The UK’s Live Art sector is globally recognized and respected. Over the last few decades Live Art in the UK has achieved significant national impact in relation to issues of diversity, internationalism, talent development, public impact and removing barriers to engagement to the arts. However, there has never been independent research into the conditions, opportunities, challenges and impacts of the Live Art Sector, until now.
Twelve proposals were received and reviewed by LADA, in dialogue with a Steering Group comprised of artists, academics, activists, funders and producers, from which the appointment of Dr Elyssa Livergant (London) in collaboration with Dr Cecilia Wee (London), working with Dr Johanna Linsley (Dundee), Dr Tim Jeeves (Liverpool) and Dr. Tarek Virani (London) was made. The consultants will carry out this work as a collective, bringing perspectives of working within and outside Live Art in different locations within the UK, to create a rigorous, critical and robust research base that maps the impact and influence of Live Art, both problematising and celebrating its complexity, diversity and achievements, and generating fresh thinking about potential opportunities for the sector.
The research will also involve the commissioning of responses to the conditions, opportunities, challenges and impacts of Live Art by writers and artists, to be announced. The research will be completed and its findings published and launched in 2020.
This independent research project is commissioned by the Live Art Development Agency, in partnership with the national network organisation Live Art UK, and is being undertaken in close dialogue with Arts Council England. The project is funded by an award from Arts Council England and partnership support from member organisations across the Live Art UK network.