Library Interventions: Reading Gendered Words. An invitation to propose work as part of Leeds College of Art Library's 2017 Library Intervention programme: Reading Gendered Words. This year's Library Intervention has been substantially shaped by the renowned art writer Maria Fusco.

Library Interventions: Reading Gendered Words

Library Interventions is a programme of artist and writer led forays into the Leeds College of Art libraries.  Its brief is to explore and create a new body of work that responds to some aspect of the collection and/or library environment. 

As an outward facing activity it has attracted international attention; it is an active model for the synergies working between art practice and research.

In the past Kate Briggs (American University of Paris) ran a workshop entitled Individual Reading Records, investigating the act of reading for her intervention: What Remains of The Book.

Sharon Kivland (Sheffield Hallam University, an artist and published author working in France and London) recruited agents to research on her behalf in order to create Reports on Knowledge. These reports form a touring exhibition, recently displayed in Chelsea College of Arts Library.

For the 2016 programme Nicola Dale, Rob Lycett, Tom Pope, and Claire Potter brought performative works from the library into the gallery space.

The details for the 2017 series are as follows:

The 2017 Library Interventions process begins on 25th January 2017 with an investigative gathering of the selected artists. It culminates in a two week exhibition in April and a symposium on the 22nd on April.

Participants must be available for these dates.

Internationally renowned art writer and Reader at Edinburgh College of Art, Maria Fusco, has agreed to take a lead in responding to our call to investigate Reading Gendered Words. Fusco writes:

For Library Interventions, I would like to purpose the theme of ‘reading gendered words’ into a structural analysis entitled the possibility of ourselves as strange and new. The opaque processes of ordering and classification will be looked at not as neutral but challenged directly.

Elements already arranged as part of this Intervention will include:

1. A one-day symposium, which would present and creatively discuss alternative gender classification systems. Fusco envisages this would be a combination of more academic or professional presentations and more creative responses, performances etc.

2. A re-ordering of a substantial section of the library using the alternative system. This will form a part of the gallery space with shelving erected in the gallery as, for a two week period prior to the symposium, the Library Intervention becomes apparent.

We anticipate that this Library Intervention will be a significant event with high impact. Fusco is a leading scholar and practitioner in the area of art writing, and is also well known for her critical and feminist scholarship and practice. The proposal combines a gallery presence with an active investigation of the library; an invitation to rethink and reencounter reading through inquiries into gender.

We would like to invite you to send us a proposal for Library Interventions: Reading Gendered Words.

Please take time to consider your work in relationship to Maria Fusco’s shaping ideas as well as the library context, and how your eventual output could be presented in an exhibition.

The closing date for receipt of proposals is the 21st of October.

Please note: there is an artist fee of £150 and limited expenses for materials and travel for selected artists. You should give an indication of anticipated expenses and resources required along with your proposal.

http://portal.leeds-art.ac.uk/library/events