New Voices is an Arts Council England funded project coordinated by artists and researchers John McDowall and Chris Taylor (PAGES). The project supported three emerging artists in the development of their practices by commissioning each to produce an artist’s book. These books were presented at the 22nd International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair at The Tetley, Leeds (2 & 3 March 2019), and along with 25 other artists’ books selected from the event, formed a touring exhibition which travelled to three art venues in South Yorkshire: Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), 13 – 21 March 2019, Doncaster Art Gallery & Museum, 23 – 29 March 2019, and The Cooper Gallery, Barnsley, 30 March – 6 April 2019.

Teanne Buxton’s project deals with structural racism, through the words we use daily. “The text I use reflects and explores the way in which simple words when displayed in different contexts can have hidden meanings and uses.”

Sam Hutchinson’s publication uses readily available image making technologies to question the distinctions between the everyday user of images, photographer, and artist, exploring the tensions between the demand for freedom of information and protection of intellectual property.

Sufea Mohamad Noor created a guide for women of colour to navigate the art world. Comprising of interviews and personal reflections, the resulting publication is intended as both a work of art and a useful tool for emerging artists and curators.

With artists’ books a dynamic and direct engagement is initiated, one in which the hands-on nature makes for an interactive experience that is particularly inviting. The touring series of displays and illustrated talks reflected this quality of intimacy but also open up conversations between artist, curator and audience.

New Voices was supported by Arts Council England, The Tetley and the University of Leeds.