Busy week ! Annabel and I have settled on a name. ZeitgeistArtsProjects. .
ZAP for short, to express our energy , electricity (of a passionate collabrative relationship) and direct approach. It has integrity …..
It was inspired by the ALISN Emerging Artist led organisations conference we attended the other week at Goldsmiths. Inspired by the energy that is going on with this project and Sluice Art Fair we were feeling that really that artists led organisations were a very strong sector with the ability to make change. The fact that they are artist led means there is an incredible amount of creative entrepeneurship. For Core Gallery and DIY Educate we have used every available funding revenue to fund programmes, from crowd funding to charity, we have managed a bit from everywhere
which leads me to the opposite end of the spectrum of genorosity.
Exploitation is everywhere in the creative sector. It is with relief that NFPO and RFO’s have been pushed by the Arts council to pay interns. I have been gob smacked by a local arts organisation in South East London which has interns working for them 5 days a week for 3 months for just travel. How can anyone even do that unless they come from money or work every night and weekend? Interestingly these organisations pay invigilators as do most other NFPO’s etc. Its not enough to dangle a carrot in front of interns to say they may get a job in the end.
Artist led spaces have a much harder task, as none of us are generally paid for any of our work. We involve thoughtful passionate artists who can benefit directly from the work that they do and feel part of a team, listened to and nurtured in their own ways. when it comes our way we build in admin fees to our funding and pay everyone on a project basis-; No-one is rich but they are fulfilled in pursuing a passion project. I see my assistant Charlie who is my girl Friday and now pursuing her own curatorial projects, excited and buoyed by the experience, confidence and contacts she has made. Plus shes still part of ZAP!Because she believes in it too.
Hopefully slowly slowly we can make things more sustainable for all those involved, again ourselves included.
As for the Westbourne Grove lot offering professional practice at £400 or so a month, charming artists with their ‘ talent scout’ shady emails to about 100 ‘ unique’ artists a week, I personally feel sick. With all the fantastic PP being held for nominal costs such as DIYEducate , Artquest, Q-Art, Matt Roberts this is ludicrous.
As someone represented by galleries:
1. you don’t pay galleries for the privilege before they sell your work.when you do it’s based on commission 2. £100 per session to learn how to tweet?? !
Ask yourself this when you are being charmed- do I need this? Can I get a better opportunity by saving £1200 – yes I think you may.
As for a recent Art fair the other weekend ( for artists!) promoting themselves as supporting emerging talent, with £700 + for a stall, that is actually blatantly not supportive. I am sure there were great benefits but as a visitor I was a bit appalled by that price tag, thats £700,000+ for the organisers (plus sponsorship) …
I was recently approached by a company in Chicago telling me how special I am as an artist and how they wish to show my work to fab collectors etc., perhaps it will amount to something, they seem to have a professional set up but when I requested a skype to chat over the so called contract, things have gotten quiet. Maybe they are busy with fab collectors….
I completely believe in doing things for yourselves and I am sure for a fair few people paying these sums, reaps in a lot. It concerns me though that this is the standard being set, it is new in the art world, what seems to be a slightly parasitic preying on vulnerable artists, its an ugly opposite from the likes of what Core Gallery was and what fairs like Sluice Art Fair are achieving.
I want a better future for you all.
Surviving After Art School Talk tackles this on Saturday.how to realise what’s a good opportunity and avoid exploitation is one of many topics coverered http://tilleydavis.moonfruit.com/
Okay off the soapbox now….
