On Thursday 17th December, Bristol Artist-Led Forum has been invited to take part to Doughnart! event by the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). We presented the research our 4 subgroups carried out so far focused on how to apply the Doughnut Economic to an artists’ network and beyond, part of ARTISTS MAKE CHANGE – Peer Learning Group Research Bursary.
During the event, there has been loads of co-creation time amongst international artists to share visions and explore ways in which the grass-root arts & culture can support and inspire through creativity in bringing Doughnut Economics into life.
Click the link below to watch our video recorded presentation. Enjoy!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_y4ZgqclD9WaOY8gjI4YB_wwRiIzBW5/view
In the fading light on a December afternoon, Fraisia, Dan and Anna met at the Hotwells Piazza in Bristol to discuss how doughnut economics could apply to an artists’ network and how that could specifically relate to our community art practices. Working with diverse communities teaches us a lot about the precarity of life for so many people; the basic needs of food and shelter are often not met adequately and this has been making it difficult for us to get our heads around doughnut economics.
Artists often live at the edge of these basic needs, but, for the moment, the three of us are fine, so we approached the task enthusiastically. Weary of Zoom working we set about challenging the freezing air by getting out the chalks and sketching out our ideas. Here’s how it went.
https://vimeo.com/488498551
Our messy doughnut is part of the Bristol Artist-Led Forum Peer Learning Group- Artists Make Change jigsaw and we’re looking forward to slotting our piece in so we can all stand back and look at the whole. In our sub-group trio, we talked about physical change-inspiring activities in public spaces. Can’t wait to see what we create!
We also realised that we probably work in a reciprocal way with other artists already. Assuming other do this too, we’re going to ask around and have a look at the value we all bring each other- if we’re not able to offer financial reward, what are we gifting?
Article and video by Anna Haydock-Wilson with Brick Project CIC
N.B.
In case you can’t access the video, here are the words on the inside of the doughnut, in our safe space:
- Open Minds
- Love
- Praxis
- Acceptance
- Play
- Space
- Empathy
- Variety
- Community
- Experimentation
- Do no Harm
- Warmth
And on the outside of the doughnut, the things that we feel can damage us all:
- Homogeneity
- Hierarchy
- Competition
- Chemical pollution
- Rigidity
- Capitalism
- Corruption
- Land corruption
- Ocean destruction
Article and video by Anna Haydock-Wilson with Brick Project CIC
Some notes from our third meeting on Friday 20th November…
Four threads: And must have natural/ecological/environmental considerations run throughout:
- How artists networks work and case study and come up with new models using our current example experience,
- How we connect with society and support each other in a wider context, working with communities and support networks and out of conventional arts aspects (i.e. parents groups); social change- systemic, societal change,
- Changing systems and conceptions of value and processes in society; how we amplify these aspects- how arts support people; art impact, education, how art can change things and how a city can thrive,
- Holistic and meta-levels: Connection to another past with ancestors and rituals and personal journey- the consciousness – a higher way.
Ideas brainstorm… ready to go!
On Wednesday 4th November we’ve had our first Peer Learning Group – Artists Make Change meeting at Centre of Gravity, Bristol. So exciting!
It’s 11 of us: Laura Bottin, Lisa Friedberg, Anna Haydock -Wilson, Deborah Weinreb from BA-LF, John O’Connor, Tim Knowles from Centre of Gravity, Katy Connor, Alyson Minkley, Caroline Vitzthum, Dan Petley & Fraisia Dunn from Brick Project, Bristol.
