Room GR06/07, Faculty of English, University of Cambridge, West Road, CB3 9DP
26 October 2022
Convened by Alina Khakoo and Lucy Howie
This event mapped the little-known history of radical art making and organising in Cambridge in the 1980s. The discussion focused on arts organisations in and around the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge community, including the Cambridge Darkroom, Kettle’s Yard, Coracle Press, New Hall Art Collection and artist’s residencies in the colleges.
The speakers were Pavel Büchler (former Co-Director of the Cambridge), Mark Lumley (former Co-Director of the Cambridge Darkroom), Dr Sharon Kivland (former artist-in-residence at Kettle’s Yard and the Cambridge Darkroom), Simon Cutts (founder of Coracle, including Coracle Bookshop at Kettle’s Yard). The event was chaired by Ian Hunt (Lecturer at Goldsmiths and former volunteer at Kettle’s Yard). The Radical Art in Cambridge research group (Alina Khakoo and Lucy Howie) gave an introductory presentation at the start of the event.
Audience members ranged from academics, students, artists, and people formerly involved in the Cambridge art scene such as Pete di Bolla, Brian Human, Colin Lumley, Ian Farr and Andrew Nairne. During the Q&A session these individuals provided their memories and critical reflections around the Cambridge art scene in the 1980s, especially Cambridge Darkroom and Kettle’s Yard.
The main benefits of the event were the opportunity to map Cambridge cultural activity in the 1980s, paving the way for future research including on the Cambridge Darkroom. The event was also rich in its critical discussions, exploring such questions as: To what extent was the Cambridge art scene ‘radical’, and what is the broader valency of that term in relation to art practice? What happens when art networks are decentred from London? Can effective art networks form through the cracks of the institution, especially in cities dominated by universities such as Cambridge and Manchester?
