Demanding Conversations: Socially Engaged arts practice in a changing political landscape: Plenary

Demanding Conversations was a conference that took place at Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol on 22nd and 23rd September 2010. The conference involved practitioners, artists, policy makers, and commentators in debate about socially engaged arts practice within the visual arts sector. The conference considered 3 key questions: Who believes that “Great Art for Everyone” is problematic? Funders and policymakers aspire to engage more people in the arts, and yet socially engaged practice is perceived by many to be marginalised within the Visual Arts sector. Why is there a real or perceived hierarchy of value between work which sits in a gallery context and socially engaged practice? What is at stake? Who is seriously critiquing socially engaged arts practice? Are debates about process versus product still relevant? If a piece of work delivers on social outcomes, is that enough? What academic discourse is taking place in relation to Socially Engaged Arts Practice and how can this have an impact on the sector? Who defines quality? Most SEAP is realised through a complex series of relationships between funders, commissioners, arts organisations, artists and the public. How do you navigate these partnerships? Can you satisfy the demands for risk-taking high quality visual arts practice against the need to deliver against social agendas, and keeping participants feeling safe? During the conference there were also ten different workshops on themes linked to socially engaged practice. Full conference proceedings are available at: http://www.demandingconversations.org.uk/conference/