Sarah Boulter is also curator and creative producer based at Venture Arts. She works with the hyper local, national and international artist-led sector, focussing on collaborative work, inclusivity and artist development. The Julie Channel, a TV station is a video devoted to all things Narratives, a raw, making-of style documentary of experiments, art and connections made during this collaborative residency period Sarah led for Venture Arts.
NARRATIVES is a vibrant and multifaceted exhibition by twelve artists involved in a recent six month residency, brought together by Venture Arts, The Lowry and Castlefield Gallery. Through a diverse collection of artworks spanning drawing, film, performance, sound and installation, the artists collectively explore personal histories, cultural heritage and shared connections.
The artworks made show a wide range of references, including TV specials, 1980s Moss Side, family heritage, comedy and reggae, supper clubs, and the inspiring ‘patron saints’ of the Narratives project: comedian Sid James, musician Sparrow Martin and performers Julee Cruise and Julie London. The residency took place at St Margaret’s Social Club in Whalley Range. The character of the club itself – the function room, changing rooms and surrounding football pitches – deeply influenced the work of the group.
Narratives is the third cycle of Venture Arts’ pioneering Conversations Series, a programme of artistic projects and residencies established in 2016, aimed at creating new work in a shared exchange of art and ideas. This programme brings together a range of learning disabled and non learning disabled artists, for reciprocal learning, and to develop collaborative and creative exchanges. Through this, VA aims to open up conversations and new dialogues about the role of the artist in contemporary society..
