AIR

AIR’s first ever annual forum for artists takes place at Firstsite, Colchester in February. How will you effect change?

Saturday 11 February 2012

Firstsite, High Street, Colchester

Artists Effecting Change - the pivot upon which the first AIR forum sits. The event will be held at the dynamic new gallery space of Firstsite and will provide a platform for dialogue and debate, empowered and enabled through a range of speakers drawn from very different disciplines and fields of work but all committed to campaigning for effective change.

The event will address issues such as effective leadership, versatility, managing change, making decisions and entrepreneurship.  Speakers and the audience will be asked to respond to the questions: How have you effected change? How can we effect change?

AIR is a thriving, growing membership organisation of 16,000 plus members. These are difficult times and the visual arts needs to develop an active, vocal and articulate message if we are to make headway. Short , sharp and direct the event will take place over 3 hours comprising a key note speaker who will set the tone, followed by three Action Presenters who will profile their campaigns with the challenge of sticking to a ten minute timeslot.

AIR members will then join the presenters in Action Groups to contribute their views about how AIR can achieve our ambitions for visual artists. It is expected that all participants, presenters and audience alike, will take away strategic tools and knowledge in how to activate and disseminate our plans. The key issues addressed will be:

• Identifying key campaigning areas for 2012-15.
• What current issues AIR members feel that AIR should be campaigning on.
• How can the AIR membership help to identify key areas for campaigning.
• Placing artists on boards and decision making bodies.
• How individually AIR members are already 'effecting change' in their own lives.

We know that AIR members operate at a local, regional, national and international basis - our knowledge and networks are wide and deep and we can and will make use of all of these opportunities. 

By drawing on the experience of other campaigning groups and making use of contemporary social tools and techniques we can and will be heard, both within our own sector and beyond. We have the creative resources. We have the will. OpenAIR is a signifier of the dynamic path that AIR is committed to undertaking.

AIR Chair Sally Sheinman said: "Artists must be heard both within the arts and beyond and we can learn a great deal from the experience of campaign groups. OpenAIR will give all participants new insights, knowledge and tools for getting a voice. We know AIR members operate at local, regional, national and international levels - our knowledge and networks are wide and deep and we can make a difference!"

Artist and AIR Council member Rosalind Davis said: "It is a fantastic opportunity for the AIR membership to come together, to learn new skills from entrepreneurs which can be applied to shaping our own futures to effect change and strengthen our position, careers and status as artists. For myself as part of the AIR council it is also essential to meet and hear from our membership, to voice their needs which will inform AIR's future strategies, research and campaigns. OpenAIR will become one of the most important events of the year for artists. Come and make your voice heard!"

For the full schedule and list of speakers click here »

Bookings: As places are limited booking is essential. Contact airevents@a-n.co.uk with OpenAIR in the title and you will be sent more information.

Please note: Demand for this event is high. Should you wish to cancel your reservation please notify airevents@a-n.co.uk before 5pm on Monday 6 February. This will allow us to offer your tickets to someone else.

Any cancellations after this time or failure to attend the event will incur a small fee.

Disabled access: Firstsite is fully accessible. Disabled parking bays are available - allocated on a first come, first served basis. For further information please click here »

Please contact +44 (0)1206 577 067 or info@firstsite.uk.net with any questions. 

Follow OpenAIR live on Twitter using the tag #OpenAIR. There will also be a live video stream (details to follow), with edited highlights available on the AIR YouTube Channel »

How can artists effect change? Join the discussion on the AIR Forum »

First published: a-n.co.uk November 2011