We are organising an exhibition and experiment on the value of art, and you are invited to participate. It will be a part of PAX CONVENTION,

The Project

Art Swap is an experiment looking at the value of art. It seems an apt time given the global economic uncertainty, with the acquisition and prices of art falling. Damien Hirst stirred controversy with his statement that “art is only worth what someone will pay for it”. But to those who refute this by saying that art’s value is intrinsic, there is the question of intrinsic to whom? Intrinsic via the institutional subscription process still leads back to the art market, even indirectly through the need for financing. Joseph Beuys said that real capital is not money but people as the sum of creativity of all individuals. This experiment seems one way to test that.

The project will consist of this open invitation and an exhibition of all submitted works for art swap, where participants may choose to swap art for art (or something else of value). The aim is for no money to be exchanged, only value for value. We, as curators, are questioning our subscription role by relinquishing it. Artists are being asked directly the question of value, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in choosing to participate (or not) in the exhibition and the art swap. Viewers, too, have their part to play. To acquire an artwork in the swap, they need to assess value without the benefit of gallery endorsement and pricing and determine their own method of payment.

The final part of the project is the documentation of the art swap as the findings from this experiment, which will be made publicly available.

The Invitation

Please see FAQs for the participation conditions and Submission Form, but some important terms are below:

• Exhibition: 4 to 8 April 2009 (including PAX Convention festival dates);

• Exhibition: at Blackie, Liverpool

• Artworks may be of any medium; exhibiting artists will be acknowledged;

• Deadline for submission is 25 March 2009;

• The Art Swap is on 7 April at 6 pm; Art Swap Artists will be credited in the documentation;

We hope you’re interested and join the project, by participating in the the Art Swap and or passing this invitation along.