Future Now Symposium Programme 2020

aesthetica symposium // cornelia parker // nadav kander // martin parr

Cover

12 13 March york st john university

DEBATE

MARTIN PARR

DESIGN MUSEUM

PHOTO LONDON PILAA HOUSE OF AFRICAN ART CREATIVE FRUITS SHEFFIELD HALLAM SERPENTINE GALLERIES

ADVICE SURGERY

THE OTHER ART FAIR

QUEER BRITAIN

ANDREA LUKA ZIMMERMAN

NADAV KANDER

ARTES MUNDI

XR STORIES

ARTS UNI BOURNEMOUTH

ARNOLFINI

SOTHEBY’S INSTITUTE UNLIMITED ARTANGEL MAGNUM PHOTOS

WHITECHAPEL GALLERY

CONNECT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY

AMEENA M. MCCONNELL CREATIVE REVIEW YSP

ATLAS PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

CREATIVE UNITED JERWOOD ARTS THOMAS DUKES

PORTFOLIO REVIEWS

JASMINA CIBIC

NETWORKING

UNIVERSITY OF YORK

SLADE SCHOOL OF FINE ART SPECTRUM

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY GAZELLI ART HOUSE

DISCUSS

CORNELIA PARKER

JOHN KEANE

JULIA FULLERTON-BATTEN

LOTTE INCH GALLERY

FABRICA

FLOWERS GALLERY

SPRÜTH MAGERS

PARKER HARRIS

SOMERSET HOUSE LIZ WEST

LOTTIE DAVIES

THE ART NEWSPAPER

TATE

ACUTE ART

DIANE SMYTH

RIBA

LEEDS ARTS UNIVERSITY

IMPRESSIONS GALLERY THE PHOTOGRAPHERS’ GALLERY

welcome The Future Now Symposium 2020 invites you to debate, discuss and connect with key topics from today’s art world. We are currently living in a time of globalisation, expansion and media saturation. There have been considerable shifts in civilisation in the Information Age – we now communicate with each other instantly, yet with an alarming level of disconnect.

This two-day event brings together leading institutions, galleries and publications for discussion surrounding the most pressing issues from today’s creative industries. Through imaginative debates, portfolio reviews, networking, career advice and cultural engagement, Future Now is a platform for idea generation and collaboration.

Topics include Career Support: Key Funding Opportunities, How to Get Ahead as an Emerging Artist, Arts Journalism in the Digital Age and many more. Through these sessions, we invite you to engage with each other and, most importantly, question the current state of play.

Cover Image: © Tekla Severin. Installation view of Job Interview, 2019, © Andreas Reisinger. Courtesy of the artists.

Schedule of Events: thursday 12 march 08:30

De Grey Foyer

De Grey 103

De Grey 016

Registration 09:30

(08:45-09:30)

Portfolio Review Sessions 1-3

10:30

(10:00-11:00)

11:30 Coffee Break (11:30-12:30)

Portfolio Review Sessions 4-6

12:30 Advice Surgery with Arts Council England

13:30

(12:00-13:00)

(12:30-14:00)

Networking Lunch (13:30-14:30)

14:30 Advice Surgery with Arts Council England

15:30

(14:30-16:00)

16:30

17:30

18:30 Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition: Private View & Prize Giving 19:30 York Art Gallery (18:15-20:15)

20:30

Portfolio Review Sessions 7-9 (14:15-15:15)

de grey 019

de grey 124

de grey lecture

Key Note (09:30-10:00)

Session 1: Building an Inclusive Industry

Session 2: Curators’ Spotlight

Session 3: Understanding the Funding Landscape

(10:30-11:30)

(10:30-11:30)

(10:30-11:30)

Session 4: (RIBA) Designing the Future

Session 5: The Business of Art

(12:30-13:30)

(12:30-13:30)

Session 6: The Changing Face of Journalism

08:30

09:30

10:30

11:30

12:30

13:30

14:30

(14:00-15:00)

Session 7: What is the Power of a Photograph?

