Feature - Page 32 of 32 - a-n The Artists Information Company

A cross-venue festival of work by artists based in France, ‘Vivre sa vie’ took place at various locations across Glasgow and Edinburgh. It comprised exhibitions, screenings and events, evidence of a resurgence in French creative activity, brought together by independent curator Tanya Leighton. Here, Jenny Crowe samples some of the highlights.

At the end of August, curator Sophie Hope was offered a place on the Oreste 3 residency programme in Italy. An opportunity to meet and work with artists from all over Europe seemed too good an opportunity to miss.

Artist/writer Emma Safe examines the role of community arts in urban regeneration and in creating social cohesion.

A selection of UK organisations working in community arts to assist urban regeneration and social cohesion.

The Art House is a membership organisation for all artists, that addresses the issues faced by disabled people who wish to work in the visual arts and crafts. It aims to be a truly inclusive organisation giving artists the support they need, as individuals, to benefit from its activities. Director Liz Whitehouse describes how the organisation functions and what it has to offer.

John Newling discusses the collaboration, negotiation and patience involved in realising a major public art work for Birmingham’s Royal Mail building.

Ceramicist Taslim Martin describes his experiences of working with industry to realise two projects.

Gareth Mason reports on a two-day event organised by Taslim Martin within his residency at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell that explored how the skills of studio practice can be applied to public-sited work.

A recurring issue for artists is the constant search for a suitable space in which to work and exhibit. Artists have increasingly addressed this through improvisation and adaptability, to the point where spaces run by artist collectives have become almost synonymous with formerly disused (or unwanted) spaces. As Malcolm Dickson noted in his comment on artist-run spaces (October issue) – “The motivation now is more pragmatic by necessity, in that you just have to do it in order to get work shown (whether your own or other artists)”.

After a year of on-line communication and collaboration, in September six Manchester artists arrived in Bulgaria to work with four Bulgarian artists on ‘Urban Cycles’. Initiated by Interspace Media Centre in Sofia, the project will also be presented at IDEA in Manchester next April. Here, project curator Galia Dimitrova and participating artist Jen Southern discuss this cultural exchange.

Mark Beasley explores the common fabric between today’s permanent and temporary public art commissons.

Roy Exley charts the purpose of paint in the work of four artists.

Painter Deirdre King reveals her strategy for getting started as a professional artist.

What happens when nineteen artists are let loose in fifty acres of land? Abigail Reynolds shares her experiences of Braziers International.