Episode 53: A Critical Take on the National Gallery’s ‘200 Creators’ Call Out

Recently, someone left a comment on one of my Instagram posts. They asked ‘could you share your feelings on the National Gallery calling all content creators to celebrate the bicentenary? Many are calling the criteria unfair and as a professional in the art industry and as a creator, I’m curious how you feel about it’, which has now sparked the inspiration for this podcast episode.

In this episode, I take a critical stance on the recently announced call out from the National Gallery to create a network of UK-based digital creative influencers as part of its Bicentenary celebration called NG200. Applications have opened for digital creators to make ‘digital content’ which responds to the museum’s  collection, exhibitions, building, and day-to-day activities. Those selected will be named a Creative Collaborator, or will join the Gallery’s newly created 200 Creators Network.

The issue is… Applicants are asked to have a strong existing social media presence, with either a minimum of 50k subscribers on YouTube; 50k followers on TikTok and 1m likes on their account; or 100K followers on Instagram. The gallery said it wants to “collaborate with creators whose communities are interested in any number of topics, niches, and themes, and these don’t need to be based around art.”

Listen in to hear what I think is very cool about this, what the bad elements of it could be, where the National gallery may have taken a misstep, and my personal conclusion I have drawn from all of this.

Links to things mentioned in the episode:

• The NG200 Call Out: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/ng200-programme/200-creators


• Evening Standard Article, Meet the YLAs: https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/london-new-young-art-set-gallery-artist-photographer-writer-b1094824.html


• ‘Can Consuming Art Increase Empathy?’ TEDxUCL Talk by Alexandra Steinacker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOSd3PR7Lc4


• ‘New Paths for Arts Engagement through the Emergence of the “Artfluencer”’ in Journal d’Ambroisie, Edition II Waves and Paths, page 4 by Alexandra Steinacker: https://www.journaldambroisie.com/bigdipper 

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ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

• Instagram @alexandrasteinacker

  
  



• Twitter @alex_steinacker

  
  



• and LinkedIn at Alexandra Steinacker-Clark

  
  

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Assistant Production: Leanne Dennis