WCBritArt

“Being faithful to the diversity of the artists involved; avoiding tropes; challenging stereotypes … celebrating the enormous vitality and creativity of artists from working-class backgrounds”. In our latest episode of our Curating Class podcast series, Exhibitions Curator at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery Dr Laura Claveria tells us about the process of curating our current exhibition [uz], [uz], [uz]: Artists from Working-Class Backgrounds. Dr Simon Marginson discusses how he researched the University of Leeds’ Art Collection in preparation for the exhibition, and the methodology he developed for what’s thought to be the first full class audit attempted by a gallery or collection. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts via Gloves Off at the link in bio. Co-produced by University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries and @workingclassbritish .   📷 Mary Lord, Sunset (detail), 1964, oil on board. *Orphan work. 📷 Harry Thubron, Composition (detail), c.1970, mixed media. ©Estate of the Artist. 📷 Terry Frost, Mars Red, Yellow and Brown (detail), 1957, oil on canvas. © Courtesy of the Estate of Terry Frost. 📷 Joseph Pighills, Still Life (detail), undated, gouache on paper. ©Estate of the Artist. 📷 Wendy Abbott, In Heavy Air (detail), 1968, oil on canvas. *Orphan work. 📷 Arthur Kitching, Wrestlers II (detail), c.1966, oil on board. ©Estate of the Artist. All works from Cultural Collections & Galleries, University of Leeds Libraries, Art Collection.   *No rightholder(s) have been identified or, if one or more of them have been identified, none has been located despite a diligent search for the rightholders having been carried out. If you have information about the identity or the location of the rightholder(s), please contact us. _ #CuratingClass #GlovesOff #Podcast

Last month, our northern lead, Kirsty (@in_the_hanging_garden ), had a fantastic day listening to some of the most inspiring readings on working-classness as method in creative practice at @workingclassbritish ’s conference, convened by @fuscowriting and @beth_beth_hughes . It was an incredible day and we are grateful to the organisers for creating a welcoming space where ideas could be shared. Huge thanks to everyone who came to our Liverpool Social at @quarryliverpool afterwards. We are looking forward to programming much more in the city! Next up, we will be in Leeds. More info to follow very soon. If you’re in the north and would like to become a member, click the link in the bio.

Coinciding with the final month of [uz], [uz], [uz]: Artists from Working-Class Backgrounds in The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, our new weekly podcast series starts today: Curating Class. We’ll be hearing from art historians, curators and artists about making, collecting, researching, exhibiting and talking about work by artists from working-class backgrounds. Dr Rebecca Starr, Lecturer in History of Art @fahacs , kicks us off with a look at art history’s relationship with class. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts via the link in bio. Co-produced by University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries and @workingclassbritish . #CuratingClass #GlovesOff #Podcast

It’s been a week since Who does not envy with us is against us: A conference on working-classness as method in creative practice, co-convened by Maria Fusco & Beth Hughes and we’re still processing it. We’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the generosity and positive responses from both attendees and speakers. What has stayed with us is, alongside rigorous research and sharply observed insights, there were so many big emotions in the room from tears, to anger, to moments of real, big belly laughter. Thank you to everyone who came and made the day a real collective response. The biggest thanks goes to our brilliant speakers/participants: Dave Beech @davebeechartist Adam Benmakhlouf @adambenmakhlouf Jade Bradford @jadebradforduk Marley Starskey Butler @marleystarskeybutler Danielle Child Paul Clinton @fpclinton Michael Dean @ffffucksake Jacqueline Donachie @jacqueline.donachie Michelle Hannah @m_h_a_n_n_a_h Jessie Jones @divineaccidents Twayna Mayne @twaynamayne Kelly O’Brien @kelly.o.brien Damien O’Connell @damien.oconnell Deirdre O’Neill @deeinsidefilm Mathew Wayne Parkin @mathewparkin Bharti Parmar @bharti.parmar.studio Hannah Perry @hannahperryhannahperry Mike Pinnington @doublenegativem Julia Rosenstock @jurosenstock Belinda Scarlett @belindagscarlett Caitlin Shepherd @caitlinmagdashepherd Stuart Whipps @s_whipps Huge thanks also to Helen Legg, Leanne Green @leanne_mgreen , Tom Emery @emery.tom and Laura Biddle @laura_a_biddle at Tate Liverpool for their support and funding, and to Izzy Jones for their care and work in the lead-up to the event. Thank you to the Everyman Theatre for their hospitality, the British Art Network for your continued support, the @workingartsclub for organising the drinks after and Sean Edwards for allowing us to use his work to promote the event @seanjedwards And of course, Beth Hughes @beth_beth_hughes and Maria Fusco @fuscowriting for organising such a brilliant event! I know many of you are waiting on the recording and we are on with that. More to come soon. #WCBAN #WorkingClassness #LiverpoolEvent

