we now have the final descriptive sentence for the art trail...

In the 2011 pilot year, we have 9 artists across 7 venues, a peripatetic work and a performance.

Oh The Excitement

Things are hotting up, as we get closer to actually doing instead of just talking about it...

I've realised I need more curatorial experience and knowledge (luckily Andrew has plenty that I can learn from with all his international exhibitions experience!) But I have also booked to go to a symposium run by re:place, curating the rural. Should be interesting, with several artists speaking and an opportunity to connect with the people who run it. I will take the opportunity to gather as much information as possible.

It seems that everyone we talk to loves our idea and has lots of advice on ways to proceed, which could become overwhelming if we're not careful, especially as Andrew and I both have our own arts practices, and our doing this aswell. Ideally, next year< I would like more people to be involved in the organising and have more say in what happens, then it becomes more of a collaboration and artists community event. As we are using this as an opportunity to connect with other artists and build our own community

conversations

the belper art trail is becoming a starter of conversations. yes indeed, this week i have been part of several conversations with the art trail at the core.

i've noticed today that chris' a-n- blog has featured in the artists talking monthly update email from the magazine editor.

at the weekend we sent out the invitations to artists to take part and there has been a good initial response. in a conversation with one today, we explored the possibility of simply having an a4 piece of paper with marks made on it, for this year the exercise is to test and prove that a trail of work in belper is possible. in terms of curatorial weight and excellence, let us have a few years to set up the process of placing works of art in property.

the art trail for me remains about possibility, collaboration and community.