15:30

(15:00-16:00)

HEADLINE SPEAKER: Nadav Kander (16:30-17:30)

16:30

17:30

18:30

19:30

20:30

Schedule of Events: friday 13 march 08:30

de grey foyer

de grey 103

de grey 016

fountains

Registration 09:30

(08:45-09:30)

Portfolio Review Sessions 10-12

10:30

(10:00-11:00)

11:30 Coffee Break (11:30-12:30)

Portfolio Review Sessions 13-15

12:30

13:30

14:30

Advice Surgery with Arts Council England Networking Lunch

(12:30-14:00)

(13:30-14:30)

Advice Surgery with Arts Council England

15:30

(12:00-13:00)

Portfolio Review Sessions 16-18 (14:15-15:15)

(14:30-16:00)

HEADLINE: Martin Parr

16:30

(16:15-17:15)

17:30

18:30 Cocktail Reception 19:30 1331 Bar & Restaurant (18:00-19:00)

20:30

de grey 019

de grey 124

de grey lecture

Key Note (09:30-10:00)

Session 9: Key Funding Opportunities

Session 8: Artists’ Film (10:30-11:30)

(10:30-11:30)

Session 10: Painting Contemporary Thought

Session 11: How to Get Ahead as an Emerging Artist (12:30-13:30)

(12:30-13:30)

08:30

09:30

10:30

11:30

12:30

13:30

14:30 Session 12: New Technologies (15:00-16:00)

Session 13: Cornelia Parker: Transforming Objects (15:00-16:00)

15:30

16:30

17:30

18:30

19:30

20:30

everything you need to know Registration

Wi-Fi

Please register at De Grey Foyer at least 30 minutes prior to your first session. Registration will open from 8:45am.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the Symposium: Username: YSJ Guest Password: JhUnDuh8E5r8

Dietary Requirements We have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available during the Networking Lunch. Please see Reception for more details.

Accessibility All Symposium Session rooms are fully wheelchair-accessible and hearing-loops are available.

If you have any requirements or adjustments, please see Reception, who will be happy to assist.

Large-format programmes and timetables are available at Reception.

the whole event. We reuse and recycle as much of our branding as we can each year. Compostable cups and water jugs will be available throughout the event.

Lanyard Return Scheme Sustainability Sustainability is a key focus for Aesthetica. We have reduced our environmental impact throughout

This year, we have combined the lanyard and programmes to save on waste. Please return your lanyard after use, and we will reuse it.

thursday 12 march: sessions

From the series Yangtze – The Long River. © Nadav Kander, courtesy Flowers Gallery.

Thursday Headline Speaker Nadav Kander: Pushing Boundaries Across Form 16:30-17:30 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Nadav Kander is a London-based artist and director. He is recognised as one of the most original and highly regarded photographers of our time. His work forms part of the public collection at the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A, and he has won several awards with Prix Pictet, Sony World Photography Awards and World Press Photo. In conversation with Hannah Hughes (Curator of Photography, Flowers Gallery), Kander speaks about his diverse career – from celebrated portraiture to fine art – pushing boundaries across form, genre and technique.

Session 1: Building an Inclusive Industry 10:30-11:30 | De Grey 019 Queer Britain, Unlimited, House of African Art, PILAA A panel of speakers discusses who and what we are representing across the sector. How is programming changing on a wider level to radically transform audiences’ expectations? We must ask big questions about the underpinnings of our society, the roots of exclusion, the goals of diverse representation, and most importantly, under whose terms of engagement will we change the future? The session will be chaired by Dr Ope Lori from PILAA (Pre-Image Learning And Action) whose research reflects upon race and gender stereotypes, unpacking wider social and political narratives.

Session 2: Engaging Audiences: Curators’ Spotlight 10:30-11:30 | De Grey 124 Somerset House, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Sotheby’s Institute, Design Museum and Ameena M. McConnell How do curators make decisions? How does an idea develop into a fully realised exhibition? How can you ensure it is a success? In a world where attention spans have been reduced to three seconds, how do you captivate audiences and ensure that public engagement is high? What opportunities are there for emerging practitioners in an age defined by footfall and what is “Instagrammable”? This panel discusses the complex role of the curator in all its many forms in the gallery world today.

thursday 12 march: sessions Session 3: Understanding the Funding Landscape 10:30-11:30 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Arts Council North & Arts Council England What opportunities are there for artists to access funding and grants in 2020 and beyond? The demands for Arts Council England funding is high.

What are the best ways to ensure your application has the highest chances of success? What are the current priorities for the organisations and does your project fit within these objectives? Denise Fahmy, Relationship Manager Visual Arts, Arts Council North; and Mirka Kotulicova, Assistant, Visual Arts, Arts Council England, will lead a session on understanding the best practice for writing an application to propel your career.

Session 4: Designing the Future: What Needs to Happen 12:30-13:30 | De Grey 124 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) The United Nations and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have stated that to fundamentally address the climate emergency, we must immediately reduce our carbon emissions by 7.6% per year until 2030. The construction industry contributes 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions. Gary Clark (Chair of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Sustainable Futures Group and Principal at HOK) will discuss how and why we continue to use the earth’s resources as a commodity and how this has affected the climate, highlighting the necessary actions to deliver a net zero sustainable future.

