What is Situations?

Situations is a visual arts organisation which commissions and produces projects by contemporary artists for a range of different sites and situations. Based in Bristol in the UK and established in 2002, Situations has achieved international recognition for its programme of ground-breaking public art projects. At the heart of our ambitious ten-year programme has been a commitment to pioneering new forms of public engagement. Our commissioning agency model is underpinned by a rigorous research programme, which seeks to improve the conditions for the commissioning and the experience of public art.

Heather and Ivan Morison, <i>The Black Cloud</i>, 2009

Heather and Ivan Morison, The Black Cloud, 2009

Working beyond the boundaries of a gallery or museum context offers a rich and often challenging set of conditions. We begin from a more dynamic understanding of place than a physical site, inviting artists to contribute to the lived experience of a place. This consideration of situation (a set of conditions, locations, people, moments in time and circumstance) rather than location means that every newly commissioned project starts with a process of becoming locally embedded.

 

In 2009, the Director of Situations, Claire Doherty, was awarded a Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Fund award for outstanding creative entrepreneurs.