May - July 2024
We welcome Katriona Beales and Loraine Monk of Artists’ Union England (AUE) to a 2-month residency that was chosen through an open call. This was started by the Public Engagement team to explore our connections with the local community. The residency will offer dedicated research and thinking time for AUE.
AUE is the only trade union for visual, applied artists and artists with a socially engaged practice in England. There are now over 1,400 members. This growth was achieved thanks to the hard work of volunteer artists on the Executive Committee. They collaborated with freelance AUE staff and active members. These people dedicate their limited resources to the shared goal of changing structural inequalities in the art world.
During their residence, AUE will use this time to create position statements, policies and tools which will be shared with the public. This includes:
- Artists’ incomes, working conditions and rates of pay
- Developing research around working conditions, to include a research day with Industria (authors of the Structurally F_cked report)
- Art practice and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Climate justice
- Equalities in the arts
- Contributing to our public engagement toolkit and community of practice work.
On 1 May 2024 marks 10 years since the union was first launched, with no resources except resolve.
During the residency, AUE will make use of Chelsea Space as a working and meeting environment. This also includes special occasions where it’ll be open to staff, students and the public.