Vernacular - critical writing platform

Help establish Vernacular, an online publication for art criticism with a focus on emerging practice in Aotearoa.

Vernacular will commission and host critical texts responding to exhibitions at artist-run initiatives (ARIs) and relevant galleries across Aotearoa, encouraging and contributing to an open culture of peer-to-peer critical dialogue for artists. With a team of writers, editors, and mentors all ready to get underway, we’re looking for funding to get things started! This funding will help enable Vernacular to launch its website and start paying its writers and editors.

Your contributions will go towards a six-month pilot for the online publication. This includes offering fair remuneration, a writer’s fee of $300 for 600-800 word reviews (averaging two per month), as well as a ($30/hour) fee for editors who will also collectively decide which exhibitions take priority within our capacity.

About Vernacular

Vernacular came out of a desire to know what other emerging artists were doing throughout Aotearoa. Finding that it’s sometimes difficult to find documentation and information online about exhibitions at smaller galleries such as artist-run galleries, temporary and community galleries, we found there was a need for a platform like Vernacular. As artist-run galleries are generally self-funded, their commitment is primarily to their immediate community and with limited resources, relating the content of shows to a wider, national audience is not a priority. By hosting critical writing and documentation, Vernacular has the capacity to push some of this valuable content to a wider audience, acknowledging that the individuals making the exhibitions happen in the first place are already doing enough.

The site will serve as a much-needed platform for more awareness and interaction between the North Island and South Island. Over time, it will also act as an archive for ARIs after they close. Importantly, it will stimulate the development of healthy critical discourse, starting with emerging artists. By understanding critical writing as an exploration of ideas and context, rather than judgement, the editorial ambition of the site is to encourage communities of artists to peer review one another’s work.

Vernacular currently involves a team of 20 fantastic people, so far including curators, artists and writers alike, many of whom can be considered ‘emerging’ themselves. They will contribute to editing and writing from Ōtepoti, Ōtautahi, Pōneke and Tāmaki Makaurau. This project is also built on relationships with more established mentors from across the sector to consult for guidance on specific texts, and as the project as a whole is developed. Orissa Keane will be facilitating Vernacular from Ōtautahi. Since graduating from Ilam School of Fine Arts with a major in sculpture (2019), Orissa has worked in the arts sector as a gallery assistant, art writer, artist, technician and studio manager.

Thank you for reading. If you have the means, please consider making a donation – everything counts. Otherwise, please share this link with people you think will be interested in the project. We are working hard to make sure you will be seeing the fruits of your support really soon!