CAZ
Cornwall Autonomous Zone
Activators:
Rebecca Weeks, James Green, Jesse Leroy Smith, Andy Whall, and Ian Whitford.
The Context For The CAZ Proposal: There has been a perceptible shift within Cornwall over recent months which has led to a re -evaluation by artists of the current state of the play within the region and of their priorities and ambitions. This shift has been catalysed in part by the ongoing career trajectories of those acting as activators within and by the 'Manifesta' dialogues that were designed to establish a cross sector dialogue within Cornwall about the prospect of hosting the migratory European biennial. Whilst these discussions were specifically aimed at gathering information and support for the 'Manifesta' project to feed back to the 'International Federation 'Manifesta' as part of Cornwalls bid, they actually resulted in a raised level of focus, communication and ambition around what we as practitioners can do to address the issues raised in those discussions; which are pressing regardless of whether we are to host 'Manifesta' in Cornwall or not. Our concerns have focused around supporting continuing professional development, international dialogue and the growth of regional, national and international artists networks and new audiences. For the CAZ team these dialogues highlighted the need for much closer working relationships between the artist led initiatives and the institutions or organisations within Cornwall in order to access the resources required to address the lack of the developed infrastructure required to support the envisioned expansion of the visual arts and their contribution to the economy and culture of Cornwall. CAZ has been conceived in response to these concerns and to the realisation that the activators within Cornwall are best placed to move quickly, to respond and to utilise the newly established channels of communication and the national and international focus on Cornwall.
How CAZ will operate: CAZ intends to support and develop the arts sector in terms of continuing professional development through mentoring emerging artists/curators and recent graduates, who will work with and in support of artists/proto-curators to deliver visual arts projects across the whole of Cornwall. CAZ will act as a physical hub, focus point and resource for artists and artist led groups and projects in the region. CAZ will also act as a real (as opposed to web based) manifestation of the already considerable network in the region and this will allow for an exchange of skills and information vital to an energetic and sustainable creative infrastructure.
CAZ will be led by artists and be supported by a consortium of agencies including Newlyn Art Gallery/The Exchange, Creative Skills, New Work Network and partnered by ALIAS and UCF who see the project as having value in terms of providing recent graduates/emergent artists with opportunities to learn project management, and administration skills. The directors will be supported and informed by a consortium of artists, creative sector workers and representatives from arts agencies through the CAZ steering committee.
CAZ will operate on three levels.
Commissioning work in public spaces, which comes about through dialogue with local people and so reaches a non-arts audience.
Operating to support development within the arts sector in Cornwall through mentoring students/graduates in delivering projects.
Offering a physical project space as a hub for artists to meet in and exchange ideas and information. Encouraging regional, national and international exchange in order to raise ambitions, and grow critical discourse and artists networks. Establishing and housing an archive of artist led initiatives, this will support the growth of the knowledge economy within Cornwall.
As a new organisation this work is dependent upon securing the funds to make it possible. The CAZ team are currently waiting to hear back from the Arts Council about their proposal and continuing to organise fundraising parties, the next event will be held at Penzance Arts Club on Saturday the 23rd of January, 8 -12pm.
Relevant Web links:
www.cazarts.org.uk
www.artsurgery.org
www.newlynartgallery.co.uk
www.revolver-art.org
www.artdept.org.uk
Rebecca Weeks
Dec 2009