Discussion - Page 8 of 23 - a-n The Artists Information Company

Reading the thoughts of four graduate artists from 1998 in, That was Then, but This is Now (2008 Degrees, May 2008), I couldn’t help reflecting on my own experiences, graduating as a mature student from the Masters programme at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, where I had spent two challenging and happy years pursuing ideas about the creative process itself, using Franz Kafka and Henri Bergson as foil and focus for my final work.

Artists’ organisation CARFAC played a pivotal role in last year’s Ottawa Visual Arts Summit where formal and informal gatherings brought artists, administrators, academics and volunteers together to set direction for the visual arts community in the coming years.

I am writing in support of the letter by a large group of artists in a-n Magazine, April, addressing the problem of unpaid design work public art commissions.

Our guide to all the best degree shows, 2008 Degrees with this issue, features practice updates from last year’s student bloggers¹ revealing learning curves, perseverance and collaborative ventures.

Joan Thompson on mental health services and further education.

I am currently undertaking a research project called ‘Situating everyday creativity in Liverpool 2008’.

I am writing to lend support to the ideas expressed in the letter How do other artists feel about unpaid public art competitions? (a-n Magazine, April).

I would like to add these comments to the discussion on unpaid public art competitions (a-n Magazine, April).

Gillian Nicol introduces this month’s a-n Collection and considers the implication of the ACE Turning point recommendations on RFOs.

The media is awash with commentary about ‘climate change’, a serious issue that of course affects every one of us.

We are self-employed sculptors with wide experience making artworks for the public realm.

This month’s Research papers: Art work in 2007 draws on intelligence held within the data researched and published continuously by a-n for our jobs and opportunities.

“It is also time to trust our artists and our organisations to do what they do best – to create the most excellent work they can – and to strive for what is new and exciting, rather than what is […]

Critical attitudes on how art practice is dividing or uniting local, international and global practices has been alluded to since the beginnings of modernism; in 2008 these issues remain at the forefront of response to post-modern visual culture.

Further to a letter published in error in the December issue of a-n Magazine and our apology to Creative Foundation in the January issue, here Creative Foundation exercises its Right to Reply:

As we welcome in 2008, we looked back into the a-n archive of editorials to explore contexts preceding and also asked some artists for their ‘new year’s resolutions for the arts’.

I think that a-n has been extremely unfair in the matter of Andrew Bryant. First you print his unbearably smug blog, allowing us to marvel at his crass and derivative musings. Then, of all the letters of protest you must […]

Is it possible for artists to truly engage in collaborative work with other practitioners of different disciplines without them slipping into a parasitic relationship?

I’d like to be able to say that I disagree with Andrew Bryant’s arguments but would fight to the death for his right to express them. The unfortunate fact is that I agree with many of his points, but feel […]

It’s been fascinating to watch the lively turnover of postings on Interface1 since its launch, both critical writing posted to Reviews unedited and a-n subscribers posting details of their upcoming shows on Interface What’s on.

Though the imprecision of ideas expressed in Dave Grimbleby’s letter (a-n Magazine October issue) hampers meaningful dialogue, I do think he is attempting to raise a set of common-place misconceptions and ill-conceived objections to contemporary art. Firstly, Dave is hostile […]