Constellations is a free learning and development programme for nine UK-based artists who are working with socio-political issues, community-oriented practice and/or public contexts. Conceived by UP Projects and delivered in partnership with Flat Time House, the programme supports artists to develop their practice, collaborate with others, access new networks.
Constellations supports artists to develop their practice, collaborate with others, and access new networks. The programme places a strong focus on ideas of co-authoring and self-organising and addresses the importance of collaboration in moments of crisis and the key role arts and culture can play in facilitating social cooperation. This year’s iteration also considers the digital realm as a platform for collaboration, engagement, and exchange as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with workshops taking place both online and offline.
Running between July 2020 and March 2021, the programme explores different approaches to artistic research and collaborative practice through eight self-led sessions (including one session facilitated by Constellations alumna Beverley Bennett), three workshops led by Larissa Blasic, Languid Hands (Imani Robinson and Rabz Lansiquot) and Stine Marie Jacobsen and one mentoring session led by Paul Purgas.
The 2020-21 cohort of artists were Adam Moore, Hussina Raja, Lady Kitt, Niki Colclough, Mark Bleakley, Sophie Seita, Tom Pope, Winnie Herbstein and Youngsook Choi and you can read more about their individual practice here.
Constellations was conceived by UP Projects in response to an increasing need to support artists interested in working within socio-political contexts. UP Projects have worked in collaboration with Flat Time House on this programme since 2017, drawing on the history of John Latham’s house as a site for experimental art education where students, artists and the wider public can come together to test the boundaries of what is teachable and knowable. The programme builds on the legacy of Latham's work as a founder member of the Artist Placement Group, a pioneering organisation in the history of socially engaged practice initiated in 1966 by Barbara Steveni.
Constellations is generously supported by Constellations Patrons and UP Supporters. To find out more please visit our Support Us page
2020-21 Public Event
At the end of the Constellations progamme, the group devised and delivered a public event at Flat Time House, London:
Umbra Penumbra Antumbra
11th September 2021, 18:00 - 21:00 BST
This event was organised by the artists from the Constellations 2020-21 cohort at Flat Time House (FTHo) in London, led by Adam Moore, Lady Kitt, Mark Bleakley, Niki Colclough, Sophie Seita, Tom Pope and Youngsook Choi.
Inspired by ACT UP activist Douglas Crimp and the 'Care Manifesto: The Politics of Interdependence', Umbra Penumbra Antumbra was a participatory gathering that put promiscuous kinship and care into practice through intimate collaboration. The event encompassed a number of different sessions and activities such as dancing, reading, resting, talking, listening, and cocktail making. Emerging from an entirely virtual collaboration during the programme, this first physical gathering marked a resting point out of digital fatigue and dependence on extractive production, creating a malleable space for play and care; a timescale that is soft and shifting.
2020-21 Initiatives
During this year, the programme was showcased as part of the Chisenhale Studio and Into the Wild workshop which took place on 7-8 December 2020. A selection of the Constellations 2020-21 cohort, and others from alternative artist learning and development programmes took part to share their experiences of completing an artist development programme online, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. A publication, Methods, Tools, Practices, Experiences - A Sharing Workshop on Taking Artist Development Online, was developed that documents the workshops held during the sessions.
Constellations 2020-21 Schedule
Workshop led by Larisa Blazic, 7 July 2020, held online
Self-led workshop facilitated by Beverley Bennett, 8 July 2020, held online
Workshop led by Stine Marie Jacobsen, 11 August 2020, held online
1-2-1 Mentoring session with Paul Purgas, 8 September 2020, held online
Workshop led by Languid Hands (Imani Robinson and Rabz Lansiquot), 15 October 2020, held online
