Visual Art
Why we need to advocate for visual arts careers at high school
Fulfilling and financially sustainable careers absolutely do exist for high school students who excel in the visual arts, says Sarah Eve, an award-winning teacher and visual artist with special expertise in gifted and talented education. But – and here’s the “big but”, according to Eve – students and, most importantly, their parents, don’t know these careers exist, or which study pathways may lead to them.
‘Students and parents often perceive an art career solely through the archetype of a struggling artist, instead of seeing a thriving industry and a rewarding career that contributes to society,’ Eve tells ArtsHub. ‘More arts educators need to take an active role in advocating for visual arts careers to students, parents and the wider community – and there are so many opportunities to do so.’
On a recent visit to Nottingham, I finally felt I understood the meaning of ‘light-touch’ retrofit. I was there to visit Primary, a visual arts charity located in a Grade ll-listed Victorian former school in the inner-city neighbourhood of Radford. For more than a decade Pricegore has painstakingly supported Primary, resulting in a first phase of nuanced building works to meet a varied brief. A relocated entry sequence with a new front door and skilful reworking of the playground into a community garden are both modest and transformative.
An art exhibition that uses dogs as the inspiration has gone on show.
The collection at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe features international artists, designers, illustrators and photographers who use the animal as their subject matter.
Janine Parrish, who came up with the idea for the exhibition called A Dog’s Life, said: “There are lots of contemporary artists out there doing dog-themed artwork.”
Ali Akbar PN’s ongoing exhibition – The Salts of Many Seas at the Emami Art is an amalgamation of paintings, digital prints, sculptures, visuals and more. Inspired by his surroundings while growing up and residing in the coastal neighbourhoods, the exhibition has an impact of life around the coasts. We speak to the artist to know more.
Excerpts:
What themes have you explored in your latest exhibition?
I’m exploring the heritage and the cultural structures through my visual art practice. They mostly focus on the coastal regions of Kerala and Gujarat, where I’m currently based. I adopt a visual-oriented approach that explores people or places and heritages which is not addressed or represented enough or neglected. I explore myths, oral narratives, songs, and popular terminologies of social and power dynamics and incorporate them into my work.
