Hand-in-Glove Conference

September 17 - 20, 2015

Common Field, Works Progress Studio and The Soap Factory are pleased to invite artists, arts organizers, and other supporters of independent and grassroots visual art production to join the Hand-in-Glove conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 17-20, 2015.

This will be the third Hand-in-Glove convening supporting the work of alternative and experimental visual arts organizations and organizers. Since 2011, Hand-in-Glove has assembled hundreds of arts leaders from cities across the country to address pressing issues and innovations in arts organizing through panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Previous iterations of Hand-in-Glove have taken place in Chicago (2011) and New Orleans (2013). This three-day convening in Minneapolis will include debates, workshops, presentations and social activities, with a focus on collaborative production and response. Based at The Soap Factory, an arts organization located in the former National Purity Soap Company building, Hand-in-Glove 2015 will include presentations by leading voices in the visual arts from across the country, as well as opportunities to engage with the creative community in Minneapolis-St. Paul through artist-led tours and hosted meals with conference attendees.

This convening is co-produced by Common Field, a new national network raising the visibility and viability of artist-centric contemporary visual arts organizations and projects across the United States. Common Field represents the interests of a broad spectrum of independent organizations and individuals supporting contemporary visual arts, from grassroots projects and artist spaces to mid-sized nonprofits. Common Field creates connections amongst this varied sector, explores historical precedents, and develops resources and support structures that respond to the social, economic, and political contexts changing how artists live and work. One of the core programs is the Hand-in-Glove convening, co-produced with members of Common Field. Founding members Works Progress Studio and The Soap Factory will develop this year’s conference along with local and national collaborators.

Conference registration will open in Spring 2015. A network of housing shares will be organized, and scholarships will be available for organizers in need of financial assistance.

The conference will take place September 17-20, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN.

For more information, visit the conference website here.