Spotlight

‘Artist-led’ is an increasingly referenced term within the UK’s artistic community, and with good reason.

Many publicly funded art centres, studios and theatre complexes have a history that commenced in the back room of a pub, the empty space of a disused warehouse or a friend’s living room. Over the last twenty years, artist-led activity in the UK has played an increasingly pivotal role in the development of artists’ careers, arts infrastructures and, more importantly, an ethos of support and community within the creative sector.

Whether it be a group of artists setting up a studio and exhibition space, such as the founding members of the Quay Arts centre on the Isle of Wight, or New Greenham Arts’ relocation from its centre on the former Greenham Common military base to Newbury Corn Exchange, many of the most impressive success stories stem not from flagship developments but from the self-initiative, inspiration and collective hard graft of artists working together to shape their own particular vision of an art world.

The involvement of arts practitioners as board members or employees often remains integral to organisations with artist-led origins long after they have gained charity or company status. As well as being viable businesses or regionally funded success stories, organisations such as Fabrica in Brighton often provide a resource service and professional development opportunities for local artists alongside their exhibition programmes.

Artist-led initiatives such as the Hackney Wicked festival in London provide opportunities for artists to showcase their work and create dynamic hubs attracting new and diverse audiences to specific local areas. Hackney Wicked is a platform for a range of the borough’s artist-run spaces, such as Mother Studios, Elevator and The Peanut Factory. It enables a grass roots development of community and helps to even out the sometimes harsh playing field of the professional art world. This year’s festival included established artists such as Gavin Turk in collaboration with emerging artists from his studio as well as a range of artist-run collectives exhibiting in pop-up spaces.

POST is a peer-led support network for UK artists who respond to place. Members take turns to initiate publicly-sited and site-responsive projects. The network borrows from the model of the artist-run collective where artists can learn through peer support and skills sharing.

Artist-led initiatives are a way for active and engaged art students to make the transition from Higher Education to life as a practising artist. Indeed, students often make contact with or establish their own artist-run organisations before they graduate. Like Euan Taylor and Fraser MacDonald’s ‘Gallery, A New Contemporary Space’, situated inside a Duncan of Jordanstone college locker. Taylor and MacDonald later became involved in Generator Projects, an artist-run exhibition and project space in Dundee. In 2004, Edinburgh's Embassy Gallery was initiated by a group of new Edinburgh College of Art graduates who approached the college to ask for support in setting up an artist-led space. The Head of the Painting and Intermedia Departments suggested that in exchange for the gallery directors organising Professional Practice events for BA and MA students, the college's 'Art in Practice' budget would be channelled to the gallery. This continuing arrangement means that ECA students are able to experience art in a relevant post-educational context without being part of a traditional internship.

Keep an eye on Spotlight through September and October as we post up more profiles on artist-run initiatives and organisations.

For more information, advice and tips check out Russell Martin's Practical Guide to Setting up an Artist-led space and Chris Brown's Knowledge Bank tour on the whys and wherefores of artist-led activity.

Pippa Koszerek

Pippa Koszerek is an artist and curator based in London. She co-founded the Independent Art School (www.independent-art-school.org.uk) in 1999 as a student protest.

www.pippakoszerek.com

First published: a-n.co.uk August 2010