The Civic Work of Arts Organisations During COVID 19

The Civic Work of Arts Organisations During COVID 19

11 November 2020 – 11 November 2020

An in-conversation event with Clean Break and Slung Low reflecting on the civic and social work of arts organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each arts company has a long history of being deeply embedded in their respective communities, this event will consider how this has positioned them to attend to an intensified need during this global crisis.

Anna Herrmann, Joint Artistic Director of Clean Break, and Alan Lane, Artistic Director of Slung Low will share their respective companies responses to the pandemic, speak to how can this work be understood as artistic practice and address the relationship between civic and creative practices.

Dr J Shah (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) and Dr Kara McKechnie (University of Leeds) will offer responses to the talks offered by Anna and Alan. This will then be followed by a Q&A with attendees.

Dr Sarah Bartley (University of Reading) will chair the event.

This conversation speaks to the ways in which cultural organisations are pivoting their activities far beyond arts practices and returns to questions about role, responsibilities, and possibilities of the arts in social contexts.

This event is hosted by Dr Aylwyn Walsh and the University of Leeds and emerges from an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project entitled Clean Break: Women, Theatre, Organisation and the Criminal Justice System.

PI: Prof Caoimhe McAvinchey (Queen Mary University) Co-I: Prof. Anne-Marie Greene (University of Leicester) and Dr Deborah Dean (University of Warwick); and RA: Sarah Bartley (University of Reading).