Upcoming creative events in Brent.
How do we create space for honest, useful conversations about our work?
Constructive, critical feedback is a vital part of any artist’s practice, but it can be hard to come by. Supportive peers might hold back out of kindness, while curators or collaborators may be too cautious to be completely honest. How do we ask better questions, create the right conditions, and stay open to feedback that truly helps us grow?
In this online session, artist and educator Chloe Cooper shares adaptable approaches to peer mentoring, with a focus on how to give and receive critical feedback in a way that’s generous, honest, and genuinely useful.
Whether you’re just out of education, settling into a new studio community, feeling stuck mid-career, or an established practitioner looking to reconnect with open, informal conversation, this session offers a space to reflect, recalibrate, and re-energise your practice through meaningful dialogue.
Chloe will introduce three essential methods for structuring critical feedback: Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process, Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats and Rose, Bud, Thorn; and offer practical ways to set up and sustain your peer support groups.
Chloe Cooper is an artist and educator passionate about creating environments where artists can support one another with critical feedback. As a long-time member of artist crit groups, Chloe recognises the benefits and challenges of giving and receiving feedback and is always on the lookout for new strategies and methods to try. She facilitates workshops for ArtQuest on peer support and critical feedback methods and has made a Peer Mentoring Guide with photographer Lewis Bush.
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.
