Critical Discourse
Across the CVAN Network, the enabling and development of critical discourse has been seen by the majority of regional networks as a key area for investment and development.
Developing discourse, critical writing, studio crits and exhibition and artist reviews within regions creates a vibrant community for artists, curators and writers to exchange ideas.
Both the profiling of artists’ work and the development of new writers has provided another level of opportunity for individuals and helps to enable the sector to sustain and develop regional visual arts ecologies that are increasingly outward focused and internationally ambitious in terms of profiling practice.
CVAN North West Critical Writing
In March 2015 CVAN North West selected 25 emerging and mid-career writers from over 130 applicants to participate in a regional Critical Writing development programme. Writers were awarded a £300 bursary and given the opportunity to attend six practice and theory based workshops in exchange for writing and publishing two articles about contemporary visual arts in the North West.
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REGIONAL PROGRAMMES OF ACTIVITY:
Commissioned by the North East Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN), this is the second of seven films exclusively launched in an on-going partnership with This Is Tomorrow.
The Other MA (TOMA) is a 12 month alternative art education model, set up by practicing artists and based at Metal Art School in Southend-on-Sea. It is a response to the fact that many artists who wish to continue their learning and critical discourse with peers are unable to access most current MA provisions for a number of reasons - time, cost, work or family commitments.
Art Photography and its Markets covers photography as art from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. It offers an expansive view of photography’s movement from the margins to the centre of the art world through the last century, and considers its place in the global contemporary art market today.
Luke McCreadie discusses the development of projects and his sustained and ongoing interest in language and forms of communication. Commissioned by the CVAN, this is one of seven films to be exclusively launched over the coming months in an on-goingpartnership with This Is Tomorrow.
University of Edinburgh (School of Art), University of Strathclyde (Creative Writing), University of Glasgow (Creative Writing) & Glasgow School of Art (Forum for Critical Inquiry) are collaborating on a series of SGSAH workshops that aim to facilitate creative writers & art writers to be more adept professional scholars in their respective fields. The workshops will enable PhD students to effectively share the different tactics, research methods, systems of distribution & audiences of their related writing-based disciplines.
Arts Council Collection Curators’ Days are designed to provide an informal forum for curators from around the country to meet and network. Each event has a special focus, either looking at particular areas of professional practice or visiting new buildings and important exhibitions. All include guest speakers and opportunity for discussion.
The Burlington Magazine Contemporary Art Writing Prize seeks to discover talented young writers on contemporary art, with the winner receiving £1000 and the opportunity to publish a review of a contemporary art exhibition in The Burlington Magazine.
'The public need to treat the exploitation of artistic labour as some kind of taboo while artists themselves must stand firm and refuse to work for nothing. No amount of government policy is going to change this ... Are you prepared to get real?' Text by James Doeser
10 new articles on contemporary art from 10 emerging writers: On Being Curious is a book telling the story of the North-West’s contemporary visual art scene, yet contributes to national and international debates around what it means to make powerful, arresting and effective arts practice.