Chez Derriere is running a free art writing programme from November 2022 until April 2023. The programme is facilitated by Felixe Laing, Te Tuhi’s curatorial intern, who is developing the Chez Derriere programme.
This five-month professional development programme aims to create a supportive and peer led environment for the group of 16 participants to develop their writing. It will be a space to try out writing exercises in sessions led by different voices from the field, as well as develop peer feedback skills and dialogue about contemporary art and writing. We will be focusing on practical tools and approaches for writing in different contexts such as exhibitions, essays etc.
The programme held its first two hour workshop with curator and art historian Vera Mey at Chez Derriere at Parnell Station in November 2022. Participants met and were introduced to some tips and tricks on writing for exhibitions in different formats and reading for technique.
In January 2023, the group spent the weekend up at Leigh for the writing retreat. Across the two days and had peer and writer Gabi Lardies take us through a series of three workshops focusing on generative exercises, crafting, editing and, other practical tips. The group also went swimming, ate homemade pizza, and got to know each other better!
During the February sessions the group looked at art review writing and had an external workshop with writer Dominic Hoey with a focus on style, voice and poetic exercises.
From February to May 2023 bi-monthly workshops with several external workshop facilitators will be held at Chez Derriere.