Aesthetica Art Prize Future Now Symposium, New for 2016

This year sees the inaugural edition of the Aesthetica Art Prize Future Now Symposium – a new two-day event running on Thursday 26 May and Friday 27 May at York St John University as part of the annual Aesthetica Art Prize. The Future Now Symposium focuses on talent development, and tackle’s themes in today’s current artistic climate through lectures, workshops and panel discussions from within the arts ecosystem and broader social context.

Topics include themes such as Talent Development and Responsibility; Breaking New Ground: Photography in the Digital Age; Funding and Commissions; The Permanence of Print; Contemporary Painting: Traversing Conventional Boundaries, and Artists’ Film and the Moving Image.

There are over 40 high-profile speakers participating in the Symposium, including Alistair Payne, Head of Fine Art School and Painting Lecturer at Glasgow School of Art; Dani Burrows, Director of Strategy at Delfina Foundation; John O’Shea, Senior Exhibitions Manager at National Media Museum; Whitney Hintz, Curator of the Hiscox Collection and Mick Moore, Creative Director of British Journal of Photography among many others.

To date, the Aesthetica Art Prize has supported a wealth of established and emerging artists through its exhibition, accompanying publication and talks programme, which has progressed their careers and furthered their engagement within the art world since their exposure through the Award. The Symposium offers further learning and networking opportunities through the industry sessions for both artists and those keen to develop their understanding of contemporary art.

Additional activities include three portfolio reviews per day with a range of industry experts. These sessions provide a rare chance for artists to receive professional feedback and advice on their work. There will also be two film screenings per day, running as one session, for those participants who would like to see the longlisted and shortlisted artists’ films, as well as a specially curated selection of artists’ films and moving image curated from the winners of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival. These sessions are optional and will give participants the opportunity to experience something new throughout the day.

There will be 14 sessions in total running across the two days. Participants can purchase one day or two day passes which will enable them to access a number of diverse sessions, making the most out of their time at the Symposium.

Booking is required for Symposium sessions. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.aestheticamagazine.com/art-prize/symposium

Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition, York St Mary’s, Castlegate, York, YO1 9RN, 14 April – 29 May, Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 4pm (Free Admission). For exhibition details, see www.aestheticamagazine.com/art-prize/exhibition-2016

Credits
1. Squidsoup. Longlisted artist in the Aesthetica Art Prize. Courtesy of the artist.