In the hustle and bustle of modern life, art often feels like a distant dream—something we appreciate from afar but struggle to integrate into our daily routines. Yet, art holds the power to transform not just our personal experiences but also the fabric of our communities. As we navigate the pressures of a profit-driven society, we must explore how artists can sustain their craft and continue to enrich our collective lives.
The Struggle of Art in a Neoliberal Society
In the labyrinth of today’s neoliberal policies, artists find themselves on a precarious path. The landscape has shifted dramatically, making it increasingly tough for many to carve out full-time careers in the arts. In a society that values profit above all else, artists often juggle multiple roles—technicians, professors, shop assistants, cleaners, teachers, and graphic designers—to make ends meet. This economic reality reflects a broader systemic issue where the market’s invisible hand values commercial success over personal expression and creativity.
Historically, there’s been a scepticism about state involvement in the arts within the UK. Since the 1930s, campaigns for public funding of the arts have sparked debates about how much influence the state should wield over artistic freedom. Institutions like Arts Council England and the British Council play crucial roles in this complex dance between art and state.
Marx’s early critiques of industrial labour highlighted how it alienated individuals from their creative essence. In this light, art emerges not just as a personal outlet but as a powerful means to challenge and reshape our understanding of the world around us. Under the weight of neoliberal policies, the practice of art becomes a battleground where the value of individual creativity stands against the relentless push for economic viability.
Socially Engaged Art: Bridging Communities and Creativity
In the midst of these challenges, socially engaged art (SEA) offers a beacon of hope. It’s a practice that bridges the gap between art and everyday life, bringing creativity into the heart of our communities. SEA is inherently fluid, wearing many hats—relational aesthetics, dialogical art, community practice, participation in art, and new genre public art, to name a few.
Socially engaged artists work at the intersection of art, community, and politics, often stepping outside the traditional confines of galleries and museums. These activities defy easy categorisation, making them rich with potential and complexity.
Before embarking on my PhD journey, my career spanned various roles in the creative industry, from graphic and web design to becoming an artist workshop facilitator and commissioned artist. Over time, I found myself drawn into community work, creating pieces that I later realised fell under the umbrella of socially engaged art. This was not a path I consciously chose but one that seemed inevitable in the UK’s artistic landscape, influenced heavily by funding structures like Arts Council England’s “Let’s Create” initiative. This vision encourages artists to make their work accessible to all, pushing us to engage with the public and embed art within the community.
The Essence and Evolution of Socially Engaged Art
Socially engaged art thrives on interaction and dialogue between artists and non-artists. It is not just about creating art; it is about building relationships and fostering connections. This practice, with roots in the performance and conceptual art movements of the 60s and 70s, found fertile ground in the 90s as global capitalism’s cultural dominance grew. Art historians and critics began to take notice, documenting and critiquing these community-based practices, further fueling their growth.
However, there is a darker side to this story. Claire Bishop argues that neoliberal governments have co-opted art for social purposes, using participatory art as a band-aid for systemic issues. This approach risks corrupting the true spirit of socially engaged art, bending it to serve state agendas under the guise of promoting ‘social inclusion’.
The Politics of Archives and the Role of Institutions
Just as socially engaged art challenges and enriches our communities, archives hold the potential to preserve and celebrate these communal stories. But navigating the world of archives brings its own set of challenges. Take the Northamptonshire Black History Archive (NBHA), for instance. Currently, Morcea Walker is the only trustee managing the association, which documents the rich histories of West Indian Caribbean Black, African Black, and Asian communities. With dwindling funding and people moving on, who will take over the responsibility for these invaluable records? If no one steps forward, these stories could be lost forever, a disappearance that would erase significant cultural histories.
Institutions like local councils and record offices play pivotal roles in the accessibility and management of these archives. The Record Office, for example, is located out of town, making it difficult to reach. Even if you manage to get there, the limited opening hours and numerous rules, such as producing ID to register and dealing with restricted time slots for ordering records, can be daunting. During a recent visit with NBHA, I found the process of accessing records full of obstacles. We even had to request specific devices to listen to outdated audio formats like minidisc, and I’m still waiting for them to find a way to play a film recorded on a format incompatible with modern PCs. This highlights the critical need for archives to be truly accessible and user-friendly.
Embracing the Future of Art and Archives
As we move forward, we must strive to make art and archives more accessible and inclusive. By supporting artists and embracing diverse narratives, we can enrich our everyday lives and ensure that the vibrant stories of our communities are preserved and celebrated. The journey to sustaining art and archives in a neoliberal world is complex, but it is essential for nurturing the creative essence that makes us human.