Can Art Matter?

In a world of social crisis and looming ecological collapse, can art be anything more than a frill?
Opening Space for Engaged Art Practices

What is your creative work? Does it matter? Does it express and achieve what you want? Do you sense there could be more? Could you accomplish more if you had the right partners, if you could find the right people, if you had all the creative tools you need to become a catalyst for change?

Please join us! … as we open space for engaged art practices to flourish.

Come make new connections with people of vision, leadership, craft and opportunity. Give others the chance to learn from your own efforts and projects. Find models, mentors and mutual interests. Create Hubs, Nodes and Networks. Share resources and stories. Make new friends and forge new alliances.

October 12, 2007
to register email director@islandsinstitute.com

The purpose is simple and important: to open an online space where we can meet to foment a creative stew. We can co-create a space to argue and learn how to make art that matters, art that connects with communities, art that can change the world. Together we can foster creative solutions to real-world problems, connect practitioners with projects, and support, mentor and empower engaged art practices.

This online conference will occur in concert with the Vancouver, BC conference Live in Public: The Art of <http://www.grunt.bc.ca/engage/> Engagement. We will have access to information, images and conversation from the face-to-face gathering of artists working in the public realm.

Participants in the Vancouver conference will engage in dialogue with us, posting and developing their ideas online. There will also be a link with the Open  <http://jendelosreyes.com/openengagement/about.html> Engagement

Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Register now – it’s FREE and it’s EASY!

Simply email director [AT] islandsinstitute.com

<mailto:director@islandsinstitute.com?subject=Conference%20Registration>

What will happen?

Before the conference, participants are invited to introduce themselves and their work, beginning a conversation that imagines what we need and want from the online conference. We can create a book for distribution to online and real-time conference participants, introducing all who are registered, with information on their work.

On October 12, 2007 a facilitated online “Open Space” will be created where, over 24 hours, we can engage in dialogue on the important questions. Ideas and images from the Vancouver conference will be posted as they are created.

At the conclusion of the day, each online and real-time participant will receive a written record of the discussions and recommendations generated by the conference.

After the conference, there will be an opportunity for ongoing dialogue, networking and projects.

Caffyn Kelley

www.islandsinstitute.com <http://www.islandsinstitute.com/>

Phone: 250-537-2227

<http://www.islandsinstitute.com/>