Storyteller Hannah Nicklin questions whether her recent commission – working on a social housing project with housing association Poplar Harca – was ultimately an example of ‘artwashing’.
For those of you who don’t know, I’ll start off by explaining that ‘artwashing’ is a term used to describe artists working with organisations and businesses in a way that makes them appear more friendly, gives them good PR, and helps them otherwise continue to do shitty things. Liberate Tate recently were successful, for example, in finally getting the Tate to stop accepting money from oil companies, there’s a pretty sound argument that by sponsoring cultural organisations oil companies artwash their public image.
In Summer last year I bid for and accepted a £4480 commission... Keep reading on Poplar People
For those of you who don’t know, I’ll start off by explaining that ‘artwashing’ is a term used to describe artists working with organisations and businesses in a way that makes them appear more friendly, gives them good PR, and helps them otherwise continue to do shitty things. Liberate Tate recently were successful, for example, in finally getting the Tate to stop accepting money from oil companies, there’s a pretty sound argument that by sponsoring cultural organisations oil companies artwash their public image.
In Summer last year I bid for and accepted a £4480 commission... Keep reading on Poplar People