Open Space One

Recent reports note the impact ‘low pay, a lack of work-life balance, limited opportunities for career development and the ongoing pressure to do more with less’ is having on the ‘cultural workforce’, especially artists and freelance workers. A situation that is leading to an ‘increasingly high’ risk of burnout.

The precarious nature of freelance work, a lack of on-going support and the emotional and physical toll of working with communities facing incredible hardship often compounds these effects on individual artists. Especially when collaborative and social arts practice is increasingly being asked to replace the social structure of our society.

How, in difficult times for artists and communities, might we:

• begin to work in solidarity across disciplines and sectors to achieve the kinds of conditions that make our work have real impact?
• resist short-term funding, the cultural equivalent of zero hours contracts and insist arts and cultural organisations recognise the time it takes to build up trust and make meaningful and truly collaborative work?
• find the right balance between empathy and self-care?

As cuts to funding begin to impact even more severely on communities and artists working with them, we invite you to join us for Open Space to explore notions of care.

The session is for anyone who is artistically engaged in social and collaborative arts practice; it will be facilitated by Chrissie Tiller (Creative Consultant and Practitioner) and Emma Fry (Criticality Producer, Heart of Glass), with a provocation by artist Sheila Ghelani.

Location

Heart of Glass, Beecham's Building, Water Street, St Helens WA10 1PP

Support with costs of travel and/or childcare available

Please get in touch if you need support with the cost of travel and/or childcare.