And finally, bios for the remaining speakers… Mathew Wayne Parkin @mathewparkin Bharti Parmar @bharti.parmar.studio Hannah Perry @hannahperryhannahperry Mike Pinnington @doublenegativem Julia Rosenstock @jurosenstock Belinda Scarlett @belindagscarlett Caitlin Shepherd @caitlinmagdashepherd Stuart Whipps @s_whipps We just wanted to say, we were blown away with all of the applications we received and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the open call. For those of you with event tickets, we’ll see you tomorrow 👍 #WCBAN #WorkingClassness #LiverpoolEvent

As promised, here is some more info about the amazing speakers for the Liverpool event on Friday. 📣 Part three coming tomorrow! ✨ Jacqueline Donachie @jacqueline.donachie Michelle Hannah @m_h_a_n_n_a_h Jessie Jones @divineaccidents Twayna Mayne @twaynamayne Kelly O’Brien @kelly.o.brien Damien O’Connell @damien.oconnell Deirdre O’Neill @deeinsidefilm #WCBAN #WorkingClassness #LiverpoolEvent

It’s not long now until our event in Liverpool and, with that in mind, we thought we would introduce you to some of the speakers/presenters. This is just part one, so keep your eyes peeled for the remaining two parts over the next couple of days! 👀 Dave Beech @davebeechartist Adam Benmakhlouf @adambenmakhlouf Jade Bradford @jadebradforduk Marley Starskey Butler @marleystarskeybutler Danielle Child Paul Clinton @fpclinton Michael Dean @ffffucksake (Bios provided by the speakers) #WCBAN #WorkingClassness #LiverpoolEvent

Not long now until our event in Liverpool!! ⏰ We can’t wait to share the full list of speakers with you in the following days, but just as a reminder, if you have a ticket but can no longer attend please let us know as we have people on the waiting list. Stay tuned for more news coming soon, but for now here is the key info! ⭐️ Co-convened by Maria Fusco and Beth Hughes, with support from Tate Liverpool and Everyman Theatre, Liverpool 10-5pm, 10 April 2026 Everyman Theatre, Liverpool Following the event, our friends at the Working Arts Club will be hosting a get-together at a local venue. #WCBAN #WorkingClassness #LiverpoolEvent

For our second event in Northern England, we’re teaming up with our friends, Working Class British Art Network, for casual drinks at Q U A RR Y in Liverpool on Friday 10 April. Join us from 5:30-7:30pm to meet members of both networks. Our northern lead, Kirsty, will be there to greet you. No RSVP required, just turn up. The social follows @workingclassbritish ’s conference on the same day, ‘Who does not envy with us is against us: A conference on working-classness as method in creative practice’. You do not need to have attended the conference to come along but all attendees are welcome! @workingclassbritish @fuscowriting @beth_beth_hughes @in_the_hanging_garden

Link in our bio to sign up for Who does not envy with us is against us: A conference on working-classness as method in creative practice. We expect it to sell out so ask you check you can attend before signing up. Thank you!

‼️SOLD OUT ‼️ Curating Class: Rethinking Art Exhibition Methodologies, Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds We’re really thrilled to say that all 50 of the tickets for this event have sold out before we’ve even announced the amazing line up of speakers. Just to say if you have a ticket and can no longer attend, please let us know

Thank you to everyone who has submitted a proposal and shared the call out for our Working Class as Method conference. With over 100 proposals in its fair to say we have been blown away by the incredible response. Thanks to everyone asking about tickets for the event too. We will be sharing the sign up link soon.