Online Course ART FOR OTHER WORLDS by Mitch Speed

“It sometimes seems that artists do a special kind of creative work, free from the dynamics of market driven economic and social orders. But this presumption rarely withstands scrutiny. Whether selling their work in galleries, showing it in museums governed by the wealthy elite, or teaching at academic institutions which partake in speculative investment, artists are deeply entwined in these frameworks. Consisting of readings and seminar discussions, this course will equip participants with the tools to engage this situation, through the following questions:

• How do economic systems affect the capabilities of art?
• Must artists continue to work within an art world in which property, business, and industry are owned by private individuals? Or are there other ways?
• How can artists continue to do their work at all,  when art-making itself becomes a vocation of the rich?

Each class will begin with a lecture contextualising the weekly reading followed by a seminar discussion. To maximise the quality of discussions and our capacity to learn together participant will be asked to read the essay before each class and prepare notes for discussion.” (Text by courtesy of Mitch Speed)