B. Ongoing development of the SSRU’s Sustaining Life Project [SLP] Since 2003 the SLP has run several Interdisciplinary Transactions / New Methodologies of Engagement events including:  

i.A three day ‘interdisciplinary transaction’ for 20 participants in Feb. 2004- focusing on Protected Areas, Governance and Social Sculpture Processes.  This collaboration with the conservation organisation, African Parks, was organised and facilitated by myself and other members of the SSRU/Sustaining Life Project board. Participants included: Prof. Mick Crawley (Ecologist, Imperial College), Prof. Richard Smith (Anthropologist, Lima, Peru), Prof. Nigel Leader-Williams (Canterbury), Dr. Joanna Elliot, Conservation Economist (DFID), Richard Pakleppa (Film-maker, activist, EU appointed negotiator in southern Africa re indigenous people’s rights.) A second event in Feb 2005 included key figures from UNESCO, UNDP and sustainable futures scientists from several UK universities. Report on African Parks website  

ii.1^st SLP - Social Sculpture Methodologies and Strategies Colloquium –25 June 2003. I organised, led and contributed to this interdisciplinary colloquium for 40 participants. Key presentations by Brandon Ballengee, Eco-artist, USA; Dr. Hildegard Kurt, Cultural Historian, Berlin; Clive Adams (Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World, Exeter); David Haley – Ecoartist/researcher - Manchester Metropolitan University.  

iii.2^nd SLP - Social Sculpture Methodologies and Strategies Colloquium – 15 Sept. 2003. I organised, led and contributed to this interdisciplinary colloquium for 40 participants. Key presentations by Heike Strelow, eco-art curator and art historian, Frankfurt; Tim Collins and Reiko Goto, Carnegie Mellon Research Fellows, USA; John Colvin, Environment Agency, UK; Ann Rosenthal, ecoartist, USA.

2. The SLPhas been working on interdisciplinary ‘spaces for new vision’ projects in Russia and Peru with local groups, academics and NGO’s. Prototype, portable ‘spaces’ to facilitate social sculpture processes are being designed in collaboration with Architecture and Built Environment, Univ. of Greenwich.

3. EARTH AGENDA – social sculpture web platform and interdisciplinary ‘transactions’ (see work in progress)

with international bodies, NGO’s, visionaries, projects. Toward rethinking and sustaining the global commons. Includes section on ‘creative practices’ and new methodologies of engagement.

C. Ongoing international engagement with social sculpture project, Exchange Values

1.Exchange Values at the South African National Gallery, Cape Town. April – Aug 2001.  Solo show. Funded by British Council and South African Cultural Funds. Parallel show by Alfredo Jaar. Opening speech by poet, Karen Press. Attended by over 500 people. Led four forums with NGO’s and members of the public, discussing social sculpture and new methodologies of engagement.  Ran 10 workshops for schools.   2. Section on Exchange Values and SSRU in publication on ‘new artistic strategies’ by Dr. Hildegard Kurt, 2002. Includes the work of 20 international eco-artists and writers, including Tim Collins, Carnegie Mellon and Heike Strelow, curator, Germany. Commissioned by Agenda 21. Funded by German Government Grant.  3. Exchange Values at Johannesburg Art Gallery for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Aug-Nov 2002.  Solo show. Funded by British Council and South African Cultural Funds.  New catalogue funded by Arts Council of England.  4. Exchange Values Website developed specifically for the project to coincide with World Summit - see www.exchange-values.org  

5. IPS: Birmingham: A two-day ‘interdisciplinary transaction’ at International Project Space to coincide with the showing of Exchange Values. April-May 2004.  Day 1:  Spaces for New Vision Public Forum.  Day 2: Transaction involving 12 participants (including Prof. Paul Cloke, Head of Geography, Bristol University; Prof. Dr. Helen Koriath, Art Theorist, Hannover; Jyoti Sahi, Research Fellow, Theology, Birmingham University; Renwick Rose, WINFA chief farmers’ negotiator with WTO; Alistair Smith, international coordinator, Banana Link; Dr. Hildegard Kurt, cultural scientist (Berlin), Dr. Ian Cook, Geographer (Birmingham); Dr. Luke Deforges, Geographer (Aberystwyth), Dr. Gail Davies Geographer (London). Exhibition, forums, workshops and think tank partnered and funded by University of Birmingham, Geography Department; Creative Partnerships, Birmingham; Windward Islands Farmers Association; NGO-Banana Link (bulletin board sponsor).   6. Unpublished papers presented on Day 2 are intended for paper or digital publication on ‘connective aesthetics / social sculpture’.   7. Recently published chapters on Exchange Values include: Navigating Voices by Wallace Heim in Performing Nature. Explorations in ecology and performance (2005. Bern, Peter Lang); sections in: Linda Weintraub’s ‘Ecocentric Topics’ (10 international artists profiled, including Damian Hirst) spring 2006, Jane Rendell’s new book (title?)late 2006, and in UN/Natural World Museum publication ‘Art in Action’ -2007.  8. Ongoing work with Exchange Values: This project has been invited to Lahore – National College of the Arts (funding available from British Council); EU Headquarters, Brussels; Murmansk, Russia; The Windward Islands by the farmers’ organisation, WINFA, as part of a conference with the WTO; USA venues under discussion – Fort Lauderdale, Florida; PS1, New York and the Armoury, LA.  The project is included in several syllabi in the UK and USA. Its methodologies are being explored by curriculum development / teachers’ groups (e.g TIDE).