As Hull celebrates becoming the 2017 UK City of Culture, Dave O’Brien, originally writing for The Conversation website, cautions against focusing on short-term economic benefits when what’s needed is a long-term cultural strategy.
The theme for the exhibition The Londoner and The Interview is really about commuters, travelling to work emerging from a gloomy, uncertain, weathered streets but one can begin to understand the importance of this imagery. This work has captured the […]
After a visit to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to try and get some help for a drop in income that amounts to £81 per week, and I wasn’t offered any viable support other than to give up self-employment, give up […]
Claims that arts education brings wide benefits in terms of creativity, social skills and academic performance are at best optimistic and are not well grounded in reliable evidence, according to a new report.
I was very pleased to have an article published by Blouin Art Info which remarked I had not, in this blog addressed the reasons for the riots yet. http://uk.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/946374/painting-exhibition-on-the-2011-riots-opens-in-tottenham#comment-480784 I have written before about the sensations of fragility that the […]
As the first results from AIR’s Paying Artists Survey make clear, artists are finding themselves at the end of the arts food chain as funding cuts bite. Here, a-n’s Director looks at how things stand and suggests a future where practitioners determine the status of their art and of artists.
An analysis and commentary on artists’ work and opportunities in 2012.
Hilary Gresty follows-up a-n’s report on the recent Artquest conference, For the love it, by adding a question mark – and suggests that this is the right time to make the case for the economic and social recognition of the work of artists.
As the degree show season gets into full swing, Professor Tom Davies from Staffordshire University responds to a-n’s recent report on approaches to professional practice in visual and applied arts courses.
To begin is all. With everything happening for her, the artist despairs at the dislogation of unifying elements. All paths lead to dispersion. Spurning opportunities for a horological allocation of gainful employment; Cullinan focussed entirely on the disemination of items […]
The Royal Standard, Liverpool
13 April 2012 – 28 May 2013
Before Easter I felt largely undermined and belittled. Opportunities that I hoped would lead to permanent employment or a commission seem to be withdrawn, as if no one really wants me to ever earn a living. And one of those […]
As the debate continues around Margaret Thatcher’s legacy ahead of her all-but state funeral, one thing is sure – the influence of her actions and ideas continues to be felt across the UK. Formed in the midst of her first term, a-n is no exception. Here, Director Susan Jones remembers the dawn of Thatcherism and trawls the a-n archive for pertinent references to the Iron Lady and her policies.
As the economy continues to falter and budgets are cut, public funding for the arts is increasingly justified in terms of economic and social benefits. But, argues Shaun Glanville, this is futile and wrong-headed – a new approach is needed.
My Swedish friends think my enthusiasm over the Kultur & Media job centre and unemployment services is highly amusing. I am going to recommend that they take a trip the job centre on Burdett Road. What they find strange, and […]
A new research study identifies how visual arts courses are addressing graduate employability and preparing students for life after art school.
a-n’s flagship networking and professional development event for artists, launched in 2009, reaches milestone.
Can I schedule my way into freedom? So here it is, an artists talking blog and, I suspect, a sobering experiment on why it is that big chunks of time supposedly available to make work become little titbits of time […]
Art Across The City 2013 takes place in Swansea, 28 March – 12 May, featuring new commissions from artists including Olaf Breuning, Sinta Tantra, Philip Cheater, David Long and Pete Fowler. Here, David Long discusses his work. How did the […]
A long post I know but I am definitely having to catch up! Conceptually I have been looking at the history and ideology behind gardens and in particularly the landscape gardens of the 18th century. The two models I am […]
The word ‘claim’ continues to occupy my mind. It is such an interesting term, and ‘what is the claim in your work?’ is a very interesting question. The question can also be phrased: what is the significance of your work? […]
Over the course of four years, artists, curators and writers were invited to select blogs from the a-n site. Their choices highlights the range and depth of practice discussed on a-n’s artists’ blogging platform at that time.
Another week has passed incredibly quickly. I have not really had time to think about everything (anything?) that happened, this and a conversation with a friend has made me realised that I am someone who needs time – something which […]
Fourth Plinth, London
10 January 2012 – 12 April 2013
Various locations, Stoke-on-Trent
2 November – 22 December 2012
