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Image Transfer is a work comprised of a three day workshop exploring the ethical issues for artists and institutions in accepting corporate sponsorship and patronage. Young's intention is that, over time, the workshop will be held at other venues and with a variety of participants (ideally, curators, artists, art students, museum directors, art critics etc).

The workshop taught participants the specialist research and analytical skills necessary to locate and evaluate the often-hidden 'background' information on a company's ethics, trading relationships and influence. Specifically, it considered the following questions:

- What exactly are companies 'buying' when they sponsor an artist or an exhibition?
- What 'image' do artists, and the arts in general, transfer on to sponsors?
- What are the ethical considerations associated with selling works of art to corporate collections?
- What factors can help an artist decide whether to participate in an exhibition sponsored by a company with a track record of social or environmental destruction?
- What are your own personal values?

The workshop, which was held over a period of three days, featured Deborah Doane, a renowned campaigner, writer and researcher specialising in public policy, ethical trading and global sustainability issues. Carey Young participated as both tutor and student.

Image Transfer was was curated by Maria Lind as part of 'Production as Process', a series of new commissions which use the Academy of Fine Arts, Umeå University as a 'platform'.

 

 

 

Image from the workshop (Hewlett Packard advert.)



Scenario from the workshop.

Participants in the workshop.