Liverpool Community College   2006/2007

Rebecca Key

As artist in residence at the Community College this year, my aim was to undertake research to contribute to a clearer understanding of the artist in relation to their art college environment, to inform further work. As expected, the artist is greatly affected by the institution and the system in which they attend. Environmental and architectural determinism in relation to academia, are a useful theoretical tool in understanding this relationship.

I became aware of how studio spaces and communal spaces are treated differently. The communal spaces give a feeling of being part of a cyclic process, reminders of previous students and indications that new learners will use the same things in the same way the following year. The 'Preceding' series then, aims to reflect this association.

"All artistic work, like all human activity, involves the joint activity of a number, often a large number, of people. Through their co-operation, the artwork we eventually see or hear comes to be and continues to be." Howard S. Becker Art Worlds (1982)

I would like to thank all the staff and students at LCC for offering me this opportunity for research.