Natural capital gets lots of air time because banks - in their ongoing quest to own the world - like to invest. Social capital? Not so much. They're so tricky, humans, aren't they - with their foibles and need to be treated humanely? Dan Thompson bangs the drum on behalf of all of us. He is expert at unlocking potential in people and places that are ignored. If he was in the private sector he'd have a knighthood!
Lucy Siegle, Eco writer, founder Observer Ethical Awards, broadcaster, The One Show
DT is a visionary, an artist with a heartfelt sense of what matters in the real world, and the gumption to make it happen, not once but often. It's unusual to spend time with Dan and not to come away inspired.
John-Paul Flintoff, journalist and author of How To Change The World
Dan Thompson showed the best of Britain by helping organise the clean-up operation after last summer’s riots.
David Cameron, Prime Minister
Dan's art practice reflects social and cultural themes found by working with the local communities. The results are both democratic and critically challenging for audience and participants alike.
Julia Riddiough Founder A Brooks Art www.abrooksart.com
Our relationship with Dan goes back many years, initially to Worthing and Shoreham where, as an artist, collector, activist and organiser, he booked The Caravan Gallery to participate in various cultural events. These were frequently curtailed due to bad weather, our involvement being the obvious cause.
This has not stopped us collaborating over the years in various parts of the country, at festivals and on empty shop projects, where Dan's knowledge, enthusiasm and love of 'characterful' B&Bs is second to none.
We look forward to the next time, but can't promise there won't be torrential rain.
The Caravan Gallery
Fervent anti-UKIP activist
UKIP Spokesman
I’m always interesting in conversations, commissions and collaborations…
Hi Dan. I wanted to let you know about my pop-up project that I think is a bit unusual, and I hope you might be able to help me promote it a bit (sorry, can’t think of a less shameless approach, but I do need some help and you seem to be the Stephen Fry of the pop up world).
I recently indulged my long-planned for, and intelligently managed mid-life crisis and graduated from my Fine Art degree last June after a career in conservation, then fell into a washing-up-in-a-hellhole-of-a-pub job, alongside three other miserable souls who happened to have learning difficulties. The job was misery, but additionally they endured bullying and cruelty which I did not – I don’t think it was my Ba (Hons) that spared me. I realised I was going to have to make my own art job as there were none in my area of Kent (or die in a slop fuelled purgatory,) and that I might be able to do something helpful for a few of the unseen population of people washing up in our favourite pubs and restaurants.
I am now setting up a CIC bringing art workshops to people who have learning disabilities, partly funded by the Arts Council. The part of the project I am hoping you can help promote for me a bit, is an opportunity to be in another project’s pop up studio/gallery/project space being run by a group of artists called Making art Work which opens in 2 weeks time. We live in a cultural desert called Maidstone, and hope to become a co-operative one day, and get something happening in the area. I would like to get a group of people with learning disabilities working in the same space and put equality at the top end of the project and not just as a nice afterthought. I am having a little trouble convincing some avant garde souls AND the social service ‘system’ that great work can be made (Project Artwork in Hastings is my role model, although I think I am a little more painty) and helping them see the slightly delicious sedition involved. Anyway, my guys are shit hot, and I want the world to know it. I hope you can help by putting this link on your Twitter thing (very new media for me!)
It is here http://www.sponsume.com/project/art-about and my website is http://www.art-about.co.uk
Thanks Dan!
Helen
so how do you get the owners/agents to let you in Dan??best wishes Sue
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