Workshops
Artist Manifesto
Artist ManifestoWriting an Artist Manifesto with Paula Varjack
Talks & Workshops > Artist Manifesto > Writing an Artist Manifesto with Paula VarjackKicking off a month of workshops, Paula Varjack brought an energising, practical and powerful session around how to write an artist manifesto.
ABOUT THE SESSION.
With a sell-out workshop on Eventbrite, Paula Varjack walked us through how to write an artist manifesto.
Paula came through with a whole arsenal of great resources as we reflected upon how individual and collective action can be in dialogue.
We read and reflected on a range of existing manifestos, while writing manifestos for ourselves and for the arts communities we are part of.
“ It’s all about setting intentions and declarations.”
- Paula Varjack
SESSION INSIGHTS.
Things to consider:
What is the purpose? Why now? What would you make if you didn't have to think about a market? Why do you make art? What should art be? What should art do?
A Group Manifesto:
Collaboration not competition.
Do nothing without intention.
Artists on salaries in every organisation and sector.
Bravery with no bounds.
Listen to people who aren’t like you.
Small is beautiful, but make sure small thinks BIG.
Creative Documentation
“What should art be? What should art do?”
- Paula Varjack
@Twitter | @Instagram | paulavarjack.comAbout the Artist
Six years ago, Paula Varjack was mentoring emerging artists who had expressed fears and anxiety about their future in the arts. Paula wanted to write something to give them hope. So she reflected on everything she had learned in her career, all the advice she had been given that helped, and she wrote a manifesto.
The manifesto became part of the show she was developing, Show Me The Money, which was itself an investigation about how artists survive, thrive and make work.
Since then, Paula has used the act of writing artist manifestos as a way to set creative and career intentions, but also to put forward ideas of best practice in general.
