Next month sees the V&A host a day of video screenings, workshops and discussions exploring the topic of the art crit. The event has been organised by Q-Art, whose mission is to break down the barriers between different models of art education and make the workings of the contemporary art world more transparent.
Known for its monthly crits that take place across UK art colleges, the event will also showcase the next stages of the organisation’s activity. “We’re launching a new pocket guide featuring interviews with UK fine art staff and industry professionals, who give their views on the purpose of the crit,” says Sarah Rowles, Q-Art’s Director.
“The guide presents various approaches, discusses barriers that participants and facilitators can face, and gives tips for overcoming these barriers. Ultimately, the publication aims to prompt questions, discussion, inspiration, invention and above all confidence amongst participants and facilitators alike when approaching this model.”
Also launching at the event will be a specially commissioned video by artist Giles Bunch – a previous presenter at one of the crits. “The video shares the same aims as the pocket guide,” Rowles explains. “And as well as interviews with UK fine art staff and industry professionals, it also features students, graduates, and self-trained artists – i.e. the crit participants.” Supported by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), following the launch event the video will be available on the Q-Art and HEA website.
Rowles hopes Q-Art’s various activities will lay the foundations for more networked, informed, diverse and geographically spread early-career artists. This will ultimately, she says, empower prospective students to make more informed choices about their education and careers.
“I always felt that those who spoke a lot in crits somehow ‘knew’ or ‘understood’ what was going on in the work and that their opinion was ‘right’. Through working on this project I’ve realised this is not always the case. There are a number of strategies for finding a way in to an art work – there are no ‘right’ interpretations. The participating audience is, I think, very much there to give a range of opinions and help create meaning in the work.”
For more information visit q-art.org.uk
Reserve your place at the launch event on 18 October here.
