Notopia, the recolonisation of the atmosphere in the apocalyptical 'Trumpson' era and 'Fish in Blender' - Just a few of the elements announced for Plymouth Art Weekender 2019

Today marks the first wave of the announcements for the 2019 Plymouth Art Weekender. From Friday 27th – Sunday 29th September 2019, venues of all shapes and sizes across Britain's 'Ocean City' will play host to exhibitions, events and community based activity; inviting dialogue, prompting questions, driving analysis and contemplation of life and the world as we know it.

Founded in 2015 by Visual Arts Plymouth CIC (VAP), after the British Art Show 7 in 2011 saw a growing appetite for ambitious artistic activity in the city, the Plymouth Art Weekender started off as a grassroots experiment to bring together emerging and existing artists in a 'fringe-like' fashion. The collaborative event has grown in magnitude and last year, the Weekender partnered with The Atlantic Project, a pilot for a biennial for Plymouth to bring a set of renowned international artists and a programme of commissions across the city on the same weekend.

This year's Community Engagement Commission sees the Weekender partner with Nudge Community Builders, a community benefit society that owns, creates and runs activity in disused, underused or unusual urban spaces to lead to lasting positive change and community-led regeneration. As part of a unique city set up, new contemporary art production agency, Flock South West is coordinating and managing the Weekender in 2019 and 2020. Passionate about helping to develop and deliver artist, curator and producer led projects, Flock South West pools together the extensive collective experience of its directors and other associates working in the city to provide production support for small and large creative projects. 

This year, opening celebrations for the Weekender will take place at Plymouth's largest independent, artist-led contemporary art venue KARST on the evening of Friday 27th September. 'Bad Actor' will call into question the nature of reality, artifice and authenticity, asserting a disquieting physical presence in the gallery.

Other happenings over the course of the weekend include group show 'Notopia', from emerging artists, d0gMilk, examining the experiences of being a Millennial/Gen Z in contemporary society. This exhibition will present a survey of work from artists born between the 1990s and early 2000s, showcasing how, in spite of their labelling as “self-centered” and “fragile”, they are finding new avenues to continue networking, exhibiting, and asking questions regardless of location or financial situation.

Elsewhere, liveanimals theatre co.'s 'Fish in Blender' — a comment on the current state of politics — is a thought provoking performance centred on accountability, empathy, and just how bad society is willing to let things get before taking action. 'Fish in Blender' will be popping up in city centre locations across the three days.

WestfordNeedles will showcase their 'Wayne's War of the World' mash-up live performance, marking the latest re-colonisation of the atmosphere, the apocalyptical 'Trumpson' era, and the glory of pre-internet memes.

Flock South West Co-Director, Lucy Stella Rollins said, “We're delighted to make our first set of PAW 2019 announcements with further news to come shortly. We have a plethora of exciting and ambitious artists showcasing their work this year with listings ranging from exhibitions, workshops and other dynamic activity to take place across the city. Expect everything from subtle interventions to performative spectacles in this year's showcase of the city's creative talent.”

Over the years, the Weekender has been made possible with generous support from sponsors, Plymouth City Council, partner art organisations in the city, project grant funding from Arts Council England; and more recently, Plymouth Culture's 'Horizon', a two-year visual arts programme from Arts Council England's 'Ambition for Excellence' funding programme for Plymouth in 2017-2018. This year, individuals and organisations across Plymouth and beyond have rallied together to raise funds for the festival through an ambitious crowdfunding effort. An impressive £5,737 has been raised through Crowdfunder as match funding to support VAP's successful Arts Council bid, exemplifying a strong artistic network in the South West.

The listings deadline for artists is August 9th 2019. If you are interested in exhibiting or getting involved in the Plymouth Art Weekender 2019, please get in touch with plymouthartweekender@gmail.com or click through the links on the 'Submitting Your Listing' page at www.plymouthartweekender.com. The Weekender will have a market stall in the Pannier Market on the Friday and Saturday, which will serve as a focal point and central information hub across the weekend.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of the Plymouth Art Weekender by Excess Energy Communications. For further information, imagery or interviews, please contact Sarah Harrington on Sarah@Excess-energy.co.uk or by calling 01637 852 130 / 07714 634945.

Notes to editors

About Plymouth Art Weekender

The Weekender confidently celebrates Plymouth, its people and the visual arts, promoting the city as an exciting contemporary art destination. The Weekender showcases a wide and diverse range of activity for all ages including a large array of events and exhibitions throughout the city by artists from near and far.

The Development of Plymouth Art Weekender (PAW) Visual Arts Plymouth (VAP) is a Community Interest Company (CIC) made up of a diverse group of volunteers who represent visual arts organisations, communities and independent artists and curators from across the city. VAP CIC is a platform for the visual arts in Plymouth, connecting grassroots activity with a larger city-wide cultural plan and vision. VAP hosts professional development mentoring, workshops, talks and forums and audience outreach events throughout the year which are open to all. Forming after the British Art Show 7 toured to Plymouth in 2011 and as appetite for more city wide visual art activity grew, VAP initiated the Plymouth Art Weekender in 2015.

The Plymouth Art Weekender provides a free listing platform which enables participants to experiment with new ideas, engage audiences and be ambitious with their delivery. Each year VAP has made an active decision to take artistic and programming risks and set up voluntary task sub-groups whilst still advocating a lack of overriding hierarchy. The Weekender brand and ethos transmits a can do DIY attitude, one that promotes participation in the visual arts whilst having a high impact in the city. Now in its fifth year, the Plymouth Art Weekender provides long term, sustainable ambitions for artists, organisations and audiences alike.

For more information about the Weekender 2019, please see: https://plymouthartweekender.com/

About Flock South West CIC

Flock South West is a new contemporary art production agency based in Plymouth, UK.

Flock South West pools together the extensive collective experience of their directors and other associates working in the city to provide production support for small and large creative projects.  Flock are also passionate helping to develop and deliver artist, curator and producer led projects. Flock South West are a non-profit community interest company, and prioritise excellent artistic practice and supporting artists, art workers and creative communities above making money.

For more information about Flock South West, please see: www.flocksouthwest.org