The Real World

The Real World is a series of talks looking at the real-life careers of visual artists and other practitioners.

Previous Real World seminars

A Welcome Guest?

Date:Thursday 7th February

Many residency models see artists take residence in organisations with structures, systems and priorities that challenge the practitioner. This session considered the survival strategies that artists can adopt in ‘hostile’ circumstances and what the role of such potential conflict in a productive residency model might be. With presentations by Richard Layzell and Lucy Cash

Artist as Researcher

Date: Thursday 18 October 2012

This session ran in association with Valiz explored the role of research in contemporary artists’ work and featured presentations from Frank Mandersloot (author/artist) and Janneke Wesseling (editor/author) of the book "See it Again, Say it Again: The Artist as Researcher".

Dissemination and Intervention

Date: Thursday 16 August 2012

Artists are always inventing new ways to give their work presence and agency, whether online, via publishing or through inserting work into everyday situations. This session considered ideas and strategies for utilising everything but the gallery wall. Chaired by Kirsty Ogg with presentations by artist and Whitechapel Open exhibitor Arnaud Desjardin, and artists Rebecca Birch and Rob Smith creators of the online art platform Field Broadcast.

Studios in Practice

Date: Thursday 10 May 2012

When is a studio a necessity and when is it luxury? This professional development talk for artists looked at the central role the studio can play in careers and the full potential of studios as everything from exhibition space to office.Speakers at this session were Duncan Smith from ACAVA and artist Laura Eldret.

The Artist and the Gallery

Date: Thursday 8 March 2012

Galleries can play a central role in many artist’s careers, but increasingly through choice, necessity or the nature of their practice many artists operate outside of the system of gallery representation - or set up galleries themselves. This session asked Why artists need galleries, how can they operate without them and how the role and relationship between artist and gallery changing? Speakers at this session were Kate Cooper, Auto Italia South East and Louise Shelley, The Showroom

Working with Collections

Date: Thursday 15 December 2011

This session of the Real World looked at different models and methodologies undertaken by artists working with collections. What benefits and challenges can these relationships bring and are there unexplored approaches to be tried? The evening included presentations by Kate Forde, curator at the Wellcome Trust and artist Felicity Powell.

Always an Artist?

Date: Thursday 29th September 2011

This session looked at the creative, innovative and sometimes surprising ways that professional visual artists make a living. What relationships or influences cross over from parallel work into artistic practice, and what does art practice bring back to 'everyday life'? At its core, this discussion considered the question: are you always an artist? Included presentations and discussion between Charlotte Ginsborg and Edith Marie Pasquier. Organised in partnership with Film London Artists Moving Image Network .

The Altruistic Arts 

Date: Thursday 30 June 2011

From corporate sponsors to volunteers, private philanthropists and collectors to individual artists who work for free, the visual arts depends heavily on financial, philosophical and practical altrusim.  In the context of the biggest overhaul of public funding in a generation, and an increasing demand on artists to be more entrepreneurial, what does altruism in the arts mean today? This session included short presentations and a discussion between Paul Hobson, Director of Contemporary Art Society and Cecilia Wee, artist, writer, anti-cuts activist and curator.

Professionalism and the Arts

Date: Thursday 27 January 2011

Ideas of professionalism are often transposed from the corporate and business sectors and related to ‘earning a living' from one's art. But how relevant are these models to arts practice, and is this a reality for working artists? What is it that makes an arts practitioner ‘professional'? This session saw see artists Alex Julyan and Michèle Fuirer in conversation about the subject.

Interdisciplinary practice

Thursday 11 November 2010

This session of Real World considered the term interdisciplinary practice, and looked at challenges, approaches and benefits when working across disciplines. Speakers at this session were artists Ruth Beale and Edwina fitzPatrick.

Contemporary but Overlooked

Thursday 9 September 2010

Many artists maintain a practice despite lack of exposure. This session of the Real World looks at alternative art ecologies and discusses how artists might situate their work, and critically develop their practice outside of the conventional art system. Speakers for this event were writer, publisher and curator Mark Pilkington and artist Cathy Ward.

Curation and Control

Thursday 15 April 2010

Taking on a more dialogic format, this season's Real World seminar series in partnership with Artquest and Whitechapel gallery saw practitioners and arts professionals creating a forum for discussion on issues facing practitioners today, bringing different generations of practice together. The first of these sessions looked at the relationship between the curator and the artist, their respective responsibilities and expectations of one another, modes of collaboration and how this relationship is changing. Speaking at this session were curators Hannah Liley and Matt Roberts.

International practices

Thursday 18 February 2010

This seminar explored international trends and practices within the visual arts. Using case studies of international projects, such as Artquest's Artelier and Artroute programmes, this session compared artists' experiences, offered advice on networking and highlights opportunities for artists internationally. Participants include artists Joanna Callaghan  and Samuel Dowd.

Socially engaged practice

Thursday 19 November 2009

This Real World seminar focused on socially or critically engaged practices in the visual arts, examining what this term means to artists in relation to their practice, and looking at how artists work with members of the public to create works of art.  This event provided a forum for artists and their collaborators to present projects so as to stimulate debate around their own practice or to find new partners. Included presentations by artists Sarah Cole and Serena Korda.

Collaborative Practice

Thursday 17 September 2009

The second Real World seminar focussed on collaboration in the visual arts, looking at collective practices both within and across the arts and into other areas. Case studies and presentations were by Ana Laura López de la Torre (London based artist and writer), collaborative visual artists Cornford & Cross (Matthew Cornford and David Cross) and Hyo Myoung Kim.

Artist / Curator

Thursday 21 May 2009

Responding to the multifarious practice of Goshka Macuga, the first Real World session focused on the role of the artist-curator. Dallas Seitz, Cathy Lomax and the Centre of Attention (Gary O’Dwyer and Pierre Coinde) presented case studies, explore innovative projects, suggest practical solutions to common pitfalls, and consider best practice for working with artists, other organisations and funders.

This article is from the Artlaw Archive of Henry Lydiate's columns published in Art Monthly since 1976, and may contain out of date material.
The article is for information only, and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.
Readers should consult a solicitor for legal advice on specific matters, and artists in London can get free online legal advice from Artquest