I've got some Lino cuts, I've got some portraits I've done of myself,
some portraits I've done of my family, I've done pieces of artwork for MADmusée which is a gallery in Belgium.
Intoart is a visual arts organisation working with people with learning disabilities
practising as artists in the Intoart studio.
We have a studio in Clapham and we also have an archive there
The archive helps me by, it's inspired me to do even more artwork and just push myself.
[General chatter] Do you want it? I think that’s the one I'm talking about, I think.
In the archive the artwork is safe and tidy, covered with tissue paper to make sure they have not spoilt the artwork.
The date and year, the title and who the piece of artwork is by is written on the back
so that the artist has an up to date record to be kept in the archive space.
The folders are labelled so they can be put with the most recent piece of artwork the artist has done in the folder
so they can pull out for future exhibitions.
Practically speaking we had to build some archive space
where we could start to organise the work and get it out of portfolios and start to look at it all,
start to think about how we could catalogue and database the works
so we could find it in the future.
We worked with a photographer to come in to photograph a selection of artworks that each artist had made
starting from when they first started working with Intoart through to the present day.
That meant that the artists were making the choices over which artworks were going to be digitized.
And that is a really interesting process for the artist to go through, to think about which pieces of work they value and why.
In terms of the field we're working in, where memory may be an issue in terms of their disability,
for people to have, it's a resource that we've identified as really important for artists to take that next step.
[General chatter] Right, all my artwork is like, it's all around here. Ah, okay.
I think what's been really important about Tate is that it's had a commitment to
the professional development of artists from Intoart in terms of their progression over the years.
What do archivists spend most of their time doing?
Archivists spend their time doing three main things.
We spend a lot of time collecting material, because we're a collecting archive at the Tate.
And then we spend a lot of time preserving and documenting the material.
And then the third aspect is we spend a lot of time giving access to the material.
At the moment a lot of people don't think about their archive when they are working on it
and so we really only deal with the people around them after the artist has died
but we are changing now that a lot of people are working in digital material we need to start working with them a lot earlier in the process.
This is a question I always want to ask artists, if you archive something, does it make you want to be more organised in the way you work?
So, do you sort of think about it and go oh, I could put that in that part of my archive?
..No.
Fair enough! No one thinks about the archivists.
Something that is really unique about the working relationship that we have with Tate
is that it's developed over a long period of time,
that we've had an opportunity to listen very deeply to each other
and to act on the learning that we've shared.
They way you've accessed the archives, worked with curatorial colleagues, with learning colleagues, with digital colleagues,
I think that all of those ways of working make goals that are strategic for Tate about being open, local, diverse, artist led,
are the goals, they really make those mean something and be alive.
The events are really important in terms of sharing the Intoart archive,
the artwork and the research, and it's an opportunity for the people and the artists to preset themselves
and the work that they are producing.
But also there is a generosity, I think, by all of all of the artists to kind of hand over the work to an audience,
to have a conversation about what it is, what underpins the image that they have made.
Hello, I'm Clifton Wright and I am an Intoart artist.
We have made a film about the Intoart archive and looking at different stages of artwork.
I am looking forward to showing you the film and I appreciate any questions you have for me later on.
[First voice from film] My name is Christian Ovonlen. I started Intoart last year.
[Second voice from film] My name is Lisa Trim.
[Third voice from film] When did you start Intoart?
[Second voice from film] Years ago.
For an artist to consciously create an archive
as part of their working process is quite unusual and it's really exciting to see that.
It seems that these archives, they use, not only to show their creative process, but also to inspire themselves.