DIY: 2008 – First Retreat then Advance!!

A four-day cultural activist intervention into Liverpool08, Capitalism of Culture with The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home. Led by twoaddthree.

Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September 2008, Retreat at The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home, Liverpool;
Saturday 20 September 2008, Advance in Liverpool; and
Sunday 21 September 2008, Show and Tell at Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster.
Deadline: FULLY BOOKED.

The Project
First Retreat then Advance!! is a four-day cultural activist intervention into Liverpool08, Capitalism of Culture. The base for the event is The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home in Liverpool, with the ‘Show and Tell’ taking place at the Nuffield Theatre in Lancaster. First Retreat then Advance!! comes in two phases: Retreat then Advance.

The Retreat will involve two days of critical self-reflection: a personalised mapping of Liverpool and its Capitalism of Culture. With all expenses paid, the participants will explore Liverpool’s high and low points, enjoy a cultural night out, have a morning swim at Everton Leisure Centre, fry-up at the local café and share each others impressions in order to generate ‘tactics for advance’. The Advance will take place a week later, in the form of cultural activist interventions in the city. The final phase of the event will be a ‘Show and Tell’ at Nuffield Theatre. Basic accommodation provided at the Institute on 11 and 20 September.

Application Procedure
First Retreat then Advance!! is open to three to five mid career artists from any discipline, either North West or England based, with an interest in critical thinking, self-reflexivity and dissent. To apply please write up a short piece of 250 words max which includes the term ‘dissent’ in the text. This short piece can be either fiction, non-fiction, poetry, dialogue, manifesto, performance text, academic essay etc… Please include a 250 words bio. Mail your submission to[email protected].

About the Artists
The Institute for The Art and Practice of Dissent at Home is an artist-led, self-sufficient initiative which has been set up to coincide with Liverpool08, Capitalism of Culture. The Institute is run from the spare room of a council house in Liverpool, with 10% of twoaddthree’s annual income (two 0.5 lectureships, child and working family tax credits, child benefit and some freelance work). The Institute is committed to financial transparency, collaborative approaches to arts practice, DIY/homemade aesthetics and dissent. Throughout 2008 the Institute has been hosting a number of residencies and events. The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home is run by Gary Anderson, Lena Simic, Neal, Gabriel and Sid. For more information see www.twoaddthree.org.

Any Questions
If you have any questions about First Retreat then Advance!! please e-mail [email protected].