Annual Event 2018
On Thursday 19th April 2018 we headed to Northampton for our Annual Event 'Another World is Possible'.
Hosted by NN Contemporary Art in partnership with University of Northampton, the day started with a preview of A Manipulation of Terms, a solo exhibition by Dylan Fox, which opened that evening.
Delegates then had a unique opportunity to explore the local creative ecology, finding out about arts provision in the town on a walking tour with NN Contemporary Director Elizabeth Wright. This took in the town centre and the newly opened Creative Hub at St Peter's Church.
We finished the day at University of Northampton's new Waterside campus for a presentation by Ryan Hughes talking about the Coventry Biennial; how it came about, what they learned and what the future holds. Our group discussions gathered thoughts on the future and what another possible world might look like.
What We Heard and Saw and Did
The event sought to explore risk taking and possibilities; how to recognise when conditions are right to take risks and what risks are worth taking, what the future holds and what future art practice might look like.
The day started with a viewing of A Manipulation Of Terms, an exhibition by Northampton-born and educated artist Dylan Fox, whose work is hinged on how social constructs affect people, aiming to question and shift these constructs, generating work through social interaction, working with other artists and the public. Artistic Director Cather Hemelryk gave delegates an introduction to the show whose title stems from the inflated truths within many forms of advertising and signage at British seaside towns. Complete with a games arcade, neon lights and its own rock shop, the exhibition enabled Dylan to use of the seaside vernacular in this most central of Midlands town to heighten feelings of displacement and a sense of being lied to.
Having met at the exhibition, the group walked and talked, in glorious sunshine, from the Cultural Quarter through the park to University of Northampton's Avenue Campus.
On arriving at the University's Newton Grand Hall, the group heard from artist and curator Ryan Hughes who shared his experience of laying the foundations for and delivering the first Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art in 2017. He gave the context for the event, describing the city's artist-led pedigree, its place within the worldwide gaming industry, and its bid to become the next City of Culture. He informed the group that the city's cultural strategy's two year time span, meant that adopting a biennial model made sense.
Ryan went on to tell the assembled group that with partnerships and funding in place and with a growing audience and profile, the 2019 event, is to be called The Twin, drawing on what will be the city's 75 year history of town twinning.
With food for thought, delegates networked over lunch and saw new artwork produced especially for the event by students on the University's BA and MA courses: Charlotte Richards, Jan Harrington, Joanna Drewniak, Kate Smith, Lucy Brown, Rebecca Sharpe.
Following lunch, the delegates formed small discussion groups and with a facilitator looked at what they wanted to see and what might be possible in Northampton: a biennial, artist studios, collaboration.
The groups also considered CVAN's consultation on a national strategy through four key questions:
- What is the most exceptional value the visual arts can offer society?
- If you could change or do one thing to improve support for artists, what would that be?
- What is the biggest challenge – what just isn't working – in terms of support for artists?
- How can the national CVAN network add value to the CVAN regional networks?
The day ended on a positive note, with delegates feeling that another world is possible and it's name is Northampton! They left with their very own Risk Assessment, an artwork produced specially for the event by Northamptonshire-based artist Emma Davies, for them to carry out at their leisure!
The Case Study
Ryan Hughes' presentation about the Coventry Biennial:
The Feedback
At our annual event Another World is Possible in April 2018 our small but very enthusiastic audience featuring artists, students and academics explored risk taking and possibilities; how to recognise when conditions are right to take risks and what risks are worth taking, what the future holds and what future art practice might look like.
91% of respondents to our event survey said that they found the event useful and, or inspiring, giving the opportunity to network, bring ideas forwards, meet other professionals/artists, visit the town, see new artwork as the reasons for their responses. They added that it was useful to attend a CVAN EM event to find out what is happening in the Midlands, compare cities strategies, consider how the arts can bring about change, share experiences and see other artists work and studio spaces.
Delegates said that the most useful or inspiring aspects of the event were:
- Meeting and spending time with other delegates
- Group discussion and collectively exploring ideas
- Finding out about other delegates' projects and practices
- The guest presentation & case study given by Ryan Hughes
All the delegates felt that we got the format of the event right, with an exhibition viewing, a networking walk & talk, a keynote presentation followed by group discussion.
When asked what had emerged from the event that they thought could be taken forward - what other world might be possible - respondents commented:
"Greater linking and communication within the art community of Northampton|shire"
"It was a great way for me to meet more creatives in the area and hopefully will lead to some future collaborations"
"Collaborations, second visit, bring a visible project to life, promote possibilities, measure progress, zine, membership"
"Northamptonshire forming it's own annual / bi-annual contemporary art event"
Other feedback received was:
"It was great to meet enthusiastic inspiring and motivated people!"
"Thank you for a really inspiring and interesting day. It was great to discuss the potential of Northampton in the East Midlands arts scene, hopefully this will lead to more happening in the town and some collaborative practice which can be shared with the wider public."
"I would love to attend another event to further my knowledge and explore possibilities. I had met great people, inspiring artist and art from editable art to a full landscape print. Meeting professionals too was helpful."
"Look forward to the next one."