SWARM was a day of interaction and exchange for artists, curators, organisations, writers and independent producers in Devon and Cornwall. The event was held on Saturday 23rd April at The Exchange in Penzance and produced by Field Notes. It brought together around 250 practitioners to celebrate the work being done by artists and creative producers across the region; offering professional advice from a range of industry experts and providing a platform to make the connections needed to jump start new collaborations. SWARM was devised to foster and strengthen support between these wild, westerly and sometimes remote neighbouring counties.
Photo: James HankeyCONTEXT
SWARM came about through conversations between KARST, the PAC Home artist group at Plymouth Arts Centre, Back Lane West in Redruth and Field Notes. Both Cornwall and Plymouth have strong communities of visual artists who are generally well networked in the home counties, however there was a sense of disconnect between the two and the sense that an event fpr sharing recent projects and networking could help foster more cross overs and partnerships.
ACTIVITY
A range of activities was devised to encourage the sharing and networking, this included pecha kucha presentations, a professional speed date, a long table discussion and one-to-one surgeries with established curators and producers.
A number of artist groups and organisations were invited to develop new formulas for exchange, which were set up at stations around the gallery.
The day concluded with a communal meal cooked by Dom Bailey of CAST Café.
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A number of artist groups and organisations were invited to develop new formulas for exchange, which were set up at stations around the gallery.
The day concluded with a communal meal cooked by Dom Bailey of CAST Café.
Pecha Kucha audience, photo: James Hankey
CONTRIBUTORS
Pecha Kuchas were given by:
Counter
Unveil’d
CMR
Mel Stidolph
Gordon Dalton
Ocean Studios
Rural Recreation
Inland Art Festival
Back Lane West
Topos
Jesse Leroy Smith
Low Profile
Rupert White, ArtCornwall
Lucy Stein & Simon Bayliss
Unveil’d
CMR
Mel Stidolph
Gordon Dalton
Ocean Studios
Rural Recreation
Inland Art Festival
Back Lane West
Topos
Jesse Leroy Smith
Low Profile
Rupert White, ArtCornwall
Lucy Stein & Simon Bayliss
Artist-led formulas for exchange were devised and delivered by: Keiken
Preston Street Union
Counter
Medium Rare and FoAm
Fish Factory
W.A.N.K
Howl Projects
Preston Street Union
Counter
Medium Rare and FoAm
Fish Factory
W.A.N.K
Howl Projects
One-to-one surgery sessions were provided by:
Carl Slater (KARST)
Patrick Lowry (Back Lane West)
Joe Meldrum (Plymouth Culture)
Rachel Dobbs (LOW PROFILE)
Leigh Mason (Ocean Studios)
Blair Todd (Newlyn Art Gallery & The
Exchange)
Patrick Lowry (Back Lane West)
Joe Meldrum (Plymouth Culture)
Rachel Dobbs (LOW PROFILE)
Leigh Mason (Ocean Studios)
Blair Todd (Newlyn Art Gallery & The
Exchange)
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
Swarm was supported by funds from Arts Council England. It was initiated by KARST & Back Lane West, produced by Field Notes and supported by Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange and PAC Home at Plymouth Arts Centre.
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
