Participating artists: Larry, John, Christopher, Kieran, Sandra, Johnny, Dorethy, Sarah and all the artists from the ‘Tangible Selves’ project. The project is curated by Ngaire Jackson and Bronagh Lawson

Everyone has the right to create art and to share the result…shaping your cultural identity and having it recognized by others is central to human dignity. (Francois Matarasso)

Belfast lacks assisted studio spaces for adults, who require some help in their studio practice, perhaps because of a learning difficulty or other issue. Models like KCAT in Kilkenny or ActionSpace, London exists around the world that supports adults, and so we ask: why not here?

The selected artists have a love of art and have developed their practice so far on various short term projects at changing locations in the city. This project wants to show their work to a wider public and offer our space for open workshops and new work- or that was the intention before the lockdown.

Still, we have installed the project ‘in real’, made a film documentation and shifted the talks and conversations to Zoom.

Through talks and presentations by participating as well as interested artists and organisations, like Moon Base, Belfast, we want to lobby for assisted studio provisions in the city.

Online conversations programme

Through public Zoom talks and presentations by participating as well as interested artists and organisations like Moon Base and KCAT, we want to lobby for assisted studio provisions in the city.

If you are interested to take part in any of the Zoom conversations, please email info@pssquared.org and we will send you the link.

Thursday, 14 January, 7pm

Alastair MacLennan in conversation with Bronagh Lawson
Alastair MacLennan, Emeritus Professor of Fine Art at Belfast School of Art, has had a connection with KCAT for a number of years, collaborating with their artists and making the introduction for Bronagh Lawson and Ngaire Jackson to visit and be inspired by what they have achieved. This conversation gives an opportunity for those not familiar with the assisted studio concept to understand how it can work and the level of work produced. There will be an opportunity to ask questions online.

Wednesday, 20 January, 1-2pm

Panel discussion: Conversation with Paula Larkin and Riann Coulter, Curator and Manager of FE McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge, chaired by Bronagh Lawson.

Riann Coulter of FE McWilliams Gallery offers an important Art spot in the arts ecosystem, in 2019 KCAT held an important exhibition of their artists there, this will be an opportunity to talk about that experience and comment on the calibre of the art produced and thoughts on assisted studios.

Thursday, 21 January, 7-8pm
Panel discussion with artists from Moon Base
Panel discussion with artists from Moon Base: Maureen, Matthew and Sarah, facilitated by Seonaid; Ngaire Jackson and Bronagh Lawson. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Thursday 28 January 7-8pm
Conversation with Deirdre McKenna University of Atypical and TBC, chaired by Bronagh Lawson.
Deirdre McKenna of University of Atypicalhas a lifelong experience of looking at art, producing it and encouraging others, all while organising arts activities. This conversation will give an opportunity for Deirdre to comment on the need for assisted studios from the perspective of the University of Atypical.
Zara Lyness was the workshop artist for the Moon Base group in the Tangible Selves project, teaching ceramic’s via Zoom. Her first experience of working with artists that require assistance was the Hydrangea Project Still Bunker, 2018, with 32 adults involved. Zara will talk about her experience. She is currently studying for her MFA at Belfast school of Art.

Date/time TBC
Conversation with KCAT, Kilkenny

If you are interested to take part in any of the Zoom conversations, please email info@pssquared.org and will send you the link.