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A landscape image of a simple metal shelving unit holding ceramics in a large room filled with people and art works.
A landscape image of two hands working with clay. Upon a large, pale wooden surface, a wet-clay plate is being made upon a white stand. The hands are covered in clay, and white fabric is visible on the table to the right of the plate and stand.
A landscape image of a simple metal shelving unit holding ceramics in a large room filled with people and art works.

The Growing Project x Modern Clay at Manchester Art Fair, 2023.

A landscape image of two hands working with clay. Upon a large, pale wooden surface, a wet-clay plate is being made upon a white stand. The hands are covered in clay, and white fabric is visible on the table to the right of the plate and stand.

Image by Nina Bailie, 2019.

Art and Ecology: What is a Market? A workshop-style discussion event

12 September 20246–8.30pm

Please note that places are limited so email jo@grand-union.org.uk to RSVP your place.

Join us for a workshop style discussion event with Ruth Beale and Amy Feneck from The Alternative School of Economics. Together, with Joanne Masding from Modern Clay, and members of The Growing Project, we will explore positive aspects and potential challenges of alternative and community-led economy building in Birmingham.

Over the last three years The Growing Project and Modern Clay have been working together to develop ceramic products for retail in an attempt to build greater financial resilience for our project communities. Through this open discussion with Ruth and Amy, help us to explore our understanding of what a market is, and how artists and communities may create new economic models.

If you are unemployed, self-employed or on a low income, we have a small access and participation budget for this event, if it helps we may be able to cover your travel/time. Please email jo@grand-union.org.uk for more information.

More information about the participants of this event:

The Alternative School of Economics is a collaboration between artists Ruth Beale and Amy Feneck that questions economic doctrine and knowledge hierarchies through creative collaboration. From a billboard in a community run nature reserve, to talking to mothers and sex workers about feminist economics, to exploring the relationship between wealth and power with teenagers, their work with communities explores global political issues in relation to the complexity of lived experience. Recent projects include Tree Time, TACO! London, The Neoliberal Imagination at The Whitworth, Manchester, Artists’ Economies, UKS, Oslo, The End of the Present, Arts Catalyst, London & Sheffield, and True Currency: About Feminist Economics, Gasworks, London.
Joanne Masding is an artist and co-director of co-operative ceramics studio Modern Clay.
Modern Clay is a co-operative clay studio in Birmingham, run by artist members. Modern Clay produces ceramics, runs public workshops and designs bespoke projects with charitable organisations. Working collaboratively since 2019, Modern Clay and The Growing Project have developed clay-making workshops for participants, sharing the benefits of working creatively and enacting their belief that creative expression is vital to wellbeing.
Joanne has a sculptural practice, working in clay, plaster, plastics, as well as using text and image as materials for making objects. She makes work to think about relationships to objects: ideas of worth, ownership and production, and how they are absorbed by bodies and through technological interfaces. In 2024 she launched her first novel as artwork, Body of Pieces, published by Bobo Books. It was announced with a debut performance made for TACO!, Thamesmead.

Together with artists, gardeners and chefs, The Growing Project works compassionately to facilitate weekly sessions with a variety of groups. Utilising Psychologically Informed Environments and Trauma Informed Care training The Growing Project is able to meet people where they are at in a non-authoritative environment.

Through The Growing Project, people have said they feel more connected to others and are offered space for their own expression. The project builds community connections that may not have existed before and we’re extremely proud of the work we achieve together each week. Our methodology is to create space for peoples’ varied and sometimes complex needs, where productivity is not the driving force.

The Growing Project is a transformative community programme using art making, gardening, cooking and simply being together as a way of offering support and friendship to people passing through difficult times.

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