DIY13: 2016

DIY is LADA’s annual programme for artists working in Live Art to conceive and run professional development projects for other artists that explore innovative and provocative ideas and test new methodologies.  DIY 13 saw 20 projects take place across the UK and Ireland between July and November 2016, in collaboration with 20 partner organisations.

Ranging from stargazing with David Bowie in Colchester to canine collaboration in Plymouth, and from round-the-clock performative writing in Edinburgh to an ‘affectionate movement’ of radical representation created entirely online, DIY 13 included some of our most radical and transformative projects yet.

2016 lead DIY artists were Oreet Ashery & Anna Colin, Aaron Williamson, Katherine Araniello & Laura Dee Milnes, FK Alexander, Rhiannon Armstrong, Angela Bartram, Season Butler, Seke Chimutengwende & Alexandrina Hemsley, Karen Christopher, Curious, Katie Etheridge & Simon Persighetti, Eloise Fornieles, Hunt & Darton, Stephen Hodge, immigrants and animals, Stacy Makishi, Jade Montserrat & Ria Hartley, Louise Orwin, Sexcentenary, and James Stenhouse.

2016’s partner organisations were Artsadmin, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Chapter, Colchester Arts Centre, Compass Live Art, Create, DaDaFest, Delfina Foundation, Folkestone Fringe, Forest Fringe, hÅb, Heart of Glass, Home Live Art, KARST, Live Art Bistro, The Marlborough Theatre, National Theatre Studio, Southbank Centre, Tate (Early Years and Family) and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

"The range of artists we worked with all brought really pertinent issues and creative responses with them. The conversations and creative work around issues and politics of trespass, immigration, asylum, refugee status and experience, borders, Nationalism were incredibly strong." - Curious, DIY13 lead artists.

"The DIY scheme creates a culture of reciprocity, generosity and respect. Artists need one another, now more than ever. I learn by teaching and find inspiration in facilitating growth." - Stacy Makishi, DIY13 lead artist.

"I have had an irreplaceable injection of courage and spirit. I have made some long-lasting connections with other artists. The week propelled me forward within my own research like nothing else could have." - Participant, Unfunky UFO.

"It was like an ideal version of what I imagined it was going to be. As though if someone told you a storybook version of it, then that would be it. It was great to get out of my familiar, daily (useless) rituals; to get out of familiar geography and to physically test myself." - Participant, Survival Skills for Artists.

Responses, images and video documentation of DIY 13 are now available to view on the LADA website.

Breaking news – DIY14: 2017 will feature three DIY projects supported by Live Art UK’s Diverse Actions, and, thanks to the  Jerwood Charitable Foundation, three exciting new strands of DIY programming will be announced shortly. 

Categories: Report

Date Posted: 25 January 2017