Curating Nation

CURATING NATION IS A SERIES OF THREE WORKSHOPS CO-convened by the Black British Art Research Group (BAN) & UAL Decolonising Arts InstituteOver a series of three workshops, Curating Nation will explore how existing narratives of British art might be expanded through curatorial and art historical interventions. It is the first public event organised as part of the Curating Nation project conceived by Hammad Nasar, hosted by UAL Decolonising Arts Institute, and has been developed in collaboration with British Art Network’s Black British Art Research Group led by Alice Correia, Elizabeth Robles and Marlene Smith. In conversation with the British Art Show 9 (which will travel between Wolverhampton, Aberdeen, Plymouth and Manchester in 2021-2), Curating Nation invites artists, curators and scholars to consider three primary strands of enquiry: 1. How are national collections formed, and where do we encounter them? 2. What stories of nation do touring exhibitions circulate? 3. What is the role of international constituents, particularly in former colonies, in the co-production of British art histories? By paying attention to the role of curatorial and institutional agency we aim to focus on the possibility for more expanded and diverse narratives of British art that account for current socio-political debates around ‘the nation’. The event asks what does the ‘national’ look like, and what roles can art, artists and arts organisations play in shaping national self-perceptions in the 21st century? WORKSHOP I: WHAT DOES A NATIONAL COLLECTION LOOK LIKE? WEDNESDAY, 21 APRIL 14.00-17.00 GMT 14.00-14.15 Welcome & Introductions 14.15-14.35 Opening statements from: Andrew Ellis, Director of Art UK Ann Gallagher, curator and former Director of Collections, British Art, Tate Marguerite Nugent, Manager of Arts & Culture, City of Wolverhampton Council 14.35-14.45 Respondent: Sara Wajid, Co-CEO Birmingham Museums Trust 14.45-15.30 Discussion & Questions 15.30-15.45 Break 15.45-15.50 Welcome back & Introductions to Propositions/Provocations 15.50-16.05 Anjalie Dalal-Clayton, Our civic collections are our national collections 16.05-16.20 Ingrid Pollard and Corinne Fowler, Exploring Britain’s Colonial Countryside: Co-Curation, Creative Commissions and Child Leadership 16.20-17.00 Discussion & Questions WORKSHOP II : WHAT STORIES OF BRITISH ART TRAVEL? APRIL 28, 14.00 - 17.00 BST 14.00-14.15 Welcome & Introductions 14.15-14.35 Opening statements from: Emma Dexter, Director, Visual Arts, British Council Roger Malbert, curator, writer and former Head of Hayward Touring Francis Morris, Director, Tate Modern 14.35-14.45 Respondent: Abbas Zahedi, muti-disciplinary artist based in London 14.45-15.30 Discussion & Questions 15.30-15.45 Break 15.45-15.50 Welcome back & Introductions to Propositions/Provocations 15.50-16.05 Wing Chan, 'Moving Images, Moving Sculptures: performing monumental Henry Moore Abroad' 16.05-16.20 Zehra Jumabhoy, 'Brangwyn and the 'British' Empire Panels' 16.20 - 17.00 Discussion & Questions WORKSHOP III : WHAT NARRATIVES OF BRITISH ART ARE BEING COPRODUCED INTERNATIONALLY? WEDNESDAY 5 MAY, 10:00 - 13:00 BST 10.00-10.15 Welcome & Introductions 10.15-10.35 Opening statements from: Nick Aikens, Curator, Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven, NL) Annie Fletcher, Director, Irish Musuem of Modern Art Fiona Kearney, Director, Glucksman Gallery (Cork, IE) 10.35-10.45 Respondent: Erika Tan, artist, curator and lecturer, Central St Martins 10.45-11.30 Discussion & Questions 11.30-11.45 Break 11.45-11.50 Welcome back & Introductions to Propositions/Provocations 11.50-12.05 Adele Tan, Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore 12.05-12.20 Laura Castagnini, Independent Curator 12.20-13.00 Discussion & Questions For additional details or queries, please contact: curatingnation@gmail.com Image courtesy of Ingrid Pollard , 2020