Live Art UK is a consortium of venues, promoters and facilitators who collectively represent a range of practices and are concerned with all aspects of the development and promotion of the Live Art sector.

Members of the consortium work individually, collectively and in partnership with a range of venues, promoters, facilitators and stakeholders across the UK and internationally.

Live Art UK developed from the National Live Art Promoters Forum, which operated on an informal basis from 1998. From this group, the Live Art UK network developed and undertook a two-year action research project beginning in 2003, which explored new models and partnership for the promotion of Live Art; developed new ways to increase the national and international visibility of Live Art; and initiated strategies for a more sustainable future for Live Art practitioners and promoters. The Live Art UK action research project aimed to develop a representative voice for the Live Art sector in the UK and act as a point of contact for national and international artists and promoters wishing to find out more about Live Art in the UK. The action research project was supported by Arts Council England through the National Promoters Development Fund.

Between 2006 and 2008, Live Art UK undertook a series of collaborative projects called Live Art UK: Into Action which aimed to:

• Promote the understanding of Live Art practice
• Support artists throughout their career
• Grow and develop audiences for Live Art
• Develop new curatorial and presentation contexts for Live Art
• Inform regional and national policy and provision for Live Art
• Develop international exchanges of Live Art

Live Art UK:Into Action addressed these aims by delivering a series of project work across the UK. These were:

• A critical writing initiative
• A strategic touring commission
• International field trips
• An networking event.

These activities are now completed and information about the initiatives can be found in the projects section of this website. Into Action was financially assisted by Arts Council England.

The evaluation of Into Action showed that whilst the infrastructure of the Live Art and performance sector has shifted and provision for some aspects of the sector have improved, there is still a need for a collective voice and representation at all levels. In response to this, the network continued to move forward and plans to deliver projects with a focus on advocacy, lobbying, research, and representation at a national level. This includes:

• In January 2010, an expanded Live Art UK membership list.
• In Spring 2010, the publication of In Time: A Collection of Live Art Case Studies, with related launch events, distribution, and advocacy designed to strengthen the Live Art sector.
• Later in 2010, the publication of Live Art Almanac Vol. 2.