Artistry@Work is an online Seminar Series in the Anthropology of Artists & Artisans, running 2024–2025
Programme of new online event series: Artistry@Work
A new online Seminar Series in the Anthropology of Artists & Artisans, 2024–2025 Maison des Sciences de l’Homme–Université Clermont Auvergne,
In collaboration with the Royal Anthropological Institute
Organisers:
Dr Raphaël Blanchier &
Prof Trevor Marchand
This seminar series in anthropology explores the situated practices of ‘artistry at work’ and, more broadly, the working lives and career trajectories of artists and artisans plying their trades in regions around the globe. The scope of the series also encompasses studies of occupations not conventionally categorised as “artistic” but that nevertheless foster creativity among (some) practitioners and even accommodate the development of “artist” identities.
More specifically, the series asks:
How might ‘artistry at work’ be defined in the twenty-first century? In what culturally diverse ways is artistry expressed, practised and culturally valued or denigrated? Who are the individuals and communities that pursue and engage in it? And, why? What hopes do they invest in their creative vocations, and what challenges do they confront in realising their ambitions? What ramifications are (existing or looming) funding cuts to the arts having on artisans’ sense of self-worth, employment prospects and future planning? How do they evaluate the impact of current and forthcoming transformations – social, political, environmental, technological – on their modes of production and their livelihoods, and how are they preparing for it? How do artists, artisans and those employed in other creative occupations make sense of their professional experiences, and how do they (and we, as anthropologists) generate narratives about their working lives?
With these guiding questions in mind, the aims of the series are to illuminate the tensions as well as the productive synergies that animate ties between hope and hardship, and to elucidate individual strategies and struggles to self-actualisation within ever-changing, and often precarious, creative fields of work.
Some practicalities: The seminars will be hosted by the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (MSH, at UCA) in collaboration with the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI). The seminars will be held online, and in English, in order to reach as wide and diverse an audience as possible. We anticipate attendance by anthropologists, scholars of craft and the performing arts, practicing artisans and interested others.
The eight seminars will be held (online) from October to May at 17.00–19.00hrs CET / 16.00–18.00hrs UK on the first Tuesday of each month (except for the month of March 2025, when we have two seminars scheduled [Tues. 04 March and Monday 24 March] and none in April). The seminars will be two-hours long, structured as follows: 5-minute introduction of our guest speaker & discussant; 40-minute talk; 15-minute comments from the designated discussant, and 60 minutes for “open floor” Q&A.
