7 - 9 April

Studio Voltaire in London is hosting the next retreat for the Syllabus II artists, broadly based on the theme of care.

The artists selected for Syllabus II are Mira Calix, Faye Claridge, Mike Harvey, E. Jackson, Tyler Mallison, Nika Neelova, Tom Smith, Dylan Spencer-Davidson, Thomas Whittle and Laura Wilson.

‘Wishes will not be granted’
‘We are never working’
'There will be care’

The Studio Voltaire Syllabus II Weekend is broadly based on the theme of ‘care’. Over the weekend we will explore different forms of care and support structures in relation to practice – from the informal and invisible forms of care that might contribute to an artists practice, through modes of production, dissemination, representation and beyond this, ways of working collaboratively, under direction or positions of refusal – and survival. The retreat will begin with a series of informal and candid in-conversations and Q&A’s between three types of ‘support structure’: a commercial gallery, an arts commissioner, and an institution, accompanied by artists with whom they are currently working. 

Friday, 7 April
The first day will consist of Q&As and conversations with Phoebe James, Curator at Artangel; Mary Cork, Director Pilar Corrias; Anthea Hamilton with Dr Zoe Whitley, Tate Modern. Syllabus II artist Dylan Spencer-Davidson will also lead a workshop on Survival Strategies for a hostile environment,

Saturday, 8 April 
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd will lead a full day performance workshop that explores the notion of invention and improvisation in performance. The day will start with simple movement exercises and builds to learning a full performance/narrative dance. There will be time for discussion and questions and a chance to share and discuss work.

Sunday, 9 April
An all-day workshop led by George Vasey and Milly Thompson in response to the previous day's session.

Non-essential reading:
Anthony Huberman, 'Take Care, Circular Facts', 9–17, Berlin, 2011*  
Jan Verwoert, 'Exhaustion and Exuberance, Ways to Defy the Pressure to Perform' originally published in Dot Dot Dot magazine 2008
Dora Garcia, 'The Artist Without Works', 2008
Audre Lorde, 'A Burst of Light', 1988
Michel Foucault, 'The Care of the Self', 1984 (part of the History of Sexuality)

Please note that we have selected the artists for the Syllabus II programme. 

The Syllabus III Open Call is now open for applications. For more information, click here.