Liverpool has recently seen a rapid increase in artist-led activity with a diverse array of new project spaces, performance platforms and residency programmes punctuating an institution-heavy gallery ecology.
Alongside this, the artist-led gallery, studio and social workspace The Royal Standard – which last year celebrated its tenth birthday – recently relocated to a new site at Cains Brewery Village, also home to several newer artist-run projects.
This context provides a backdrop for Assembly Liverpool, a two-day programme of events devised for a-n by Liverpool-based artist Kevin Hunt. Taking place 26-27 May 2017, the programme will celebrate emerging artist-led activity in both in Liverpool and across the UK.
Primarily hosted at The Royal Standard, all events are free unless otherwise stated but booking is required.
People like us
Kevin Hunt will launch Assembly Liverpool at The Royal Standard with a new version of his ARTIST-LED HOT 100, commissioned by a-n.
ARTIST-LED HOT 100 (version ii) revisits Hunt’s original 2013 artwork, but all the groups and projects in this new version have emerged over the last four years.
The publication will be contextualised by ‘People like us — An artist-led debate’ (11am – 5pm, 26 May 2017), a series of presentations, and a debate by artist-led organisations from around the country who will discuss their individually unique models for making activity happen.
Organisations taking part include Artists’ Moving Image Northern Ireland, Opening Times, Turf, Artist Tea Towel Company and Recent Activity. A limited edition Risograph poster of Hunt’s publication will also be available for free at the event.
The first day will also include a-n’s new professional development workshop delivered by communication and leadership expert Rivca Rubin. Taking place at The Quaker Meeting House, ‘Negotiating with confidence’ (10am – 5.30pm, 26 May 2017, £10/£7.50 for a-n members) will help equip participants with the communication skills to empower them to advocate for their work and its value.
The day concludes with a ‘networking knees-up’ at The Royal Standard designed by artist-led projects from across the country including HUTT Collective (Nottingham), Studio Cybi (Hollyhead), Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (Leeds) and The Number Shop (Edinburgh).
‘Mixer – An artist-led cocktail Party’ (7-10pm, 26 May 2017) will also include a programme of screenings and performance, with the film Cubitt 25 Years: An Artist-Led History presented alongside performances by Simon Bayliss and Susie Green.
Artist-led tour of Liverpool
The focus of Saturday’s programme is ‘TAT – An artist-led audio-visual tour of Liverpool’ (11am – 3pm, 27 May 2017) which has been developed by Liverpool-based curatorial project Tžužjj, a partnership between artists Louis Palliser-Ames and James Harper.
Beginning at The Royal Standard, the self-guided tour will open up the city’s eclectic artist-led history, reflecting on past and present activity. Stops along the way will include the new home of CBS in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, Gostins Arcade, and projects that have now run their course such as MODEL.
Tžužjj has also developed the Assembly Liverpool closing event, ‘Crit-a-Öke: The Liverpool edition’ (7-9pm, 27 May 2017). Hosted by The Royal Standard, the evening will include performances by five Liverpool-based artists who are all currently involved in artist-led activity.
Describing Crit-a-Öke as using “the format of karaoke as a point of departure and introducing art criticism and theory to the mix”, Tžužjj explains: “Participants will perform a piece of writing –spoken, sung or otherwise – to a backing track of an instrumental version of a relevant pop song.
“Highlighting the performative nature or critical writing, the Crit-a-Öke format provides a new entry point into a medium that can at times be indecipherable.”
Assembly events are also a chance to meet the a-n team and to find out how we support artist members. The team will be available throughout Assembly Liverpool and based at The Royal Standard, so come and meet us for an informal chat or to discuss questions about membership or other practical topics.
Assembly Liverpool, 26-27 May 2017, The Royal Standard and The Quaker Meeting House, Liverpool. All events are open to both members and non-members.
For information on future Assembly events in Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne and Leeds see www.a-n.co.uk/assembly
Images:
1. The Royal Standard at NOSOULFORSALE, Tate Modern, 2010
2. Crit-a-Öke.
3. The a-n team at The Number Shop, Edinburgh as part of a recent team day in the city.
Just published: a-n Degree Shows Guide 2017
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