Aimee Green, Project Director at Kingshurst Art Space (KAS) and artist and ESP member Emily Warner, led a day exploring how artists with socially engaged practices can work within a community setting and still remain contemporary.

The day began at Eastside Projects with an introduction to KAS and its activities. Aimee spoke about previous projects and examples of strategies used by artists for working in a socially engaged way. The group then travelled to KAS to eat lunch together, explore the local area and make initial works that responded to it. The session finished with feedback and discussions to wrap up before returning to Birmingham. Questions to consider: How might your practice adapt and operate within the context of a residential estate? How could you connect with site and residents through creative interaction and provocation?

KAS has existed in various guises since 2011. Currently residing in a vacated shop on The Parade it has been funded in stages by Solihull Council, The Regeneration Project and Arts Council England. Kingshurst is a post-war housing estate situated around 9 miles east of the city, which faces ongoing transformation and regeneration. A regular programme of social-practice is commissioned and features artists such as Claire Hickey, Gavin Rogers, Sarah Taylor Silverwood, Justin Wiggan, Jayne Murray and Emily Warner.