Axisweb Research Validation beyond the gallery | Page 10

“Sometimes I think of it like
being an artist's best friend,
and then also a critical
friend.”

6

Phase One Findings
Organizations contacted during this research reported
performing a variety of roles: some focus primarily
on assisting artists to realize their ideas in public
spaces/participation, others focus on bringing art
to new audiences and spaces, others on supporting
artists to develop the skills to work socially for the
first time, and others offer a platform for experienced
“socially-engaged” artists to develop long-term
collaborative projects in communities.

“It's like a matchmaking thing,
trying to find artists whose work
is going to be relevant for the
context we're commissioning in.”

Some organizations (2 of 11) also mentioned that they
offer support in an informal way, through telephone,
online and face-to-face advisory services, which can
be accessed by the artist without prior invitation.
One focuses more on the wider promotion of sociallyengaged or live art, via publications and multi-media
documentation, also fostering critical discourse in
this area. Others offer specific commissions for artists
working with communities/in participatory ways, or
assist artists in securing funding to work outside of
galleries.

Role supporting artists
Organizations play a range of roles in supporting the
development and promotion of art practice outside of
galleries. For some this means providing alternatives
to gallery engagement, while for others, such support
takes place within or alongside a gallery context.
Key differences were identified at the outset between
those organizations who specialize in work with
artists with an established participatory practice, and
those supporting artists to develop their work in this
area, sometimes for the first time. A small number of
organizations specifically work with artists who have
already experienced