Live Art documents

This section of our website contains links to downloadable documents designed to provide an overview of Live Art and the infrastructures that support it in the UK.

Guide to Funding Opportunities for the International Mobility of Artists and Culture Professionals in Europe
Resource for artists, by PRACTICS and On the Move - September 2011.
Download here

“Build It” - The beginnings of Forest Fringe
by Deborah Pearson, Co-director and Founder of Forest Fringe
Download here

Public letter from Live Art UK in response to the announcement by Arts Council England of its National Portfolio Organisation awards for 2012-15. 
April 8, 2011
The full letter can be downloaded here
A short version of the letter can be downloaded here

Letter from Live Art UK to Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport)
December 15, 2010
"Live Art UK is deeply concerned about the recent cuts by DCMS to Arts Council England
(ACE). At a time when artists and arts organizations are planning their futures and
preparing for significant cuts to arts provision, we wish to collectively respond to the critical
shifts being implemented by DCMS."
The full letter can be downloaded here

New Publication, Spring 2010:
In Time: a Collection of Live Art Case Studies, is designed to represent some of the innovative and pioneering ways in which Live Art has both posed and responded to many of the exciting cultural challenges of our times. Each case study was directed by members of Live Art UK, using either their own work or the work of others as its focus. The case studies are complemented by contextualizing essays from cultural commentator Sonya Dyer and critic Lyn Gardner.
More information and download here

The following responses to the In Time collection were invited from artists Paul Hurley and Search Party, and presented at the Bristol Live Open Platform, Arnolfini, Bristol, 28 March 2010:
Paul Hurley
Search Party

Manifesto Club campaign against UK Home Office restrictions on non-EU visiting artists and academics:
On 27 November 2008, The UK Home Office introduced new border restrictions which have had a detrimental impact on non-EU artists and academics who are invited for performances, talks, conferences, exhibitions or artists’ residencies. Visitors and their hosts now have to submit to a serious of arduous and expensive procedures to get “sponsorship” and visas if they are from a visa-national country. Many artists and performers have had their visa applications rejected, have been deported at UK borders, and some have even been banned from entering the UK for 10 years. Recently visiting artists have been threatened by UK Borders Agency should they be caught playing, performing, making art or photographing! 

The Manifesto Club has been campaigning against these draconian restrictions in alliance with arts organisations, artists, musicians, gallery directors, theatres, academics and students. Together we call for these parochial, protectionist and suspicious regulations to be reconsidered, and affirm the vital contribution made by global artists and scholars to UK cultural and intellectual life.

The following documents have been used as tools for lobbying government and policy makers, as well as for artists and the general public fo find out more about the negative impact of these regulations. We would encourage readers to get further involved in the campaign and take further action. The campaign website suggests how you can help to press government to re-consider these intrusive and bureaucratic regulations. www.manifestoclub.com/visitingartists

Download pdfs:
Fortress Academy
Deported
UK Arts and Culture: Cancelled

Live Art UK Annual Networking Meeting 2007
The Live Art UK Annual Networking Meeting 2007 took place at the Great Eastern Hotel in London and was attended by over 50 delegates from around the UK. Mary Paterson, a witer participating in the Critical Writing Initiative attended and has prepared summary of the day's activity.
Download pdf: Mary Paterson's Live Art UK Annual Networking Meeting report.

Live Art UK Vision Paper
The Live Art UK Vision Paper was prepared as a discussion paper for a major meeting of Live Art UK members and other organisations and individuals interested in Live Art that took place in Liverpool in October 2004.
Download pdf: Live Art UK Vision Paper.

Focus Live Art
Focus Live Art was a series of meetings held in September 2001 bringing together key artists, promoters and funders in each English region to address the challenges facing policy and provision for Live Art and to consider solutions for a more sustainable future. Download pdfs: Focus Live Art Report, summary of identified challenges for Live Art, minutes of the Birmingham meeting, minutes of the Bristol meeting, and minutes of the Manchester meeting. Further information about Focus Live Art can be found at www.thisisLiveArt.co.uk