Time Flies

by Ruth Barker, 24 Sep 2010

Hello,

It feels like the days have been speeding past lately. Maybe it’s got something to do with the end of the summer? I always feel like September’s the beginning of the year, with the season heralding a return to openings and lots of art events on the horizon. I’ve been truly amazed (and heartened) by the amount of public art related conferences and symposia I’ve been invited to lately.

Here’s a few that caught my eye, either recently passed or about to happen – let me know if you’re thinking of going to any:

Public Art Private Money
Thursday 23rd September, ICA, London
Public funding for the arts is at a moment of crisis. Where should the arts look for its money?

Talking Cities: The Edinburgh Lectures
1st October – 24th March, various locations, Edinburgh.
Do cities do more than generate economic income for the region and the nation?

Expanded Fields
Saturday 2nd October, SSW, Huntly.
Exploring ideas of collectivism and self-organisation for cultural organisations.

The Arts of Place – Integrating Creativity and Regeneration
Thursday 7 October, National Media Museum, Bradford.
Exploring the impact of integrating culture and creativity with regeneration

State of Play: Art and Culture in Scotland Today
Saturday 9th October, Gilmorehill Centre, Glasgow.
Providing a forum to examine the significance of art and culture for society today.

The Black Country Creative Advantage Conference
Saturday 9th October, The Public, West Bromwich.
Reflecting on the impact of ‘partnership’ governance on urban development and to explore ideas on how we can work for social justice in this context.

North Edinburgh Arts Public Art Seminar
Tuesday 12th October, North Edinburgh Arts.
Summarising the events of the year, and looking at how the enthusiasm, thinking and connections generated by NEA’s recent Public Art Project can be best used in the future.

Creative Approaches to Real Regeneration
Wednesday 10th November, Pearce Institute, Glasgow
This conference is a cinematic exploration (no PowerPoint allowed!) of creative approaches to regenerating real communities.

The queen bee (of course) amid this swarm of symposia will be PAR+RS / Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design’s Mapping the Future: Public Art In Scotland event taking place in Dundee over 3 consecutive Wednesdays in October. We’ve been working hard to programme a really great few days, and I think the event will make a great contribution to the discussions that so many are finding so relevant just now. There are a few tickets left – SO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW! For those who can’t make it, we’ll be getting as much coverage as we can right here on your favourite public art website. If you want to contribute your own thoughts, irritations, confessions, obsessions, or impressions from the day, just let me know.

More later,
R

Mapping_the_Future.PDF