Creative Organisation Leeds - Artist Professional Support

WELCOME TO APS

About

Artist Support for Exhibition, Funding, and Sustained Practice

Artist Professional Support (APS) provides structured support, programmes, and exhibition opportunities for artists and small organisations developing work for public presentation, funding, and sustained practice.

We work across disciplines, including visual art, performance, music, writing, and interdisciplinary practice.

Over 1,400 artists have been supported through exhibitions, programmes, and development.

We work at key points where ideas need to be clarified, applications strengthened, or work moved into a public context, offering practical support that leads to clear outcomes.

Our approach is shaped by artist led practice, access, and shared experience.

Artists

Supported through exhibitions, DYCP support and mentoring

Years

Combined experience.

Funding Secured

£ 1

That goes towards projects supporting artists.

What We Do

APS operates across mentoring, programmes, and exhibitions. Programmes provide structured, longer term development through peer cohorts, critique, and public outcomes.

Exhibitions and public presentations create opportunities to test and share work in real contexts.
1:1 support helps artists move work forward at key points.

Together, this creates a connected route from early ideas through to public presentation and funded projects. APS is designed to reduce barriers to exhibiting and funding by combining practical support with real opportunities to show work.

Why we do this

APS exists to address the gap between making work and being able to sustain it.

Too many artists have ideas and momentum but lack access to space, support, and opportunity. We run APS to create a structure where that work can be produced, tested, and developed without those barriers stopping it.

Who Is This For

Artists preparing funding applications

Artists developing work for public presentation

Artists needing structure, direction, or critical challenge

Organisations developing artist-led programmes

Programmes and Exhibitions

APS delivers exhibitions, cohort programmes, and artist development opportunities across multiple spaces.

These include open calls, structured programmes, and partnership projects, offering clear entry points depending on where you are in your practice.

Explore programmes

View opportunities

Offers

1:1 Mentoring
Focused sessions to develop work, applications, or direction across disciplines

Critique
Targeted feedback on specific works, projects, or texts

Programme Support
Advisory and development support for artist-led programmes and organisations

If you are developing work for funding or public presentation and need structured support, book a session or get in touch.

Book a session

We are building what artists need now.

What people say?

My experience of mentoring with Sarah has been invaluable to my development as an artist, helping me to think critically about the ways that I present my work to draw the viewer in and make my work stand out. The supportive conversations have made me more confident about asking for help from others to realise projects, and make the most of the incredible hive mind of artists we have in Leeds when it comes to skills sharing and learning from their experiences. Finn Dobson

Lucy made the whole process of building my artist website so much easier. I knew I needed a simple, professional website for my DYCP application, but I was completely lost with platforms, pricing and where to start. She gave clear advice, straightforward instructions and took the stress out of the whole process. I now have a website I'm really proud of. I would highly recommend Lucy to anyone needing website support. Sarah Jane

Lucy really helped me phrase my artwork descriptions when I was struggling to find the right words. I loved the finished portfolio and am very happy with the result. All of Lucy's advice was useful throughout the process. Guy Austin

Mentoring with Sarah has made such a big difference for me and my creative practice. Before the process, I felt as if I had hit a wall in terms of furthering my art and creating in a vacuum, however, coming out of the mentoring sessions, I feel supported. I have learned a lot and have lots of exciting decisions and opportunities lined up that I would have never thought about before! This was an invaluable experience for an emerging artist! Lucy Sutton

Free Resources for Artists

What's On

Open Call

Meet the Team

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