Co-Creating Public Space conference How Can We Thrive?

Informed by notions of care and principles underpinning alternative economies, the conference will look at how creative practice can build collectivity by sharing resources, values and opportunities in equitable ways. Curated by UP Projects and presented in partnership with John Hansard Gallery, the conference is part of Co-Creating Public Space, led by John Hansard Gallery and supported by Arts Council England.

The conference will feature a range of UK-based and international public art practitioners whose socially engaged practice and methods of co-creation will explore how art can help communities reimagine new futures. The one-day event will present a series of inspiring case studies that demonstrate the value of working in socially engaged ways, exploring pertinent questions in relation to socially engaged practice to facilitate a meaningful dialogue between artists, curators, communities and commissioners.

A reader will be developed as part of the conference.

Co-Creating Public Space: How Can We Thrive? is part of Constellations 2023. The programme also includes a series of online Constellations ° Assemblies, open to all artists, curators, practitioners, commissioners, and those working across public art, social practice and regeneration.

Alongside the events, the Constellations ° Cohort, a selected group of artists, curators, producers, and practitioners operating in the expanded field of public art, will take part in a programme of free learning and development opportunities.

Constellations 2023 is curated by UP Projects in partnership with Flat Time House and in association with Liverpool Biennial. Constellations 2023 includes the Co-Creating Public Space: How can we thrive? conference realised in partnership with John Hansard Gallery. Constellations 2023 is generously supported by Arts Council England, the Barrington Hibbert Associates Access Fund, and the Constellations Patrons.

Speakers include:
Sepake Angiama, Director, Institute of International Visual Arts (iniva)
Steve Bega, Skate Southampton
Helen Cammock, Artist
Jes Fernie, Independent curator, writer and lecturer
Owen Griffiths, Artist
Rich Holland, Architectural designer
Torange Khonsari, Academic and designer
Lady Kitt, Artist, researcher and drag king
Suzanne Lacy, Artist
Amy Scott-Pillow, Artist and co-founder of WeSkateSoton
Binki Taylor, Creative producer and community activator
Fatoş Üstek, Independent curator and writer
Raluca Voinea, Curator and art critic

Introductions, 9–10am

Registration and introductions to speakers for the day

Changing our idea of time • Panel discussion, 10–11.20am

Collaboration moves at the speed of trust. How do we reconcile the need to build realistic and effective timelines with the understanding that building relationships around trust and collaboration requires slow processes?

Changing our idea of time is moderated by Sepake Angiama, Director at iniva. Speakers include Helen Cammock, artist, Suzanne Lacy, artist, and Owen Griffiths, artist.

We are all economists • Panel discussion, 11.40am–1pm

Drawing on our own daily experience as citizens, consumers, budget holders, savers, and commoners, how do we empower ourselves and our communities to embrace alternative economic practice? How can we embed distributive and decentralised economic models in our projects that are capable of effecting change?

We are all economists is moderated by Fatoş Üstek, Independent Curator and Curator of Frieze Sculpture Park 2023. Speakers include Raluca Voinea, Director at tranzit.ro, and Torange Khonsari, Director at Public Works and Course Leader on Design for Cultural Commons at London Met.

Social practice: empowerment or power struggle? • Workshop, 1.45–3pm

How do we voice and address the wider systemic challenges and limitations we encounter when developing projects with and alongside communities?

Social practice: empowerment or power struggle? will be led by Jes Fernie, Independent curator and writer.

Making access a priority • Workshop, 1.45–3pm

When working with artists, collaborators, community members, and the wider public, how do we build in access right from the start?

Making access a priority will be led by Lady Kitt, disabled artist, researcher and drag king.

A new skate landscape for Southampton • Workshop, 1.45–3pm

Bring your own questions to this roundtable workshop exploring how Southampton’s new Skate Landscape project, realised in partnership with Skate Southampton and Southampton City Council as part of the Co-Creating Public Space programme, will be developed over the coming months. This project, will challenge how we interact and use public space and is designed by Rich Holland in collaboration with Skate Southampton.

A new skate landscape for Southampton will be led by Steve Bega from Skate Southampton, Rich Holland, architectural designer, and Amy Scott-Pillow from WeSkateSoton.

Social practice: empowerment or power struggle? • Workshop, 1.45–3pm

How do we voice and address the wider systemic challenges and limitations we encounter when developing projects with and alongside communities?

Social practice: empowerment or power struggle? will be led by Jes Fernie, Independent curator and writer.

Key insights • Panel discussion, 3.15–4.15pm

Practitioners from earlier panels and workshops report back on insights, key learnings and take aways from the day’s conference.

Conclusion, 4.15–5pm

Speaker details will be announced soon.