MA public Symposium - Sum of All Parts
Feb 27, 2024
Description
As part of our MA Art and Design pathway courses here at the University of Salford, each year our students select a relevant theme to invite guest speakers from across the art, design and creative tech industries to present about their work. As programme leader for the MA courses and Head of Social Practice at Open Eye Gallery, I programme and organise the public facing conference each year in response to the student's shared theme.
In 2024, we explored the role of collectives and networks in the creative industries. What power does collaborative practice bring to art and design today, and what role can networks play to creating support and profiling to often marginalised voices within our industry?
The event featured guest speakers including art and creative tech collective Re-Dock, Creative producer and socially engaged organisation Rule of Threes, POST Photography Collective and Fuse Mcr.
Location
New Adelphi Theatre, New Adelphi Building, University of Salford
Green Agendas is a half day symposium I programmed and organised, exploring sustainable and environmental practice within art and design today. The programme is delivered as a partnership as part of my role, between University of Salford’s MA in Art and Design programmes and Open Eye Gallery and include key speakers:
Niki Colclough (artist and educator),
Lee Ivett (designer, architect and educator),
Mariama Attah (curator, head of exhibitions, Open Eye Gallery),
Andy Ogden (English Fine Cottons),
Hannah Hartley (Manchester Museum),
Chris Alton (artist)
Wild Rumpus (art and charitable organisation)
Location
University of Salford, Chapman Lecture Theatre and recorded and shared via youtube for wider public dissemination.
As part of my Curator-Producer at Open Eye Gallery and MA Programme Leader role here at the University of Salford, I run a yearly public symposium, inviting students to select a key theme connecting to the role of art and design in wider society today.
Our 3rd Symposium event was entitled, 'Who Cares' - Exploring the Role of Art and Design in the Health and Care sector.
Speakers from this years symposium joined students and the wider public to explore the interconnections between art, design, creative technology, health and care.
The symposium reflected upon the role of culture in health and wellbeing during an ever-shifting global context.
Guest speakers, artists and designers included Lisa Creagh, Daniel Regan, and Elizabeth Newell (Creative Concern), as well as NHS and social prescribing consultants such as Jo Ward and cultural arts and creative technology organisation FACT (Liverpool) and Social Care charity, Community Integrated Care.
