Formerly the Director of HOME Slough, Saad Eddine Said has built a career in the arts sector, having worked with many high-profile organisations and artists. He spoke to us about his aims within his new role as Artistic Director and CEO of the New Art Exchange in Nottingham…
How did you get involved with working in the arts?
I grew up in Morocco where I developed the City Takeovers, which took me all over the world working within communities, building networks of creatives around the idea of making change. Then I came to the UK five years ago. But I've always been fascinated by narratives, and how they can impact people's lives, and I was always interested in different art forms.
Your vision is to broaden diversity through conversation. How will you go about starting these conversations within your new role?
I think it's important to recognise the past, but we need to look forward to developing partnerships to catalyse change. The most powerful tool is the ability to lead a conversation. It’s about being open and inviting to conversations, whilst embracing that we want to change the landscape and face the challenges.
You have an ambition to build partnerships that can help society to become more inclusive. How do you aim to do this within Nottingham?
NAE is the biggest art centre in the UK that is dedicated to arts and community from the global ethnic majority. We are privileged to be supported by stakeholders who believe in our mission. This comes with responsibility but also privilege. We have access to a stage where our voice can be heard, and we need to co-share this stage.
What do you see as the gallery’s role within the wider community?
If you look at the NAE as an asset, we have curated our vision from the community we are serving. Our aim is to tap into our community, and become an example of what a citizen-led gallery could look like. We understand the importance of going forward with this ambition.
You aim to reposition NAE as an asset for the wider community. How do you plan on achieving this?
I think we need to come back to the basics. That's what we're doing at the moment. How do you make a connection with NAE, how do you get an exhibition, an opportunity? I think these are key questions that are the centre of our conversations. We know that the community is changing, and we want to be a part of that.
I think it's important to recognise the past, but we need to look forward to developing partnerships to catalyse change
How have recent events in the political scene impacted the arts and creative sectors?
It's been a full-on couple of years, hasn't it? I think it's offered an opportunity to stop, reflect, and reimagine. We have the ability to shape society and the way we experience culture. We understand that we can only survive if we are together. It is frightening, but equally exciting. It will be key in reshaping how society looks for the next generations.
What do you believe constitutes art, and how will you bring these views to the gallery?
I don't believe that my role is to define what art is. Instead, it is to explore what it means for the communities that we want to connect with, to be a bridge between the vision and it becoming a reality. Definitions about art are subjective, and what matters is how I can work with people who feel undervalued, to define what it means to them.
What have you learnt from your past roles, and how will you bring this forward?
It’s a lot easier to speak than to listen. Very often, we think we come to spaces with the best answers and expertise, and what I've learnt in my career is the best thing we can do when we come to a space is to ask the right questions.
The new season at NAE is Reclaim. Could you tell me more about what this will bring to the gallery?
Reclaim is about bringing conversation, it is an invitation to creatives to reclaim the space. We have more than 50 creatives and communities taking part, which is fantastic. This is bringing larger conversations about reimagining what this space could look like if it was reclaimed. We've heard some fantastic visions that we have supported and it feels rejuvenating.
You also launched the Reside programme. What are you hoping this will achieve?
For us, Reside is about working with artists here at NAE, breaking boundaries between the walls of the venue and communities who may never walk in. This is something that we are really committed to going forward. We are hoping that more artists will take part, and that NAE will feel like a second home for them.
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