What We Do

Metal is a multi-disciplinary concept that is committed to

• collaboration and experimentation.
• new initiatives by established artists and collaborations with international artists.
• debate and conversation
• moral and ethical search for the artist’s truth
• the purposeful nature of social discourse, art and food preparation

Jude Kelly OBE identified a necessity for an organisation to champion the need for continual investment in artistic investigation, the creative process and research and development into innovative ideas that could shift the thinking in the UK cultural sector.

Under her artistic leadership, Metal provides a process-based space for artists and thinkers working across all artistic disciplines, from the UK and overseas.  Artists are given the opportunity to explore, re-examine and extend working practices, processes, ideas, partnerships and collaborations without the pressure to create ‘product’ within a fixed timescale. 

Conversation and debate across disciplines and cultures is central to the philosophy of Metal.  Artists and thinkers are invited to gather around the Metal AGA to share food, knowledge, experience, ideas and to meet each other in a ‘neutral’ and domestic space in the belief that this supports, strengthens and extends the UK cultural network on an artist-to-artist principle.  Dinner series are planned around ideas, themes and notions that have their starting point in an artist’s work.

As well as working directly with artists, Metal takes its multi-disciplinary thinking and applies it to bold, creative ideas.  We develop these ideas and deliver projects in different contexts - from influencing change in urban landscapes, assisting with understanding and building capacity for organizations and individuals, to large artistic expressions and content for film and television.