Stour Space in Hackney Wick are circulating an 'open call' for artists to exhibit. Artists making proposals should be aware that Stour is supported by a large West End Property Developer who...1/8 #stourspace #hackneywick #artwashing @MayorJohnBiggs @mayorofhackney 
...has agreed to house Stour in a new £80m student housing development in Hackney Wick. It is my belief that in exchange for use of this real estate Stour must adhere to a curatorial criteria that ensures they don't 'rock the boat'. This agreement may be contractual... 2/8
...or implied (a 'gentlemen's agreement'), but nevertheless changes how they can interact with and support artists locally, because only certain types of art are acceptable to their backers/supporters. 3/8
Following my own experience of Stour Space, artists making work that raises questions about Hackney Wick, particularly if critical/hostile, will not be welcome. Art that could be said to be provocative generally is also unlikely to be supported. 4/8
Your proposal will be ignored, as will your chaser emails (my record was x7... eventually I got a rude email from Caine Crawford having called them out on here). 5/8
Stour are not willing to articulate individual responses to artists or explain themselves further, yet maintain they are 'socially minded', and engaged with the local community. Their use of the hashtags #localart #supportlivingartists and #norestrictions is meaningless. 6/8
Stour are unable to provide a environment for artists to take risks (shouldn't that be the point of a worthwhile art space?). They are unable to show art that speaks freely about the immediate community, only art that is largely unobtrusive, and demands little of the viewer. 7/8
Stour Space is over as a place to view art of any seriousness, if it was ever that in the first place. My experience is that they are a thoroughly unpleasant and shady organisation and I would urge artists give them a wide berth if you don't already. 8/8
