Art in Britain since 2000: where are we now?
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: VB687
- Dates: 09/05/25 - 13/06/25
- Time: 10:30 - 12:30
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Chantal Condron
Course Code: VB687
Duration: 5 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
A decade after the end of the Second World War, the exhibition, ‘This is Tomorrow’ opened at the Whitechapel Gallery in London in 1956. A radical group exhibition in terms of ideas, presentation and thinking, it introduced the work of a new generation of artists to the British public. ‘Art in Britain: ‘This is Tomorrow’’ is a popular course that explores artists whose work and practice were ahead of their time either in terms of subjects, themes or materials.
Art in Britain Since 2000 is a new addition to the series that takes up the story of art produced in Britain over the past two decades. Which artists have and continue to challenge the status quo? How have they used new materials or media in their work? How does their work reflect or respond to the current social, cultural and political environment amid a post-pandemic nation facing the challenges of the climate crisis? Artists featured on the course include Victoria Cantons, Mark Wallinger, Zineb Sedira, John Akomfrah, Marguerite Humeau, Mark Titchner, Elsa James, Haroon Mirza and Lawrence Lek.
At times, this course may contain content that some learners may find of a sensitive or challenging nature.
What will we cover?
• A focused study of the work of up to two artists or artist groups each week.
• An overview of some of the social and cultural issues that influenced the art of each decade.
• We will investigate what was visionary and forward-thinking about each artist’s work.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Identify social, political or cultural issues that have influenced the work of at least one artist’s work since 2000.
• Explain the working style and use of media by at least one artist studied on the course.
• Describe formal visual elements or approaches to materials of 2-3 artworks studied on the course.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information and instructions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught by lecture with slide images and you will be invited to participate in group discussion. Resource lists, glossary and teaching slides will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these will be available online/digitally for download via the course's Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within one week of the course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Makers not Muses: Claude Cahun, Eileen Agar and Isabel Rawsthorne
Contemporary art in London
Introduction to Tate Modern.
Chantal Condron is a curator, teacher and writer with a dedicated focus on audienceengagement and enjoyment of art. As the UK Government Art Collection’s first curator of publicengagement, she led education and public programmes at the University of Hull, WhitechapelGallery and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and delivered art talks at the Britishembassies in Paris, Vienna and Washington DC. She teaches Art History at City Lit, in additionto teaching the subject as part of City Lit’s Ceramics Diploma course. She is also an Art Historytutor for WEA London, and teaches 'A level' Art History to London secondary school students. Chantal has worked widely in the public and private arts sector for nearly 30 years including at Tate, Sotheby's, Visiting Arts, Arts and Business and University of London Library. She holds a BA in 20th century and non-western art from the University of East Anglia; and an MA in Asian art from SOAS, University of London. Author of 'Peter Hedegaard', the first monograph on the London-based Danish abstract artist who exhibited in the 1960s and ‘70s (Rocket Gallery, London, 2019), Chantal continues to contribute commissioned exhibition texts and reviews.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.