Treeline is a Birmingham-based artist-led investigation into how artists can influence our relationship with nature. In 2017, members of Vivid Projects’ Black Hole Club visited Norway and Spain to research and develop an international network of artists, sustainability practitioners and academics for Treeline. Lydia Ashman speaks to Jaime Jackson, one of Treeline’s founders, about why artists are best placed to facilitate positive change.
In 2017, Wysing Arts Centre restructured its residency programme to be more responsive to artists’ situations and to support a more diverse pool of practices. Drawing on a conversation that took place between Wysing’s director Donna Lynas and resident artist Tessa Norton at the ‘Pivotal Moments’ conference, Lydia Ashman explores how and why the programme has changed.
The Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art is an artist-led platform that aims to bring critically engaged, high quality contemporary visual art to the city and surrounding area. This profile includes two videos, recorded at Assembly Birmingham, in which founder and artistic director Ryan Hughes introduces the organisation and describes its ambitious journey.
S1 Artspace in Sheffield is a member-led studio provider and exhibition space, running since 1995. This profile includes a video, recorded at Assembly Salford, of S1’s Stephen Escritt outlining the organisation’s plans for a major expansion at the Grade II* listed brutalist Park Hill estate.
ecologies of care was initiated by artist Ria Hartley in 2018. The project comprises a growing toolkit of resources designed to support artists who have access requirements to express their needs. Hartley speaks to Lydia Ashman about the toolkit and why artists’ health and wellbeing should be a sector-wide priority. This resource is available in text format and also as a video format sound recording.
Founded by a group of artists in south west London as a studio space in 1994, Studio Voltaire currently operates under a multiplicity of different guises. Art researchers Doggerland reflect on the organisation’s hybrid structure, and speak to its head of development and communications Niamh Conneely about the many different modes Studio Voltaire employs to support artists’ careers.
Based in Birmingham’s growing cultural quarter Digbeth, Recent Activity seeks to contribute to the area’s artist-led scene without replicating the activity of its more established spaces. Art researchers Doggerland speak to one of the organisation’s founders Andrew Gillespie about working within manageable parameters to offer “something a bit different” to the area.
Artist Paul Evans discusses how his work became aligned to the research undertaken within universities and how his socially engaged practice has enabled academics and the public to better understand the nature of university research. Based on an interview by artist Steve Pool.
After joining Degrees unedited in March 2013 Jasper Weinstein Sheffield has showed us there’s much more to his conceptual approach than a blade of grass. He tells us more as prelude to degree shows at Northumbria University.
Ali Reed joined the Degrees unedited blogs in November 2012, since then we have seen her work develop site-specifically and professionally. Here she tells us of her plans for degree shows at Staffordshire University.
Video of the artists, Richard Layzell and Hunt & Darton in conversation on the commonalities of their practices, working immersed in business environments, building community and embracing risk and uncertainty.
Artists and co-mentors Ania Bas and Ruthie Ford explore socially engaged issues, language and practice. Here they talk to Andrew Bryant about the importance of process, their collaborative blog and the artists’ relationship to critical reading, writing and debate.
Since graduating from Leeds University in 2007 Joe Simpson has developed his craft as a painter blending his practice with commissions and more personal projects. With his show ‘Musician Portraits’ open in London, and his portait of Maxi Jazz in the BP Portrait Award 2011, he takes time out to fill us in on his career so far.
How do artists go about delivering a very large commission to deadline? Emily Speed interviewed Shauna Richardson about her Artist Taking the Lead Commission: The Lionheart Project.
Sonya Dyer reports from the first Artists and curators talking event – Neighbourhoods and Neighbourliness – which explored the landscape and conditions for artists and curators working directly with communities.
There’s a fine line between art making for its conceptual purpose and for its commercial value. Janet Hollins’ MA seems to offer opportunities to pursue both, but how does her blog tell the story? Richard Taylor investigates.
Jayne Knight is Arts Development Manager at Suffolk County Council. She was the driving force behind Making Art Work, an ambitious and widely regarded professional development programme for Suffolk-based artists that ran from 1999 until 2006. She talks to Jane Watt about how the scheme developed, her work in a local authority and survival tips for rural-based artists.
CJ O’Neill was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1978 and studied BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating in 2000 after specialising in ceramics in her third year. The ‘Next Move’ residency at MMU, which ran […]
Mark Wilsher talks about combining the roles of artist and curator in his own practice.
In October 2010 Safle ceased trading following the withdrawal of funding from the Arts Council of Wales. Back in April 2009, Jane Watt spoke to Safle’s Project Managers and Executive Director about how they were supporting artists to develop and make work in the public realm. At the time Safle was one of the UK’s largest independent public art consultancies.
Kate Brundrett talks to Paul Rooney about his work, residencies and winning this year’s Northern Art Prize.
Frances Lord discusses her practice as a curator, writer, freelance project manager and art consultant with Jane Watt.
Abigail Branagan profiles Collect – the international art fair for contemporary objects.
In the run up to the 2008 Zoo Art Fair, Jane Watt’s profile looks at the first four years of this non-profit enterprise.
Manick Govinda explores The Arts Foundation’s numerous awards for individual artists and looks at the impact they have on the receipients.
