Turning Point Network, the national consortium of artists, arts professionals and arts organisations in England dedicated to working together to find new ways to strengthen the visual arts, is holding its third national summit this week. Open to Network members, as well as visual arts networks and people interested in knowing more about work of Turning Point Network to date, the event includes a range of debates that are both timely and relevant to the sector.
The summit actually kicks-off on Wednesday evening when ICA host a series of talks chaired by BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz looking at ways to diversify income streams (with Sarah McCrory, Frieze Projects Curator), future opportunities and challenges for the arts, and whether contemporary art has become less radical in its pursuit of larger audiences (with Gavin Wade, Director of Eastside Projects, Birmingham).
Thursday’s main event is structured as a series of ‘debates’, opening with ‘Measuring the value’ that will consider how the sector can work better to mutually support the visual arts ecology, particularly regarding the investment smaller organisations make towards early artistic practice that can lead to bigger and better things. The panel includes Kwong Lee, Director of Castlefield Gallery, Manchester and Dany Louise, Freelance writer and regular a-n contributor.
Other debates include: ‘Alternative Economies’, a look at other forms of non cash economies that can enable artists and organisations to continue to develop their practice in the difficult financial climate; ‘Conceptualising Engagement’, an attempt to conceptualise what Arts Council England’s strategy ‘Quality of experience’ means; and ‘Visual Arts and the Education Agenda’, looking at the arguments the visual arts can collate to demonstrate the value and importance of visual arts education within all levels of education provision. Turning Point has also said it will be announcing some very important news about the future of the network at the summit.
www.turningpointnetwork.org.uk
@tp_net
#tpnsummit
@JackJHutchinson will be reporting live for AIR from the summit @AIR_artists
