Should Be Seen’

  • Self-Published Zine, 2017: ‘Toilet Humour’

  • Creative Image Magazine, 2015: ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • What Is It To Be Human?, 2015: ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • Lockjaw Magazine, 2015: ‘Nuru Pagla’

  • The Glad Rag, 2013: ‘India’

  • Radiius Magazine, 2012: ‘Mrs Miller’