Introducing: Moved
stories of poignant artistic experiences
In 2015, whilst still living in Hull (probably the best city in the north of England), I got some funding to record people’s stories of artistic experiences that had ‘moved’ them.
The project, Moved, turned out to be a real joy. Spending time with people recalling these experiences, illustrating the value of art to enrich and affect life, was uplifting.
I feel it’s time to repeat this project.
So, let me introduce Moved.
Here’s an extract from my grant application in 2015:
Art has an impact upon our lives, moving us, changing us, forming our identity, shaping the culture of our communities. Moved will explore art's impact upon individuals, adding to the current conversation in the city about the value of the arts to our communities, and revealing untold stories of how art has influenced those who, in turn, influence our city.
Most people can pinpoint one experience of art - a piece of music, an image, a film, a fashion statement - that impacted upon their life, made them stop in their tracks and consider their situation. My aim is to meet with people to explore these moments with them. I will record short audio interviews to gather their stories, investigating how their experience of art has shaped who they are and, in turn, their role within the city. I will also photograph each of my subjects, creating an ‘environmental portrait’ which reveals something of their setting, and perhaps influence.
And, let me share a couple of example Moved interviews from back then.
Jan Brumby is CEO of an entrepreneur development business, and a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. She told me about encountering the hyper-reals cultures of Ron Mueck:
Dr Brian Lavery is a journalist, author and lecturer. He told me about how the love of one special book as a four year old, and the influence of a teacher, led to his career with words.
An invitation
Here in the UK our arts organisations and institutions are under threat like never before. Barely have some recovered from Covid pandemic lockdowns and audiences nervous to return en masse to the stalls, and are now clobbered by a cost-of-living crisis and the impact of economic inflation.
But, as Moved stories will reveal, our arts are worth fighting for.
Art and culture is what we do when us humans get together to build communities and civilisations. Art and culture reveals who we are today, and who we were thousands of years ago when archaeologists dig it out of the ground. Art lasts.
Art, in its myriad of forms and expression, has value. Who will we be without it?
With this iteration of my Moved project, I’m going to concentrate on audio interviews. I’ll start local to me, here in North Staffordshire, UK. But, I’ll also be chatting to others, you, further afield across the globe. No doubt, there’ll be some photo portraits thrown into the mix too occasionally.
Want to share a story with me? Great, get in touch, and let’s chat. I can record online, if we can’t easily meet in person.
Get thinking, when were you most Moved by an artistic experience? Let’s gather more stories illustrating art’s value and impact.
thanks for now,
Jerome
email: hello@jeromew.news
Hi
This is a great project Jerome! Nice work.