In 2025, Independents Biennial saved around £30,000 on materials. Money isn’t everything, but it’s a pretty good way of demonstrating the value of keeping stuff out of landfill, and making the ability to work more accessible to everyone.
That was almost entirely made possible by what has now become the Circular Arts Network LCR, a collectively driven library of time, materials, support, and co-working, that strives to make sure Merseyside is an inclusive space to create and craft.
Throughout this paper, which is built in the same ethos, there are articles recycled from the network’s members, and articles focusing on some of the most outstanding projects to have benefitted from, or to have supported, the Circular Arts Network in its first year of trials.
The central pages are dedicated to listing events that don’t often feature in these pages. Sometimes that’s because they’re regular recurring groups, and one or two are strongly circular, but not necessarily visual art.
For me, the bit I’m most excited about is just after that, launching the online materials library. The plugin, powered and developed by CAN, is designed to be used similarly to Freecycle, Marketplace, Gumtree, but without limiting the life of the objects in question. Over the last year, a huge library of materials (in the widest possible sense) has been amassed. Until now, it was being managed on a WhatsApp group for network members, with a drop-in library at the old Royal Standard space.
Now, there are comprehensive listings being built from that library, enabling access to everything from kilns to sofa springs.
Over the next weeks and months, that library will include listings from members willing to share or exchange time and/or expertise. That could be bid writing, van driving, or printing. And the materials might be rescued for their final use, or rescued to keep in use permanently.
That’s new, but it’s built off the back a year of live testing, and the remaining pages cover those projects who have helped to form the basis of the network, and who work within the same circular principles.
The last few issues of Art in Liverpool have made repeated calls for better ways of managing and providing space. Many of the groups here are living proof that there are more sustainable, more secure, ways for artists to create creative working spaces. For some, we’ve looked at their impact, and tried to tie that into to importance of the network. For others, they’ve contributed their own words, some new, some old, meaning that this paper is at least partly representative of the circularity pursued by the rest of the network.
We’re really proud to have had some small part in the development of this work, and as it builds and builds, excited to keep using it, keep sharing with it, and keep promoting its benefits.
Thanks from Circular Arts Network LCR:
CAN LCR would like to say a massive thank you to Patrick at Art in Liverpool for letting us takeover this issue, and then more importantly managing to make sense of all of the chaos we sometimes bring with us! As well as all the support with CAN behind the scenes too with his Indy Biennial hat on!
Also so grateful for our ongoing support from MRWA and the Circular Economy Club. The funding they gave us to get things started, was invaluable and we will forever be indebted to them (thankfully not literally!)
The faith they put in this when it was still a flicker of an idea has helped spark it into something we and hopefully they are proud of.
We are glad that we could use the money to contribute to the local community or makers, menders and doers… and have hopefully helped them all continue to do the amazing work for the rest of us all.
Please make sure you support them all in any way you can too.
There are many more people we also need to thank, but as I’m likely to miss someone off, I will just say here for now thank you to each and everyone of you who has supported us in any way, however big or small!
Just know that it has been massively appreciated and we hope to be able to return the favour in some way in the future.
If you haven’t got involved yet…. why TF not?!
Only messing!
But seriously it’s never too late to jump on board and be part of this mad little mission or movement!
All are welcome, just get in touch and let us know what you are bringing to the table.
Whether that be a thing, a skill. Or some time, transport or space (aka the holy trinity!)
Everything will be gratefully received, just leave your egos and baggage at the door.
We really hope you enjoy our collaborative Circularity Issue both here in print, with possibly a few additional features in the online version…
It’s been a pleasure to bring it all together, even though it has also nearly broken us (well the timing of it anyway!)
But we very nearly made the deadline! ~
Can’t wait to share it with you all!
Much appreciated,
Take care,
~ Sanna King. xxx
Proudly funded by: MRWA
