This is the text version of my keynote paper I gave at the Culture and the Periphery conference at Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen on 4th October 2019.
Academic paper
Art & Life? Culture, (Anti)Aesthetics, Anti-Art, Activism & Social Practice
This is my full paper given as a lecture at Northumbria University in Newcastle on Wednesday 27th April 2016. It is the beginnings of an attempt to free radical social practice and activist art interventions from the ragwort-like sprouting of institutionalised and depoliciticised "socially engaged art". My research considers radical social practice: as praxis as theory…Read more Art & Life? Culture, (Anti)Aesthetics, Anti-Art, Activism & Social Practice
GREAT Art for THEM, #everydaycreativity for everyone else!
A provocation for the Everyday Creativity Session at University of Warwick 6th April 2016 This is the paper I presented. I have included some of the slide images in the text below. If you would like to view the presentation, please click here and remember to view the slideshow with notes enabled (bottom right). …Read more GREAT Art for THEM, #everydaycreativity for everyone else!
From creative placemaking to “stewardship” for future wellbeing: the anti-academic turn. #AAG2016
I admit to being rather surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response to my presentation "Place Guarding: Activist and Social Practice Art - Direct Action Against Gentrification" at the Association of American Geographers conference 2016 on 29th March. The feedback from the paper and the recorded presentation was also very supportive. There have been a couple of…Read more From creative placemaking to “stewardship” for future wellbeing: the anti-academic turn. #AAG2016
Place Guarding: Activist & Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification #AAG2016 PowerPoint & Filmed Presentation
I've just shared my full paper from the Association of American Geographers Conference here but I thought some people might like to see the PowerPoint with notes or rather, I would recommend, the film with me presenting my paper. (I presented it virtually, so this is exactly as the audience saw and heard it at…Read more Place Guarding: Activist & Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification #AAG2016 PowerPoint & Filmed Presentation
Place Guarding: Activist & Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification Full #AAG2016 Paper
I've just presented my paper "Place Guarding: Activist and Social Practice Art - Direct Action Against Gentrification" at the Association of American Geographers Conference 2016 in San Francisco. I wasn't there. Made use of PowerPoint Mix! The PowerPoint and a nicer quality MP4 version will be available here very shortly. For now, here's my fully…Read more Place Guarding: Activist & Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification Full #AAG2016 Paper
Place Guarding: Activist and Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification
This is the abstract for my paper presentation at the Association of American Geographers Conference 2016 in San Francisco. I'll be presenting it at a session on 29th March at which Ann Markusen (seminal proponent of creative placemaking) will be the discussant!I'll upload full paper and presentation after the conference. ABSTRACT Place Guarding: Activist and Social…Read more Place Guarding: Activist and Social Practice Art – Direct Action Against Gentrification
Participating without power: The limits of instrumentalised engagement with people & place
This is a copy of my abstract submitted for the forthcoming Creative People and Places conference entitled (unbelievably) People, Place, Power. It was rejected. Perhaps it was not academic enough or badly written? Or perhaps it might have been a little challenging for some panel members? Anyway, I stand by my words... Make a Wish,…Read more Participating without power: The limits of instrumentalised engagement with people & place
colouring in culture 