Re-thinking Practice: Discussions on Contemporary Art Practice in the SW & Beyond
Visual Arts South West, Ocean Studios, Plymouth
3 December, 1.30–6pm

Wysing's Director, Donna Lynas, will be speaking on art and education at an event organised by Visual Arts South West.

The annual event will bring together artists, independent curators and producers, artist-led projects and representatives from the region’s arts organisations for a lively afternoon re-thinking art practice, exchanging knowledge and networking.

This year the event will focus attention on practice itself. The key factors shaping practice will be considered alongside those influencing the shape of the art world. South West initiatives and those from further afield will be drawn upon in relation to how they fit into these wider contexts.

Discussion and debate

Setting the scene for the day, artist, writer and lecturer Dave Beech will lead a provocation; ‘Entering the World From Here’.

An Art and Education session will discuss approaches to creative education, including the country's first school of creative arts, partnerships with cultural institutions and alternative forms of learning and education. The speakers are Andrew Brewerton, Principle and Chief Executive,Plymouth College of Art, Lisa Harrison, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries & Education at UWE and Donna Lynas, Director,Wysing Arts Centre.

Writing, Curating and Making will see art writer Lizzie Lloyd, curator ofPlymouth Arts Centre Ben Borthwick and artist Carl Slater discuss the influencing factors in how and who with they choose to work, and how this contributes to the ‘validation’ of certain kinds of art practice.

If a Tree falls in a Forest: Art Outside Urban Centres will highlight artists, curators, collaborations and organisations that are developing new platforms and new approaches to collaboration and audience engagement outside of urban centres and consider how these projects contribute to the wider critical dialogue. Speakers include artist & organiser of copse barn camps Anna Best, artist & curator Jennie Savage and architect at Neat Design and founding member of MUF, Juliet Bidgood. The session will be chaired by Tim Martin, curator, Hestercombe Gallery, Somerset.

Full details about the event can be found on Visual Arts South West's website here.