A guided exploration of the issues in play for artists working in educational spaces.
Many artists work in educational institutions at some point in the career, often partnering with teachers. But what exactly does that partnership involve? How is it formed, negotiated and managed? In what sense is artistic practice educational? To what degree is education an artistic practice? How does open-ended artistic exploration sit with lesson-planning and target-setting? Is the role of the artist to work within institutional culture or subvert it? Having worked on both sides of the artist teacher relationship, Dr Darren Chetty will offer a guided exploration of the issues in play for artists working in educational spaces.Dr Darren Chetty is a Lecturer (Teaching) at UCL. He taught in primary schools for over twenty years and continues to work with schools on policy, curriculum and pedagogy. Darren co-ordinated Power to the Pupils, a primary school hip hop collective that released 5 albums, in Hackney, London. In 2013, he established the UK HipHopEd Seminar Series for hip hop educators and artists, and the Philosophy for Cyphers course, incorporating hip hop pedagogy and philosophy for children. He co-edited Critical Philosophy of Race and Education and has co-edited special issues of Wasafiri and Ethics and Education. Darren contributed to the bestselling book, The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla. Darren has published six books to date, as co-author and co-editor. He co-authored with Karen Sands O’Connor, Beyond the Secret Garden? Racially Minoritised People in British Children’s Books (English Media Centre).
About ACAVA Talks
This event is part of ACAVA Talks our professional development events programme for creative practitioners. Whether you’re looking to refresh your practice, take risks, make a change, or simply reconnect with purpose — this programme is for you.
Through knowledge sharing and skills development it aims to support, and foster connections between creative professionals navigating a shifting and complex cultural landscape
We’re proud to be sponsored by Smartist. Showcase your artwork, without all the hard work. Smartist are offering a 30-day free trial and a discounted annual subscription for ACAVA Talks attendees.
Designed by artists, for artists, Smartist makes it effortless to create stunning, realistic mock-ups in seconds. It’s the most downloaded art visualisation app, trusted by over 1 million creatives in 175 countries. With powerful customisation options, artists can fine-tune everything, from interiors and frames to layouts and perspectives. Do you have a collector who wants to see your work in their own home? Upload their room photo, and Smartist will seamlessly and professionally place your artwork inside.
ACAVA Talks
Playing it by ear with Dr Darren Chetty, creating artist teacher collaborations
Friday 25 July, 11am–12.30pm
In person at ACAVA Barham Park Studios
Ticket pricing:
Standard: £5
Concession: £1*
Free for ACAVA studio holders
Whilst here, experience Brent Biennial 2025 at Barham Park 24–26 July
*Concession tickets are available for those on low incomes or unwaged. For those able to pay the full fee, we are a registered charity and income from tickets directly supports the ACAVA Talks programme and reaching more artists.
Access
A BSL Interpreter can be provided with one month’s notice. To request this or share any access needs, email Georgia at profdev@acava.org.
For in-person talks at Barham Park, we offer:
- Accessible toilet
- Drinking water
- Seating
- Quieter area
- Step-free routes (with a temporary ramp)
We don’t have a dedicated prayer room, but please get in touch ahead of time, we’ll do our best to find a suitable private space.
Book your place
FAQs
ACAVA Talks are open to all artists, no matter your career stage. Whether you're just starting, mid-career, or well-established, the sessions are designed to support you in developing your practice, refreshing your approach, or gaining new perspectives. You don’t need to be an ACAVA studio holder, everyone is welcome, including those working from home studios, bedrooms, sheds, or hotdesks
Smartist is a leading art visualisation app, designed by artists for artists, that helps you showcase your artwork in realistic, professional mock-ups with ease. Over 1 million creatives in 175+ countries use it to present their work beautifully.
ACAVA Talks attendees can enjoy a 30-day free trial and a discounted annual subscription from Smartist.
Want to show a collector what your work would look like in their home? Just upload a photo of their room and Smartist will do the rest.
For online talks, Zoom links are emailed the day before. Talks are automatically captioned; just click the green “Closed Captions” button in Zoom. We’ll also explain this at the beginning of the session.
A BSL Interpreter can be provided with one month’s notice. To request this or share any access needs, email Georgia at profdev@acava.org.
For in-person talks at Barham Park, we offer:
- Accessible toilet
- Drinking water
- Seating
- Quieter area
- Step-free routes (with a temporary ramp)
We don’t have a dedicated prayer room, but please get in touch ahead of time, we’ll do our best to find a suitable private space.
Yes, online talks will be recorded and made available within a month after the event. Recordings will be emailed to the address provided during booking. Please note that in-person talks will not be recorded due to the interactive nature of those sessions.
Concession tickets are available to those who are unwaged or on low incomes. If you’re able to pay the full fee, your support helps sustain the ACAVA Talks programme and expands access to more artists, as we are a registered charity.
Studio holders will receive a booking code via email to claim a free ticket. Didn’t get yours or need help? Email profdev@acava.org for assistance.
Each talk lasts 90 minutes:
- 60 minutes for the speaker’s presentation
- 30 minutes for a live Q&A session
You’re welcome to use the chat function to interact or ask questions during the session.
ACAVA Talks is sponsored by
