Masterclass: Criticism

Everyone’s a critic. But what unique artistic opportunities does criticism offer, and what responsibilities come along with the job? Explore these questions with the experts at our criticism masterclass, which presents a full day of informative and inspiring events about the art, practice and importance of criticism.

10:30am  –  Bodies of Work

Critic Anwen Crawford will examine the contemporary critical landscape, considering questions of emotion, gender, authority and the line between critic and fan.

With: Anwen Crawford

11:00am  –  Anatomy of an Essay

What’s an essay for, and what does it do? How does a critic respond to a creative work? Are essays art? Hear four writers talk about their work and the unique virtues of the form, from video essays to lyric essays and everything in between.

With: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Conor Bateman, Sam van Zweden and Luke Horton

12:00pm  –  Experimental Critics, Critical Experiments 

What happens to a work of criticism when it turns into fiction, or into poetry, and back again? Are critics allowed to play with form? What’s the line between public and personal, and where does technology come into all this? Featuring three writers who produce critical nonfiction work across, between and against conventional forms, this panel invites you to consider the hybrid, mongrel and experimental.

With: Emma Marie Jones, Oscar Schwartz and Susie Anderson

1:00pm  –  Lunch

2:00  –  4:00pm  Workshop: Ways of Seeing

This workshop invites you to explore new ways of looking at and writing about different kinds of art. Explore and discuss critical techniques and ideas with two of our favourite critics, who’ll each lead an engaging critical discussion of two works of art, followed by a practical forum about reading, writing, pitching and publishing criticism.

With: Sarinah Masukor and Stephanie Van Schilt