- Venue
- Venture Arts
- Starts
- Monday, January 27, 2020
- Ends
- Tuesday, January 28, 2020
- Address
- 43 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5RF
- Location
- North West England
- Organiser
- a-n
This session is for you if:
- writing stresses you out;
- it’s been a while since your last group crit;
- and/or you want to feel more confident about communicating what you do and why you do it.
What is an artist’s statement? Simply put, it is an insight into you and your work, whatever form that takes, in your own words. Typically, it is written in the first person. It is a an incredibly useful tool, whether you’re an artist, designer, or photographer, and has many purposes. The process of writing an artist statement can help you to: understand new work or work in progress; describe what you do to potential commissioners; shape exhibition or website text; or apply for funding. It shouldn’t be boring or sound like anyone else’s – it should absolutely reflect your practice.
Yes, writing can be challenging, but it’s also exciting, empowering, and liberating. Come with an open mind. This will be a very hands-on/supportive workshop with plenty of fun and speedy writing exercises, collecting words and phrases that best reflect your work. We’ll be looking at many different types of statement, from well-known artists, designers and photographers; feeding back to each other about our existing texts; and really getting to grips with how to write a great, new statement with intent and gusto.
Laura Robertson is a writer, critic and editor based in Liverpool. A reviewer of contemporary arts and culture for international magazines (including Frieze, Hyperallergic, Art Monthly, ArtReview, a-n), and broadcast (BBC Four Front Row), she is also co-founder and contributing editor at The Double Negative online magazine; an MA Writing student at the Royal College of Art; critical writer-in-residence at Open Eye Gallery; and a former director of The Royal Standard Gallery & Studios. She has edited and contributed writing to two new books in 2019: ‘Present Tense’, which comments on current tensions in the fields of art and culture; and ‘NOIT — 5: bodies as in buildings’, made on residency at Flat Time House.
