The ArtWorks Scotland Conference 2012 will take place at The Lighthouse, Glasgow from 22-23 November 2012.

ArtWorks Scotland is a national professional development initiative for artists working in participatory settings. It is one of 5 projects across the UK that is part of ArtWorks: Developing Practice in Participatory Settings – a new initiative from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation – and is partnership funded by Creative Scotland.

The November conference, entitled ‘Art, Society and Participation: Constructing the Larger Narrative’, places arts in participatory settings in a wider social context by exploring current thinking around quality, value and ethics in this area of creative practice.

The keynote speakers are writer and cultural activist, Arlene Goldbard and Charles Chip McNeal, Director of Education at San Francisco Ballet. Arlene’s particular focus is the intersection of culture, politics and spirituality and has published works including New Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development and Community, Culture and Globalisation and Crossroads: Reflections on the Politics of Culture. She is currently writing a new book on art’s public purpose.

Since 1980, McNeal has been teaching, developing, and implementing community outreach and education programs for San Francisco Ballet. He has consulted for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kennedy Centre, the California Arts Council, and the California State Department of Education.

The conference offers creative industry practitioners the chance to take part in a range of practical activities to reflect, build skills, knowledge and networks.

Timetables can be found here:

22 November – Conference Day 1 Timetable (.pdf)

23 November – Conference Day 2 Timetable (.pdf)

Further information and ticket booking facilities are available here: http://tiny.cc/t0iinw

The initiative aims to generate a step change in the availability of information and training provision for artists, through engagement with Higher and Further Education providers, cultural organisations and employers and artists themselves.

Venu Dhupa, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland commented:

“Creative Scotland are delighted to be partnering on this project, supporting artists across Scotland by developing the training infrastructure and giving them access to established professionals through the ArtWorks Scotland events.”

Susanne Burns, Project Director of the ArtWorks initiative said:

“The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is delighted to be supporting ArtWorks Scotland and this event which will give artists and organisations the chance to explore ArtWorks learning and current thinking in relation to their own practice.”

Source: Creative Scotland