The idea to have a soup kitchen is not new. Airspace Gallery in Stoke on Trent has been running them for six years. A gathering of artists sit around a square table (the search/action for an egalitarian way of working). An invited Artist introduces the theme of workshop/discussion and so it begins. This one on last Saturday 26 May 1200-1400hrs exactly. Anna Francis, one of the Airspace directors cooks a relevant soup and bread is shared to aid the discussion. Glen Stoker, the other Airspace director hosts the event. Steve and Adam from L13 (AKA Harry Adams) were drivers of this Soup Kitchens discussion:
‘Self Funding, the good the bad and the future’
This was on the back of the Harry Adams show ‘Nothing Remains Unchanged But The Clouds’
After introductions Steve got own with explaining the L13 group’s history and how they have built a business around self funding. A lot of risk taking and visionary actions. A reasonable amount of discussion took place and lots of notes were scribbled down on the paper tablecloth designed for that purpose. Self funding means without help from the Arts Council or other such organisations and it certainly seemed to have worked for them. This system is hard graft and risky but they do tend to sleep at night and do what they want to do. There was also quite a lot of discussion about paid work outside the art world as a means to self funding.
The food was great and delicious and sharing such genders sharing on a greater scale.
As ever these sessions never have quite enough time but I think we all left with a bit more awareness of how we could, as artists make things work and possibly pay.
This return of a critical engagement and professional development event certainly has left us all with plenty more to think about.
