The burning brush logo for 'A Public of Sorts' project
Front cover with gold emboss and stitched in pencil, as used in the flyposters.
Gatefold spread from the report, showing some of the hundreds of flyposter questionnaires we made
A spread showing ceramics designed as part of the project.
A valentine's day lecture in the streets as a part of the project's reclamation of space for art.
A Public of Sorts
In February 2007, UHC embarked on a 12-month research project into the art audience for contemporary radical art in Manchester (funded by Arts Council England).
During this time, we sought to engage with the existing art audiences in Manchester, as well as encourage a dialogue between us and non-art -going audiences. The research also included several provocative art interventions in ‘public’ spaces.
'A Public of Sorts’ resulted in the publication of a report, and a hand-made, limited edition book, written and designed by UHC (and produced by artist Lucy May Schofield). The 57-page report draws together our findings based on interviews, public surveys, consultation sessions and seminars (with artists, art professionals and community workers). It also documents the art interventions and explores from our perspective questions relating to art, the city and the concepts of ‘public’.
The terms and nature of contested public space in cities continues to inform our practice. We want to further explore critical visual art as an antidote to private enclosure of space and see artists as key players in the development of strategies and tools of 'disclosure' as a reversal of neo-liberal 'enclosure'.
The full report can be downloaded in PDF format below