Bi-monthly Better Together sessions take place online and offer an opportunity for change makers in the East Midlands to connect. We particularly encourage attendance from directors, trustees and programme leads and welcome participants to share with the group current challenges that their organisation is facing.
For Better Together #5: Capital Projects & Collaborative Initiatives we were joined by Emer Grant, Artistic Director and CEO of NN Contemporary Art to discuss how integrating spatial design practices within art, architecture, and design presents a compelling avenue for fostering collective models within artist-led institutions, particularly in the context of cultural regeneration initiatives.
Session Overview by Emer Grant:
By strategically leveraging spatial interventions and cultivating interdisciplinary collaborations, institutions can catalyze transformative impacts on their communities' cultural landscape and broader socio-economic fabric. NN Contemporary Art (NNCA) secured funding and orchestrated strategic partnerships through a combined £4.7 million business case to SEMLEP & the Towns fund programmes. This initiative, aimed at establishing a new permanent home for NNCA, underscores the pivotal role of spatial strategies in driving place-making, fostering investment, and shaping cultural regeneration agendas.
The impending reopening of NNCA's public art hub in 2024 is poised to generate substantial economic value, with projections indicating an additional £5.6 million in revenue and the creation of 77.55 jobs. This story highlights NNCA's ambitions to become a leading regional arts institution and underscores the efficacy of artist and community-led practices in navigating and intervening in government-led cultural initiatives.
Key points for exploration:
- Establishing partnerships and terms: articulating the values and creating transparency for decision-making
- Transdisciplinary Practices: The convergence of spatial practices with disciplines such as cultural sociology, cultural policy, and behavioural economics
- Reshaping Governance Structures: Embracing participatory governance models that prioritise inclusivity and transparency
- New Institutional Models: NNCA's evolution into an Arts Collective/hybrid institution with flexible programming frameworks
About Emer Grant
Emer Grant is the Artistic Director and CEO of NN Contemporary Art, a National Portfolio Organisation in Northampton. She is a Curator, Producer, and Researcher who completed her studies at CCS Bard College (USA), the University of York (UK), and the University of Brighton.
Event Details
Wednesday 24 April, 1-2pm
Online via Zoom