The Symposium:
Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, University of Salford and Open Eye Gallery, this one-day symposium brings together artists, commissioners, academics, funders, cultural organisations, environmental partners and public sector leaders to explore how cross-sector collaboration can create ambitious, place-based cultural projects.
Date and location:
Wednesday 28th October
New Adelphi Building,
University of Salford,
Peel Park Campus
M5 4BR
Schedule:
10.00: Meet & register
Tea and coffee
10.30: Welcome and introduction to the day
Lindsay Taylor, Director, University of Salford Art Collection
Daniel Atherton, Interpretation Manager – North, Royal Horticultural Society Sarah Fisher, Executive Director, Open Eye Gallery
10.40: Panel One (New Adelphi Theatre)
Commissioning for Place: Planning, Partnership and Practice
How artists, commissioners and organisations can work together to create ambitious, long-term projects in public spaces
Chair: Daniel Atherton, RHS
Panel: Yan Wang Preston, OFFSHOOT Artist
Ruth Haycock, Director, Co-create Culture
Gracie Divall, Art Fund
11.20 Comfort break, move rooms
11.30 Round tables – choose one of the following:
| Health and Wellbeing: The impact of creative practices in nature. Chair: Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead, Creative Health, GMCA and NHS Greater Manchester Venue TBC | Cross regional collaborations: How can we be more connected? Chair: Darren Grice, Director of Culture, Salford City Council Venue TBC |
12.20 Return to New Adelphi Theatre
12.30 Panel Two
Why nature and university sector knowledge and programmes are essential to the cultural sector in addressing sustainability.
Chair: Sarah Fisher
Panel: Prof Mike Hardman, Chair of Urban Sustainability, University of Salford
Feimatta Conteh, Senior Manager, Environmental Sustainability, Arts Council England
13.15 Lunch and Informal Networking
Tea and coffee served
Lunch not provided. Food outlets available or bring your own.
Optional: visit New Adelphi Gallery or Peel Park
14.15 Round tables – choose one of the following:
| Inspiring young people: Routes into nature and cultural careers CHAIR: Dr Caroline Edge, Co-Programme Leader BA (Hons) Photography Venue TBC | Creative commissioning in green spaces: What are the barriers and how do we overcome them? CHAIR: Daniel Atherton, RHS Venue TBC |
15.05 Comfort break, return to New Adelphi Theatre
15.15 Panel Three
Culture, nature and civic engagement
How can we harness our cultural and natural assets for the benefit of local people?
Chair: Lindsay Taylor, University of Salford
Panel: Alyse Johnstone, volunteer, Salford Youth Service
Cllr Hannah Robinson Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Sports and Leisure, Salford City Council
Dan Jarvis, Senior Relationship Manager, Arts Council England
16.00 Closing remarks: Daniel Atherton, Sarah Fisher, Lindsay Taylor
16.15 Close
16.30 Salford Museum and Art Gallery for drinks and informal networking reception and an opportunity to visit Memory Keepers by Yan Wang Preston and Young Shoots Social Club by Liz Lock and Salford Youth Service. Opportunity to meet the artists and contributors.
Download a digital copy of the schedule below:
Booking:
If you wish to reserve a space please follow the link to our Eventbrite page.
Further information:
Inspired by the OFFSHOOT partnership, the symposium will share learning from a multi-year collaboration that has embedded artists within RHS Garden Bridgewater through long-term residencies, research and community engagement. Together, the partners have commissioned four artists, engaged more than 400 participants in the creation of new work, presented five exhibitions across three North West venues, delivered a series of public talks with industry experts, and reached audiences of over 500,000 people.
Through panel discussions and facilitated roundtables, the symposium will explore the practicalities of commissioning artists beyond traditional cultural venues, developing long-term partnerships across the cultural, environmental and higher education sectors, and strengthening the evidence for the impact of creative work on people, place and nature.
The day is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas, experience and best practice, with a particular focus on sharing learning, championing long-term collaborative partnerships, broadening access to arts, heritage and nature, and building stronger connections between research, culture and the natural environment.
Whether you are developing commissions, shaping policy, undertaking research or delivering creative and environmental programmes, the symposium offers an opportunity to connect with peers, share expertise and contribute to the future of collaborative, place-based practice. The day will end with a drinks reception in the Yan Wang Preston: Memory Keepers exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the final exhibition of the OFFSHOOT project.
Seeds of Change Conference
Following on from the OFFSHOOT Symposium, on the 29th and 30th October – The Seeds of Change conference will be presented by Photography at the University of Salford, in collaboration with The Sustainable Darkroom.
Seeds of Change is a hybrid conference exploring regenerative practices in digital and analogue photography, this event invites photographers, academics, practitioners and educators to gather and share ideas and approaches to a sustainable future for photography.
If you are interested in booking tickets for this conference please find more information here: Seeds of Change Conference – Art Collection
Registration/ Check in for this conference will commence at 28th October 16:30 at Salford Museum and Art Gallery during the OFFSHOOT symposium networking reception.
