Developing Coventry Biennial 2023
Developing CB23 Promo Image, 2023. Courtesy: Coventry Biennial.
We are delighted to announce that over the coming weeks and months we will begin publicly and collaboratively developing Coventry Biennial 2023.
Recently we have received confirmation of support for this phase of our work from Arts Council England alongside ongoing and renewed support from Coventry City Council, Coventry University, University of Warwick and Arts Council Collection.
We have begun planning (and delivering) a lively programme of events designed to connect artists, audiences, communities and our partner organisations. Through these events we will be able to start sharing the ideas, people and places which will be at the centre of our activity moving forwards.
We’ve continued our Mothers Who Make programme, led by local artist Adele Mary Reed, supporting “all kinds of mothers and all kinds of makers” in Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
Our local Mothers Who Make Hub’s popular peer support sessions have already started, the first took place on the 25th January and the next one will happen on the 25th February. Over the coming months these peer support sessions will be supplemented by an exciting new project called Mothers Who Make a Garden, interested mother-artists should join the peer support session later this month to find out more!
Mothers Who Make a Garden Promo Image, 2023. Courtesy: Adele Mary Reed.
Our recent participation in the international SpaceX project has also informed the development of a new programme of participatory and social activity. We are excited to introduce the innovative Coventry Biennial Cycle Club, designed to connect people with artists and cultural institutions in Coventry and Warwickshire in a social way that benefits health, wellbeing and promotes mutual support.
The first meeting of the Coventry Biennial Cycle Club, included a ride to Leamington Spa and a workshop by local artist Janet Tryner that took place on the 5th of February. One participant commented:
“This was an enjoyable event, and a refreshingly creative spin on just going for a bike ride. The creative activity was enjoyable and galvanising for the group. Support crew were well positioned throughout the route, and the coffee on arrival was a welcome touch.”
Coffee Break during the Coventry Biennial Cycle Club Pilot Event, 2023. Photo: Verity Jackson.
The second meeting is NOW OPEN FOR BOOKINGS and will be taking place on the 26th February where we will ride from Coventry City Centre to the University of Warwick for a guided tour of the current exhibition in the Mead Gallery. Moving forward these meetings will be taking place monthly.
Mothers Who Make and Coventry Biennial Cycle Club will form part of a much wider programme this spring with a series of workshops, symposiums, artist projects and publications all on the horizon. Information will be released via our website, social media channels and our newsletter as it becomes available.
Ryan Hughes, our Artistic Director and CEO adds:
“Our team are super excited to be working closely with artists, their collaborators and communities on figuring out what 2023 might look like for our organisation. At the end of last year, in a public statement I said that our programme may look and feel different to previous years. That starts right now, we hope that you’ll join us in developing Coventry Biennial 2023!”
by Ryan Hughes