'Take Risks' Urges Creative Conference

‘We need to take more risks’ – that’s the message that participants in the second Worthing Creative Conference, titled Space For Art + Art For Space, are sending to Worthing Borough Council.

At the conference which took place on Wednesday 22nd March, speakers led discussion about a range of public art projects.

Artist Ingrid Plum and arts marketing expert Cara Courage spoke about an installation of origami birds in Brighton’s Embassy Court. And artist Vanessa Dell and Belinda Holden from Impact Art explained the process that has led to the inclusion of art in every stage of a multi-million pound development in Telford.

Before discussion groups looked at a variety of topics including art in public places, studios for artists and the future of Worthing’s venues, Deborah Rawson from Hastings-based group eta highlighted the need to raise the standards of artwork, debate and discussion. As well as the speakers and discussion groups, there was time devoted to networking, with a number of businesses and organisations having stands to promote themselves.

Over thirty people attended the event, and alongside arts professionals were students from Northbrook College, Worthing and Goldsmiths, London. While the conference audience was excited to see Worthing moving in the right direction, there was a feeling that the Borough Council need to be braver with the way that venues are used, look hard at the future of Worhing's theatres and join the arts community in taking risks.

“Art is often about challenge, excitement and taking chances,” says conference organiser Dan Thompson, “and the conference felt that Worthing Borough Council should support artists, makers and performers as they take more risks – and that the council should be braver with programming in its own venues, too.”