An invitation from Stella Duffy of Shaky Isles and Rachel Briscoe of fanSHEN.


Money.
There isn’t much money around right now.
Our governments might not fully understand the intricacies of the global financial meltdown, but what is pretty clear on the news, on press releases from funding bodies, in our own bank accounts, is that money is in short supply.
We can trick ourselves into thinking that without money, we can’t make art. If we can’t get that funding, we can’t create that piece of work we have so much passion for.
Obviously it’s nice to be paid, but sitting around and waiting for five years for the money to come back (if it ever comes back) is disempowering and miserable. There has to be another way. How can we help each other survive? What would happen if we as artists started investing in a money-free economy?

What?
All of us have skills, some of which relate directly to our artistic practice (dramaturgy, graphic design, voice work, being able to play a musical instrument) and some of which are other things we happen to be good at (baking, plumbing, massage, gardening, speaking another language). Sometimes whole companies have skills that whole other companies could learn from. What would happen if we started trading these skills?
So -

I will make you a chocolate pie for your dad’s birthday and you will give me feedback on the synopsis of my novel.

We will play a klezmer set at your fundraiser and you will teach us about how to devise using Viewpoints.

I will take photos of your artwork and you will translate this short story from Hindi to English.

No money changes hands. I get something I need and I also get to help another artist.


How?
The event follows a PechaKucha or ‘Lightening Talk’ format. Each participant selects 10 images related to themselves or to the one thing/ ability that they have brought to trade. Each image is displayed to the other people in the room for 15 seconds, during which time the participant talks about it. The image changes automatically after 15 seconds, creating a dynamic 2 and a half minute presentation. The presentation is fun, concise and gives a flavour of the artist delivering it, as well as introducing what they want to trade.

The artist also brings an A4 piece of paper with an image/ words/ symbols telling people who they are and what they’re trading. They stick this bit of paper on the wall.
Up to 30 artists present themselves and their ‘thing’. After all the presentations are finished, participants talk to each other and arrange their trades.
There will be a bar and food and we might all meet some interesting people.
The event will be documented online, and participants will be encouraged to document the trades and possible collaborations that take place following it. Thus the event will have not just a practical function but through its online documentation will serve as a record of how artists in London are adapting to times of scarcity.


Added bonus:
Stick around for a glass of wine and some food after the event and see Shaky Isles’ TaniwhaThames or fanSHEN’s Same Same by Shireen Mula on Saturday evening for just £10 (quote PECHAKUCHA).

• Sat 26 Nov, 4:00pm