‘The Artist’s Journey #2’: Conference in Sheffield on 14 February 2019

Being an artist can take you to places you never thought were possible, but the paths are unclear and the maps complicated. Last year’s Artist’s Journey conference highlighted just a few of the directions that a creative practice might take, revisiting the familiar and sharing the picnics enjoyed along the way, to help us each to plan our own creative excursions.

This year, against a backdrop of global political turmoil and burgeoning inequality, the conference will consider how extraordinary practices and initiatives are supporting the preservation of multiculturalist values, solidarity and freedom of expression. The talks and discussions will explore the potential of collaboration, the power of a collective voice, and ways of protecting and sustaining the freedom to make art.

This day is about looking at the substance, criticality, methods, brilliance, humour and strategies that artists use to establish themselves and to work out what we need more of, or what is missing. What does ‘continuing professional development’ mean? And how can we create advocacy to make sure that artists are supported in a way that has effect?

Morning session 9:30 – 12:30 @ Theatre Deli, 202 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QZ.

9:30 Registration and coffee

10:00 Introductions

10:15 Hwa Young Jung

11:00 James Clarkson, Tommy Sissons & Richard Stott

12:00 Panel discussion on self/collectively – organised initiatives, featuring Alex Daw, Sidney & Matilda; Louis Pohl, Foodhall; Charly Calpin, Girl Gang Sheffield, Serf studios, Leeds and Jamie Sorensen/ School of the Damned.

Lunch and afternoon session 12:30 – 16:30 @ Sheffield Hallam University, The Dorothy Fleming Lecture Theatre, Charles Street Building, 133 Charles St, Sheffield S1 2ND.

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Marilyn Thompson/ Peak, London

14:30 Dominique White

15:30 Joy Labinjo

Drinks reception 16:30 – 18:30 @ The Holt,156 Arundel St, Sheffield S1 4RE

Artist’s Journey #2 is supported by Making Ways and is a partnership between Yorkshire & Humber Visual Arts Network (YVAN), Rose Butler; Fine Art, Sheffield Hallam University and Kerry Campbell, Public Programmes Curator at Bloc Projects, Sheffield. The cross-organisational partnership provides continuing professional development support for individual artists and small-scale, organisations and artist-led collectives in Yorkshire & Humber, addressing (but not limited to) recent graduates and early career practitioners.

Both YVAN and SIA have identified a need for continuing support for recent graduates and early career practitioners. The partnership will build on support, guidance and critical discussion, offered as part of existing courses, and compliment continuing professional development through partnership arts organisations. This work is motivated by an ongoing commitment to facilitating a rich, informed and sustainable way forward, through an approach which enhances the many different routes we might take to establish ourselves as artists.

This event is free, with refreshments and lunch provided.

Key speakers, full programme and itinerary to be announced in due course, register to reserve your place and receive programming announcements.

A drinks reception/networking event with further refreshments will follow the conference, from 16:30 at The Holt, 156 Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 4RE.

‘#Poem’ Image courtesy and copyright of Tommy Sissons.