Session 5: The Business of Art: Galleries, Art Fairs and Markets 12:30-13:30 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Creative United, Atlas Gallery, Gazelli Art House, The Other Art Fair, Photo London What is the landscape of the commercial gallery world? How do artists and gallerists get started in a highly competitive market? How do you develop a roster of collectors and how do galleries decide who to represent? Do sales determine success? What role do art fairs play in creating new collectors and buyers? How do galleries and fairs interact today? This panel speaks about developing artists’ careers whilst spurring on the art economy, engaging with the wider industry as an ecosystem of ideas.

Session 6: The Changing Face of Journalism 14:00-15:00 | De Grey 124 Aesthetica Magazine, The Art Newspaper, Creative Review, Diane Smyth (formerly British Journal of Photography) Since the iPhone was released in 2007, journalism has transformed.

Content has been reshaped in a myriad of ways including digital editorial, social media, podcasts and video content. A new visual literacy has also emerged where the image is just as powerful as the text, if not more.

What does this mean for the way that content is produced and the journalists who are producing it? A panel of experts from today’s leading publications will talk about the media industry today.

thursday 12 march: sessions & Events Session 7: What is the Power of a Photograph?

15:00-16:00 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Magnum Photos, The Photographers’ Gallery, Julia Fullerton-Batten, Lottie Davies, Thomas Dukes Footfall for photography exhibitions is up year on year; events like Photo London and Paris Photo are experiencing surges in audience numbers.

Photography has never been so present in our daily lives. It is the vernacular of our times and the most immediate form of communication.

How are brands, agents, galleries and practitioners maximising and contributing to the evolution of visual cultures? What makes a good image and how far can it go in terms of influencing the wider industry?

Portfolio Review Sessions 10:00-11:00, 12:00-13:00, 14:15-15:15 | De Grey 016 Full list of reviewers: aestheticamagazine.com/symposium These 1-1 sessions are for practitioners working across all different types of genres and media including drawing and painting; photography and digital media; sculpture, design and three-dimensional art; video, installation and performance. Whether you’re established or emerging, these sessions provide invaluable advice from renowned industry experts across the worlds of publishing, curation, academia and business.

These experienced individuals will discuss how to develop your ideas and further your career, whatever level you are working at.

Advice Surgery with Arts Council England 12:30-14:00, 14:30-16:00 | De Grey 103 Denise Fahmy, Arts Council North Mirka Kotulicova, Arts Council England Join Denise Fahmy and Mirka Kotulicova for a series of unique and tailored advice surgeries. Each 30-minute session, offered on a 1-1 basis, gives individuals the opportunity to discuss the realities of funding applications and gain feedback on prospective projects, ideas and aspirations. Learn more about how to access the wider industry through the annual Arts Grants – open access funding programmes for practitioners and art organisations working in multiple media and at differing levels.

special event Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition: Private View and Prize Giving 18:15-20:15 | York Art Gallery Visitors have the chance to explore the 2020 Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition ahead of the crowds at the Private View. Following an informative day of talks and panel discussions, join delegates, guests from the art world and the Aesthetica team for a special evening of networking at the Awards Ceremony – all within the heart of York Art Gallery. Find out about the 18 shortlisted artists whose diverse works explore an increasing level of mass consumption, over-stimulation and emotional disconnection in the digital world. RSVP required.

friday 13 march: sessions

The Artificial beach inside the Ocean Dome, Miyazaki, Japan, 1996. From Small World . © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos

friday Headline Speaker Martin Parr: A Chronicler of Modern Times 16:15-17:15 | Fountains Lecture Theatre Martin Parr is one of the world’s most celebrated documentary photographers. He is also a photojournalist and photobook collector.

Parr is best known for this intimate, satirical and anthropological works that scrutinise contemporary life, over consumption, and in particular the social classes in England. He has been a member of Magnum since 1994 and has exhibited worldwide. Most recently this has included a major retrospective, Only Human, at National Portrait Gallery, London.

He will speak about his distinguished career at this year’s Future Now.

Session 8: Artists’ Film: Social and Cultural Dialogues 10:30-11:30 | De Grey 019 Andrea Luka Zimmerman & Sara de Jong (University of York) Andrea Luka Zimmerman is an artist and filmmaker whose work is concerned with marginalisation, co-existence, waywardness, social justice, class and structural violence. Zimmerman has been shortlisted for the Grierson and Jarman awards, as well as the Aesthetica Art Prize. Her latest film is the Artangel-produced Here for Life. In conversation with Sara de Jong (University of York), Zimmerman will explore how filmmaking engages with social and political spheres, asking questions about a sense of belonging, class and culture in the moving image.

