Public Programmes

constellations 2

Constellations / Assemblies

I worked with UP Projects, Flat Time House, and Liverpool Biennial as Associate Curator on a programme of public online talks and learning opportunities for artists, curators, and producers, taking place throughout 2022.

The Constellations / Assemblies programme explored several lines of enquiry: Is context only half the work? How can socially engaged practice inspire structural change? What is the role of democracy in social practice? How can we move beyond sustainability? Should we rethink the memorial? Speakers and chairs included Shuddhabrata Sengupta of Raqs Media Collective, Michael Elmgreen of Dragset & Elmgreen, Farid Rakun of ruangrupa, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Jes Fernie, and Amy Franceschini of Futurefarmers.

I brought issues raised together into this text.

More info on the programme here

This programme follows a series of talks I co-curated with UP Projects in 2021. Designed for curators, producers and public art practitioners, the events explored current issues and good practice in the expanded field of public art.

We considered the role public art can play in raising awareness and effecting change on subjects relating to diversity, community cohesion, and the digital realm as a public space. The programme advocated for a broader, more nuanced, understanding of what it means to commission work for a public context and work in socially engaged ways.

Our four events posed the following questions: Who has agency and whose voices are heard? What is collaboration? What is the role of curators in socially engaged practice? Is the future of public art online? Speakers and chairs included Samra Mayanja, Kerry Campbell, Matteo Lucchetti, Amanprit Sandhu, Jes Fernie, and Roseanna Dias.

'Assembly' was supported by The Art Fund and has been put together by Jes Fernie, Elisabeth Del Prete, Theresa Bergne and Emma Underhill.

Read my text, bringing together all the issues raised, here

More details, including recordings of all the talks, here


Jes Fernie

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