Participatory Arts Conference in Edinburgh
This is not a conference review, but probably more entertaining.
Three snapshots from the conference:
- Trying to restraint myself at the welcoming banquet tapas table (and looking at the officiating guest gorging himself with haggis)
- “I am from HK and I work in community art”, “Now what do you mean by community art?”
- A tour to North Edinburgh
In 2016, I presented at the ITAC 3: Best, next and radical practice in participatory arts (International Teaching Artist Conference).
To give an idea of the range of practices under ‘Teaching Artist’, keynote and presenters included Royston Maldoom (dance, UK and Europe), Assemble (architecture, UK), Zikri Rahman (urban, Malaysia) and also artists working with communities in US, Kenya and Korea. Eric Booth, opening the conference on behalf of ITAC, explained that the term is used to overcome all the imagined boundaries that seemingly divide practitioners, when so much more can be achieved by standing together. Personally, I think ‘Teaching Artist’ is an interesting way to describe community artist, socially-engage artist, art teacher and people in social practice, it acknowledges the educational dimension of the work. I presented on the recently published paper 24 Hours in a Revolution: Participatory Music in the Umbrella Movement/Revolution, I think it belongs to ‘radical’ or ‘next’ (or possibly ‘best’?).
Snapshot 1: The welcoming banquet and breakout refreshments
Artists usually get no attention and no love, but not this time. Probably because the host Creative Scotland is a prominent body in the city, our welcoming reception was held at the historic Edinburgh City Chambers with free flowing wine and tapas (smoke salmon and haggis inspired). There was too much even for the attendees, that the important looking fellow who gave the welcome speech took it upon himself to take the lead in gorging down dozens of the haggis tarts.
Yes I felt welcomed and respected but not just because of the food. Half of the welcoming speeches were not scripted. I could tell some of these cultural department representatives are either artist, teachers or both. Local practitioners and officials stuck around to chat and mingle with us overseas guests.
The conference attracted people with similar interests and concerns. There were no shortage of conversations. The exchanges were further supported by good food and a comfortable venue which encouraged many to stick around after formal sessions. This is in contrast to other conferences where many sneak out to tour the city after fulfilling their duties.
Snapshot 2: “What do you mean by community art?”
So during one of the breaks, someone approached me with her plateful of fruit and introduced herself. I did the same and told her my practice is in community art. Then came a reply and a conversation that confirmed I was in the right place: “What do you mean by community art?” We each described our practice and the kinds of participation for which we strive.
It felt good to be among peers who think seriously about similar work. And it occurred to me that participatory practices across the globe share certain fundamental beliefs.
Snapshot 3: From the historic and picturesque venues at the foothill of Arthur’s Seat to North Edinburgh
I stayed 4 nights at a BnB facing the Arthur’s Seat. The 10 minute walk to the tourist strip was littered with pubs, an array of specialty stores and restaurants, historic sites and performance venues; or I could hike over the hill and ponder the stories and legends surrounding this old city. Good thing I joined the visit to the North Edinburgh Arts Centre to feel the more ‘Trainspotting’ side of the city.
On the way there a couple of local veteran practitioners described to me the history of the neighbourhood and the ways their work with people evolved through the years. The changes of government, politics and investments have not been good for many in the city.
Afterthoughts
A compressed tour in 5 days, caricatured people and impressions, taken with a grain of salt. It is a beautiful city none the less. I hope the experience and ideas I shared at the conference was worth the hospitality paid by the Scottish taxpayers.
For more focused reflections of the conference, message me or read the official document.
(By the way it felt like I was back in Edinburgh watching T2)