Session 9: Career Support: Key Funding Opportunities 10:30-11:30 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Aesthetica Art Prize, Arts Council North, Arts Council England, Jerwood Arts, Whitechapel, XR Stories Funding and budgeting are some of the most important elements to consider. What opportunities are available for artists today? What are organisations offering in terms of pastoral and financial support? This session brings together the UK’s leading organisations to discuss their key initiatives, as well as how practitioners can engage with these opportunities in 2020 and beyond. Speakers will discuss different routes to consider and how to apply for the next wave of bursaries and grants.

friday 13 march: sessions Session 10: Painting Contemporary Thought 12:30-13:30 | De Grey 019 John Keane John Keane is a renowned artist whose work continues to address the most pressing social and political issues of our time. His sustained inquiry into military and social conflicts has extended from Northern Ireland to the Middle East, where he was commissioned as the Official British War Artist of the 1991 Gulf War. His paintings depict displacement, war, terror and the environment. He is using one of the oldest forms of art but in new ways.

He will discuss the ethics of representing a war zone, as well as his impressive career, reinterpreting the definition of painting.

Session 11: How to Get Ahead as an Emerging Artist 12:30-13:30 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Aesthetica Art Prize, Fabrica, Arnolfini, Artes Mundi, Parker Harris, Jasmina Cibic, Liz West This practical session will explore avenues for career development, gaining gallery representation and understanding the routes into exhibition programming. Are art prizes the best route for practitioners to reach wider audiences? What are their benefits beyond the prize money? In this informative talk you will hear from representatives from a range of art prizes, galleries and agencies – as well as individual artists – as they speak about the best ways to navigate the complex and competitive art world.

Session 12: New Technologies: The Potential of Data-Influenced Artworks 15:00-16:00 | De Grey 124 Acute Art, ArtAngel, Serpentine Galleries, Northumbria University Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality technologies provide new forms of interpretation and experience. The development of immersive curation – including apps, projections and mapping – has created an accessible route for increased audience engagement. Speakers from Acute Art, Serpentine and Artangel are in conversation with Charles Danby, Northumbria University, about the intersection between art and technology and its potential for the future with regards to artistic output beyond the gallery.

Session 13: Cornelia Parker: Transforming Objects 15:00-16:00 | De Grey Lecture Theatre Cornelia Parker (RA, OBE) Cornelia Parker is world-renowned. She was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997 and was the first female figure to be appointed the Election Artist for the UK General Election in 2017. She has exhibited internationally with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, V&A, Tate, the British Museum, and, most recently, MCA Australia. Cornelia will discuss the conceptual, political and physical elements of her practice. She will touch upon the use of materials in sculpture and large-scale installation, exploring their meaning in a world of mass-consumption and geological fragility.

friday 13 march: sessions & events Portfolio Review Sessions 10:00-11:00, 12:00-13:00, 14:15-15:15 | De Grey 016 Full list of reviewers: aestheticamagazine.com/symposium These 1-1 sessions are for practitioners working across all different types of genres and media including drawing and painting; photography and digital media; sculpture, design and three-dimensional art; video, installation and performance. Whether you’re established or emerging, these sessions provide invaluable advice from renowned industry experts across the worlds of publishing, curation, academia and business.

These experienced individuals will discuss how to develop your ideas and further your career, whatever level you are working at.

Advice Surgery with Arts Council England 12:30-14:00, 14:30-16:00 | De Grey 103 Denise Fahmy, Arts Council North Mirka Kotulicova, Arts Council England Join Denise Fahmy and Mirka Kotulicova for a series of unique and tailored advice surgeries. Each 30-minute session, offered on a 1-1 basis, gives individuals the opportunity to discuss the realities of funding applications and gain feedback on prospective projects, ideas and aspirations. Learn more about how to access the wider industry through the annual Arts Grants – open access funding programmes for practitioners and art organisations working in multiple media and at differing levels.

special event Cocktail Reception 18:00-19:00 | 1331 Bar & Restaurant | Grape Lane, YO1 7HU Celebrate new connections and inspirational ideas at the Future Now closing event. This is a fantastic opportunity to unwind after a busy day of sessions, exhibition viewing and networking, and catch up with participants and delegates alike. 1331, a unique bar and independent cinema, is the location for this event, providing the perfect end to an imaginative and informative two days. Meet the Aesthetica team and key attendees, with a complimentary cocktail on arrival. Offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

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