All Voices Heard, All Voices Valued

At the beginning of March, the potential for the coronavirus pandemic to disrupt our personal and professional lives started to become apparent. 

And so, our national conference, where we were due to meet at Tate Liverpool, was re-imagined as a series of online conversations. What seemed like a radical move three months ago now seems entirely natural. How times change!

Our themes of voice, value and cultural capital are as relevant as ever – alongside urgent questions for our subject in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

More people than ever will be able to take part, more voices heard with greater impact. Join us for a relaxed programme of presentations, papers, panel discussions and debate.

Members always get more. Our keynote sessions were opened to you for priority booking and today we invite you to register for our full programme. There are member only sessions, conference resources and discounts and for follow-up CPD. Members will be eligble for entry in our fabulous Be Kind Prize Draw.

And finally, we have a special treat planned for those of you who are members of NSEAD Online (our Facebook group) - watch out for announcements. If you are an NSEAD member and not already signed up to our Facebook group, please visit NSEAD Online by clicking this link, to join. You'll need to give the name you signed up with when you joined - and agree to the rules. It's a lively forum, and we look forward to welcoming you there.   

We are also really looking forward to saying hello to familar faces, to meeting more of you online, and to getting this important conversation started.

Michele Gregson, General Secretary 

Voices, Value and the Visual Arts - the full conference programme

Registration for all conference sessions is now open


Friday 26th June

Finding our place in the world through art and design, 5-6pm. 

Join our panel of late career artists and Dr Sam Broadhead from Leeds Arts University in conversation with NSEAD President Dr Rachel Payne. 
Register here


Saturday 27th June  

1. Navigating with Kindness, living your Values, 11-11.40am

Artist Maria Amidu and Janice McGuiness, People United CEO, will be answering questions from NSEAD Forum member Amanda Skilton. Join us for a discussion about what it means to live your values as an artist. 
Register here


2. Keynote speech from NSEAD Patron Dr Janina Ramirez – ‘Art Matters: Art History Matters’, 1-1.45pm

Janina explores our conference themes - whose voices are valued in history and which are being lost?
Register here

3. Dr Janina Ramirez and members in conversation,  2-2.30pm

Members Q&A chaired by Paul Carney.
Put your questions to Janina following her NSEAD conference keynote. Members only, limited places.
Register here

4. Life after Lockdown – what do young artists want in a post-lockdown world?, 3.30-4.30pm

Class of 2020 discussion with Bob and Roberta Smith.

We ask the class of 2020 to share their experiences of Covid-19 and what it has meant for their art education. What are their hopes, their fears? We invite a panel of young artists, all students in the UK, to answer this question in conversation with Bob and Roberta Smith. 
Register here


Sunday 28th June

1. My Intention – an artist’s story, 11-11.45am 

With Emily Haworth-Booth, artist, illustrator and environmental activist. 
Register here

2. Keynote presentation by NSEAD President Dr Rachel Payne  - Is Education as we know it dead?, 1-2pm

An examination of the commodification of knowledge in our education system: Who values what, why and what are the implications for society?
Register here

3. What is the place of culture and the visual arts? Perspectives on cultural capital,  3-4pm

Presentations and panel discussion exploring this vital question. With Sarah Phillips, Art History teacher and consultant; Toby Parkin, Head of Learning, Turner Contemporary and Emily Gopaul, Primary Education consultant, chaired by Susan Coles, Art education consultant and NSEAD past president. 
Register here

Image: © Bob and Roberta Smith, 2020

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