PPD 6

6.3.19

Laura Harford

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Studio Voltaire and the Oscar Wilde Temple Project

 

Curator at Studio Voltaire, small team of curators.

Non-profit gallery. Around 96% of income is fundraised. Small amount of funding from Arts Council England. 

Work closely with artists with mental disabilities.

Also fundraised through their shop selling prints, fashion, homeward etc.

Attend art fairs to show and share their artwork.

Primarily commissioning gallery so they commission artists to create brand new, sit specific work.

Work with artists of all ages.

Find artists in many different ways such as visiting artists studios and even through Instagram.

 

Worked with David McDiarmid archives (an artist who died due to an AIDS related illness. These works were shown in public places around London such as tube stations.

 

Worked with emerging collective 'We Are Here' by working with activist groups in south London who were interested in learning comedy, ran comedy workshops and created routines as part of an exhibition.

 

The Oscar Wilde Temple

Couple based in New York and Ireland

Explored their queer identity 

Oscar Wilde Temple started in New York in 2017 but it was a smaller version at an LGBT centre.

The new temple showcases the artists artwork over the past few decades

Turned the term 'queer' from an insult and claimed it as their own, turning it into a positive name

Oscar Wilde is depicted with a halo around his head

Wanted to show other people who had died because of their sexuality, because not everyone could relate to Oscar Wilde who was white and wealthy

Created a new floor to fit in more with the temple imagery

Thinking about touring the temple so that it can be viewed by people all over

Used by LGBT groups for workshops and participation groups to support LGBT people who are living in a hostile environment, homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Work with House of Rainbow

Nude life drawing classes

Name changing ceremony

2 women getting married there in April

 

Laura mainly works with finding fundraising for the gallery but also helps artists with installation, visits different artist studios to find artists to support, helps artists with ideas

 

Refurbishment plans