2-DAY CONVERSATION ~ Do we need to grow up?
We held a 2-day conversation in aid of The NewBridge Project’s 5th Birthday; there has been a boom in re-purposing empty buildings for creative ‘meanwhile’ use – 2-day conversation explored the various models; the vibrant artist ecology that grows from these creative hubs; the necessary social, cultural and political conditions and what comes next…..
2-day conversation brought together; artists, arts organisations, artist-led initiatives, local authorities, funding bodies, developers, Universities, researchers and architects to explore:
•the various models and approaches from; artist studios, project spaces and galleries, live/work space, creative hubs and so on
•how these initiatives have survived and can hope to be sustained
•the social, political and cultural factors that influence artists and spaces
•the institutional and civic role in artist-led activity
•what are the necessary conditions for artist clusters and creative hubs
•What comes next….
2-day conversation culminated in a screening on Friday evening of ‘72-82’ at Tyneside Cinema about the extraordinary history of Acme Studios (London) accompanied by a Q&A with Jonathan Harvey (Co-founder and Chief Executive of Acme Studios).
Contributions from: East Street Arts (Leeds), Grand Union (Birmingham), Castlefield Gallery (Manchester), Star & Shadow Cinema (Newcastle), Acme Studios (London),
NAC foundation/foundation B.a.d (Rotterdam), BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art (Gateshead), Tom Warburton (Director of Investment & Development, Newcastle City Council), Jane Tarr (Director Organisational Resilience and Environmental Sustainability and North, Arts Council England), Alex Niven (writer and Assistant Editor of New Left Review) and Chris Erskine (social activist).
2-Day Conversation – Schedule
Thursday 10 September, 1pm-6pm
PM at The NewBridge Project
Presentations and discussions including NAC foundation/foundation b.a.d (Rotterdam), East Street Arts (Leeds), Grand Union (Birmingham), Castlefield Gallery (Manchester), Star & Shadow Cinema (Newcastle) and more TBC.
Friday 11 September, 10am-6pm (72-82 screening 6-8pm)
AM at BALTIC 39
BALTIC 39 Common Room will host a discussion which considers the role of universities and larger galleries in the ecology of artist-led communities and workspace. BALTIC 39 is home to BALTIC’s Project Space in addition to 33 artists’ studios and Northumbria University’s post-graduate community. This setting presents a unique opportunity to unpick the relationships between artists’ education and research, workspaces and public programme. The conversation will feature contributions from BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art (Gateshead), Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Newcastle City Council.
PM at The NewBridge Project
Presentations and discussions including Tom Warburton (Director of Investment & Development, Newcastle City Council), Jane Tarr (Director Organisational Resilience and Environmental Sustainability and North, Arts Council England), Alex Niven (writer and Assistant Editor of New Left Review) and Chris Erskine (social activist).
EVE at Tyneside Cinema
Screening at Tyneside Cinema, 72-82 is about the extraordinary history of Acme Studios, London, accompanied by q&a with Jonathan Harvey (Co-founder and Chief Executive of Acme Studios). Tickets: £5.
2-Day Conversation forms part of Do we need to grow up? – a project exploring artist ecosystems; the models and systems by which we thrive or barely survive. Do we need to grow up? forms part of The NewBridge Project’s 5th Birthday, it encompasses an exhibition, 2-day conversation and birthday party – the programme will critically consider and celebrate the nature of artist-led communities and workspace.
2-Day Conversation is supported by Arts Council England, Independent Cinema Office, Baltic39 Common Room, Tyneside Cinema and Contemporary Visual Arts Network.
Image: Minna L Henriksson, Istanbul Map, 2005 (from Do we need to grow up? exhibition)
