So, joy and proactiveness-spreading here we go..
The carrotworkers’ collective, are a bunch (ha ha, sorry – couldn’t resist) who describe themselves as “a London-based group of current or ex interns, mainly from the creative and cultural sectors, who regularly meets to think together around the conditions of free labour in contemporary societies.”
http://carrotworkers.wordpress.com/about/
I met three of them and took part in their participatory mapping project at ‘Making a Living’ in London a couple of weeks ago. What I really like about them is their stance against bad Internship practice and the corrosion this causes in general working conditions. They are working on a counter-internship guide and more about this can be found on their blog along with some great links to other organisations and resources.
There was a really interesting list of resources and references handed out at Making a Living, more of which I will post on here shortly (my blog was one of them so I won’t include that!).
The event was organised by Sophie Hope, facilitated with Veronica Restrepo and held at the Austrian Cultural Forum on 26th September. Sophie’s PhD is about the relationship between cultural democracy and the commissioning of art to effect social change so there is some really interesting stuff in there, have a look at some of Sophie’s action research here:
http://www.welcomebb.org.uk/
I’ve been finding a bit difficult to write the blog recently; too much upheaval and not enough time to do my usual reading around and pondering on things to form much opinion on monetary matters. Linz also confused things so I don’t want to do the same thing with the YSP project, although it is bound to feed into things (see below).
One thing I thought might be important for future entries is focusing on positive things. It is too easy to point out the bad when it comes to artists (not) getting paid. I will still be highlighting organisations and opportunities that seem to be taking advantage, although Susan Jones did point out recently (after Topshop I think), that it may be a case of ignorance – they are not trying to rip people off, but perhaps they are just copying practices they have seen elsewhere and think that is the normal way of going about things. So, although I still can’t help getting angry about these situations, perhaps the most useful thing is advocacy. Indeed I did take it upon myself to calm down and write to TS explaining why I thought they were setting a bad example and how they might hold a competition according to recommended rates of pay. No reply as yet. I have been in to see what was on the walls, but I have no idea if an artist did it as it looks like a print over the three floors. It certainly doesn’t look like anyone painted it…
So yes, I will try for more happy thoughts. There are a lot of people working hard to change things out there and not enough sharing of that.
Have done three schools for the YSP project and am already full of a cold after the little people were constantly coughing and sneezing all over me. I did, however, get a lot of little hugs yesterday when I left and it was a good day. I will be with just one class at another school for a whole week next week so really looking forward to getting stuck into a longer project.
I also have a progress meeting and (hopefully) a meeting with one of the curators there too. Turns out the exhibition at the end is not a given, but for the whole thing to be worthwhile for me there HAS to be something, an exhibition or a book or something. Otherwise the bursary is not about the artist‘s personal development (outside of education environments) at all, it is just about schools. I have some lovely prints of Inhabitant from Linz so will take those and some artists’ books. The only way a show at YSp will happen is if they like my work enough and that feels unlikely or possibly out of my reach. Negotiation skills must be used (or discovered), this is too important and I really have to stand up for myself here.
Frustrating things is, with all this travelling to Yorkshire, I have been invited to and been unable to go to an interview and am also unable to fit in with any of the Curious Minds (the rebranded Creative Partnerships) selection days. Perhaps the latter is for the best as I get some more experience and then can go to one in December feeling more confident, possibly.
Completely failed to get in applications for Arts Council and Cube open, really cross with myself as I actually thought this was a good time for both; I often feel like I’m not ready when applying to other things. Pah. But better not to apply then send in a load of dross I suppose. If the application is really awful they might remember my name in a bad way!
Well, YSP has begun, day one in a school today and it was great, a lot of fun and targets achieved! I am staying in Yorkshire for the next few days (very kind friend’s parents who have fed me and everything!) and will be back and forth between now and next July…. it is a beautiful misty drive over the M62 at 6.30 in the morning, just a shame it all comes to a standstill around Bradford….
On other notes:
an amazing holiday, fantastic restful sunny bliss in a little village, many olives consumed. See images (sigh).
good afternoon at an event about ‘Making a Living’ in London at the end of September. Lots was said of interest and many notes made, must decipher these at some point..
and lastly:
saw this advertised and frowned.
http://www.tiny.cc/W6Egu
An online course costing £600 giving a qualification in being an artist in residence; really? One that expects you to complete two live projects but will not be involved in those and that also says
“If you are inexperienced in this field, you may prefer to offer your services for free to organisations that are willing to allow you to work with them”
No no no no.
Fundingcutsblog:
Janie Nicoll has been posting a petition around the place to stop The Park Gallery, Falkirk being closed. If you have a minute to add your support to this really lovely small contemporary art space please add your name here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/sign-the-petition…
The Herald have written a good piece putting the Park’s case forward too:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/more-arts-…
