How are you?

Most conversations or emails in recent months have started with 'How are you?' or 'I hope you are keeping safe and well', indicating a growing empathy triggered by the Covid-19 crises. But it also anticipates a fear of possible illness and suffering by the sender and recipient alike.
Many artists have suffered the temporary closure of their workspaces, acute financial hardship and loss of income due to the gig economy most are working in.
It is- like for so many others- a time full of questions and possible re-orientation.
In this project PS² will focus on the producers- the artists and makers- selfishly leaving out an audience.
To assist the artists/makers to kick-start, maintain or re-asses their practice, we have invited two curators, Alissa Kleist and Moran Been-noon. They will provide support and mentorship for the professional and creative progress of individual artists through 1 to 1 informal conversations via Zoom.
The sessions could be used as a review of past or current work and assist in the artists’ future development.

The research undertaken as part of this project into support structures and resources for mental health and upcoming funding opportunities will be published here as well as network opportunities and initiatives around the topic.

This artist support project is free, but places are limited, assigned on a first come basis.
To register please send an email to info@pssquared and the subject line 'How are you'.

As soon as all places are taken, we will send out and Eventbrite link with possible dates/ times for the conversations. The curators would like to be informed about your work before the Zoom conversation, so best prepare a short summary and reflection about your (past) and current work and any plans for the future, plus links to any relevant website, blog, IG... (all not more than 500 words).

This project is not connected with the Freelands Artist Programme and shouldn't be used to get advice in regards to an application.

What some artists did during lockdown and how they documented their work and practice see HOMEWORK.

Links/ resources

Arts Council Northern Ireland
VAI

Signpost Information and Guidance for UK Based Artists and Artist-Led Organisations

a-n  The Artists Information Company
Impact of the coronavirus on the Northern Ireland arts sector 

Mental Health
NHS  How to protect your mental health
Pdf  Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty

Financial/ Funding
Universal Credit
Useful Funding Sources- ACNI
Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund

Initiatives
@isolation artschool
BA Fine Art (off campus) at Belfast School of Art
Day of Access  by Alec Finlay
Subjects of the painter-  interviews with contemporary painters
Freelance Artists Resources
Sound Camp
ACNI  Artists and arts organisations offer free activities to help people stay well at home!

Arts organisations/ museums/ magazines
Art & Education
Tate Modern- Online displays
Bloomberg- Brilliant Ideas- artist portraits
KW- Berlin
Site Gallery, Sheffield
Frieze   Why Covid-19 Might Be Our Chance to Reimagine the Arts
studio international   The impact of Covid-19 on artists
The Double Negative  Self-Isolation Culture Special: Free Film, Music, Art, Essays, Books and More
VR Exhibition Previews- Galleries Now
Artforum  Coronavirus Art-World Tracker
Radio Web MACBA  radiophonic project based at MACBA, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona
Google Arts&Culture
e-flux
Flash Art  free digital issue
Mousse magazine free digital issue