In partnership with Birmingham School of Art join a series of free online seminars focusing on the critical issues facing art, artists and the art world in the wake of the global pandemic. The series includes 3 seminars taking place on 4 March, 25 March and 28 October 2021.
Programme
Thursday 4 March
19.00–20.30
Seminar 1: On Biennale Ecologies: Climate Solidarities, Pedagogies and Radical Change
This seminar features curators Lucia Pietroiusti (Curator, General Ecology project, The Serpentine Galleries) and Serubiri Moses (Writer and Curator, Greater New York 2020 exhibition, MoMA PS1).
Lucia Pietroiusti will discuss a series of artistic and curatorial projects dedicated to, or intersecting with, environmental justice and climate balance. One of the questions at the core of this presentation is: what role(s) might art be able to play in the environmental effort?
Serubiri Moses will speak about the performance organised in the Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya, during 2018, in a corner of the park called Freedom Corner’, with trees that were planted there by the National Council of Women in Kenya in honor of the protest against the arrest of political prisoners.
Our two speakers will each present a short talk, followed by a discussion chaired by Jonathan Harris, formerly Head of Birmingham School of Art.
Thursday 25 March
19.00–20.30
Seminar 2: Health, Activism and Arts Practice
This seminar features artist Sheila Ghelani, and Minna Tarkka (Artistic Director of m-cult in Finland). This seminar will question what are the most urgent issues of our time and how they can be addressed through creative and cultural forms. It will also analyse the role of the socially engaged artist working with and in communities for active social change.
Sheila Ghelani will speak about the 'why, where, who and how' of her work in relation to heath and wellbeing; why she makes work, where her work happens, who she makes work with and the collaborative methods she employs. She will also discuss her own checklist of care.
Minna Tarkka will speak about m-cult's collaborative programme in Helsinki's Maunula neighbourhood, which they have reframed to focus on long-term processes aiming at building local common practices and resources. Tarkka will also discuss a new project that focuses on economies of care.
Our two speakers will each present a short talk, followed by a discussion chaired by Ailbhe Murphy, Artist and Director of Create Ireland.
Thursday 28 October
19.00–20.30
Seminar 3: Alternate Perspectives, Re-imagining Sources and Other Histories
This seminar features London-based photographer Roshini Kempadoo, curator and art educator Sylvia Theuri and British-Kenyan artist Grace Ndritu. The talk provides an opportunity to address and reflect on the key issues, voices and stories in ecological, indigenous and feminist narratives.
The seminar will unpack questions such as 'What makes a socially responsible practitioner?' and 'How can we bring alternate narratives to the fore through open dialogue in educational settings and art institutions?'.
Roshini Kempadoo will present the artwork Like Gold Dust, created while on the Artist International Residency (AIR) at Artpace San Antonio, USA (2019) in order to explore women’s work, activism and speculative futures as urgent ecological concerns. This artwork evokes narratives about everyday survival, economics, and special powers needed for the 21st century.
Grace Ndritu will discuss her background and artistic practice, the spaces and localities she has worked with and from, her current work, forthcoming exhibitions and where her practice is going next. Ndritu will explore questions such as 'How can contemporary art be a tool to activate good in the world?'.
If you have any questions, please contact Jonathan.Harris@bcu.ac.uk, Beth.Derbyshire@bcu.ac.uk or alison.jones@tate.org.uk