BAS9 Symposium: Tactics for Togetherness

<p><em>‘Tactics for Togetherness: Artworking in the regions (together we are stronger)’</em>, will interrogate the issues and opportunities for artists in Southwest England through the lens of the <em>British Art Show 9</em> (BAS9). Presentations will respond to the local theme of ‘Tactics for Togetherness’ and Visual Arts South West’s (VASW) regional <a href="https://vasw.org.uk/news/together-we-will-the-blueprints-of-our-collective-future">‘Together We Will’</a> campaign. </p> <p>Artists, curators, academics, students and members of the public are invited to enter discussion with featured British Art Show artists and representatives from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, to consider current contexts in the Southwest. The symposium will use propositions, provocations and case studies from Plymouth and its surrounding regions, to propose positive future actions. </p> <p>The symposium is organised by Arts University Plymouth and the University of Plymouth, as part of Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition <em>British Art Show 9</em>, presented in collaboration with the cities of Aberdeen, Wolverhampton, Manchester and Plymouth, curated by Irene Aristizábal and Hammad Nasar.</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Friday 11 November 2022<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 2:30pm - 10:00pm <br /><strong>Venue:</strong> University of Plymouth, Roland Levinsky Building Crosspoint<br /><strong>Tickets: </strong>standard £10 / concessions £5</p> <p>Booking opens later this month, but as places are limited, we are now inviting you to register your interest.</p> <p><strong>Structure of the Symposium</strong></p> <p>The symposium reflects input from keynote speakers from BAS9, curatorial voices from the city and the voice of the wider cultural community of the Southwest. Through inclusive short presentations, PechaKucha 20x20, and discussion forums we will interrogate our status as a collaborative, cultural sector across Plymouth and the wider region, in the context of international curatorial perspectives. Participants will develop new models of working for the future in innovative approaches to a diverse, inclusive and world-leading cultural offering in the Southwest.</p> <p><em>‘Tactics for Togetherness’</em> will focus on the following areas of debate:</p><ul><li>What is the impact in the Southwest of small conurbations and dispersed rural communities when faced with limited resources and the need to collaborate? What can we learn from other similar contexts?</li> <li>Is there a ceiling of opportunity and possibility in terms of artists advancing their careers when they choose to be located within the Southwest? If so, how can we change this? </li> <li>What does diversity look like in the Southwest? What models are there that we can learn from and adapt in terms of a creative case for the regions?</li></ul><ul><li>What part can Plymouth play, as a rapidly developing cultural centre, in supporting regional artistic talent? What are the transformative, strategic and committed steps that arts organisations in the city can take?</li></ul><p><strong>Contributors and highlights</strong></p> <p>Confirmed contributors include: Abigail Reynolds in conversation with Plymouth-based artist and curator of MIRROR, Hannah Rose; Hanna Tuulikki in conversation with Head of Research and Learning at the Paul Mellon Centre, Sria Chatterjee; BAS9 curator Hammad Nasar, and representatives from VASW, Flock South West CIC, The Box and KARST among others.</p> <p>Other highlights include a shared meal with a Climavore-inspired menu curated by Turner Prize-nominated duo Cooking Sections and the premiere of a new performance piece from Plymouth-based artist Rhys Morgan, commissioned by MIRROR and funded by Arts Council England with the support of National Lottery players.<br /></p> <p><strong>Register your interest</strong> by sending your Name, Surname, Email address, postcode to <a href="mailto:theartsinstitute@plymouth.ac.uk">theartsinstitute@plymouth.ac.uk</a><strong><br /></strong></p> <p><strong>Image credit: </strong>Abigail Reynolds, Image of artist’s studio door, 2020. © The artist</p>