This article, from the latest issue of Variant, is really interesting..
Artist as Executive, Executive as Artist
Kirsten Forkert
http://www.variant.org.uk/35texts/CultLeader.html
It references this article from the Guardian on 19/01/08, which I reckon is also worth a read:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jan/1…
‘No pay, no gain: The reliance on unpaid interns in Britain’s industries puts poorer graduates at a disadvantage and makes a mockery of our so-called meritocratic society’,
I have just added a new blog post on Intute: Toolkits and free advice for the visual arts. Have a look!
The post has links to various organisations and online resources with free advice and opportunity listings. Happy browsing.
Just saw this on twitter via Robert Gray, account of a photographer being arrested under section 44 (anti-terrorism), pretty shocking and worrying when you think how often you could be found snapping something random on a street somewhere int the UK…
As I meet artists also working at the Salzamt here in Linz it becomes apparent that the capital of culture is not that popular with everyone. I have yet to dig deeper, but already there are murmers of idea-stealing, last minute cancellations and artists not being treated so well… hmmm. Digging via questioning over the weekend.
In the British press, I thought Charlotte Higgins blog entry was interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/0…
Not just for the pioneering moments in art, but a fresh appreciation of our free museums and galleries in the UK. I think I will be lucky enough to get a free ‘insider’ pass for all cultural events here, (if that doesn’t work I will flash my Tate card and smile sweetly) but everywhere has an entry fee – everywhere! Indeed, how could they stay open otherwise? We are very lucky in that respect.
I’m off to see ‘Twins: How Do I Know I am Me’ by Angie Hiesel at A Foundation this afternoon with my identical twin sister. We toyed with the idea of wearing the same clothes, but not for very long!
The Bluecoat, who organised the performance were advertising for identical twins for ages and Ruth and I were pretty up for it. Due to some bad communication, we turned up twice for auditions only to find they’d been cancelled, not so bad for me, but a pain in the arse for Ruth who has a very stressful job and had to drive 35 miles for it on her day off… It made me think because after those two attempts, she flat out refused to be involved. To her it was unthinkable to continue with the project after two failed attempts and little apology or compensation (there were expenses paid – after audition stage – but not for time, just for travel). Anyway, a Liverpool-based artist, Laurance Payot, was also looking for identical twins to do a short performance/intervention, so we will be helping her out instead. I think we are both quite happy to share our twin-ness, we know it is useful to people and have filled out book-sized surveys for various university studies each year since we were small.
It’s a difficult situation isn’t it, asking the public to take part in works for free.. especially when rehearsals are involved and the artist is receiving a fee. It must create huge dependance for the artist on people who have no obligation to the work other than an interest and willingness to take part. Not sure I could cope with that stress! I see the plinth gets underway on Monday, will be interested to see how that gets on and whether there are enough people to sustain it for the duration…
Emily Speed is an artist based in Liverpool. www.emilyspeed.co.uk
