Jennifer Higgie

Taking a position: Art & Writing

14–26 August 2023

Medium
Writing

Teaching language
English

What to bring
Laptop and a list of writing – in any form – that you find inspiring / moving / challenging.

Requirements
A willingness to work both individually and in a group in a positive and supportive manner, to share writing and ideas, to contribute to discussions, remain open to new ideas and to constructively critique each other’s writing.

Maximum number of participants
20

Assistant teacher
Sandro D. Huber

Participation Fee 
€ 640,– (reduced € 480,–)

In ‘Taking a Position: Art & Writing’ students will be introduced to the various approaches to writing that co-exist in the artworld: art criticism and art history, ‘think pieces’, poetry, catalogue essays, creative non-fiction, magazine and newspaper journalism, and press releases. As the title of the course implies, students will learn to identify what kind of art writer they want to be and who their intended audience is; how to shape an argument and translate a work of art into a language that is clear, engaging and original. Students will also receive guidance, if relevant, about how to make a living as a professional writer: from pitching ideas to working with an editor and promoting their work via social media.

Each day will be a mix of analysis, exercises, advice and discussion. Over the course of the two weeks, students will work on texts of various lengths, critique each other’s work and examine historic and contemporary essays, poems and creative non-fiction. We will be working from the premise that art history is a work in progress: one that for too long excluded people on the grounds of class, gender, geography, race and sexuality. Each day will be an exploration of the question: what is your position?