Arts manager, artist and geographer


 

Intro

Silvie Jacobi.jpg

I am a German arts manager, artist and geographer working in both the UK and Germany. I have graduated with a Joint-PhD in 2019 from King’s College London and Humboldt University Berlin, studying the the relationship between art schools and place.

I am co-founder of the London School of Mosaic and The Undercraft, a new creative community based on one of Camden’s most deprived housing estates. I sit on steering committees at NW3 CLT, a community land tust developing affordable housing in Camden, and NAFAE which is the UK subject association for fine art educators.

 

 

Education

I studied on the BA in Fine Art Painting at Wimbledon College of Art between 2009 and 2012. As the practice/studio-based curriculum drew me closer towards academic learning, I started my studies into human geography at King’s College London, graduating with an MSc in Creative Cities in 2014.

Combining art and geography underpinned my PhD project (2015-19), studying the relationship between art schools and place. I was based in London and Berlin with joint supervision by Dr Roberta Comunian (King’s College London, Dept. of Culture, Media and Creative Industries), Dr Johan Andersson (King’s College London, Dept. of Geography) and Prof Ilse Helbrecht (Humboldt University Berlin). I received doctoral research funding from the German Study Foundation.

 

 

Interests

I have expertise and a research interest in the following areas:

  • the art world and fine art education in the UK and Germany

  • gentrification and affordable housing

  • regional, cultural and creative economies, communities of practice and sense of place

  • operations and business development for arts organisations and charities

I have initiated and run many art, cultural and research projects, bringing together artistic, academic, operational and leadership experience. Below you can find out about my recent projects/work…

Throughout my doctoral research I contributed to academic journals and books. See the list of my publications.

2017 to date

London School of Mosaic/The Undercraft

In 2017 I co-founded London School of Mosaic, based on the legacy of the socially engaged mosaic practice at Southbank Mosaics, where I volunteered since 2007. I have launched the first HE course in Mosaic Studies in the UK, which can be considered as a lost art form with unique qualities for community engagement, urban regeneration and inclusion. The school’s educational offer has been recognised by the prestigious Leverhulme Trust who give out scholarships for their diploma students.

I became the school’s Director in 2021, overseeing its expansion into a 1960sqm large community hub and artist studio provider collaborating with architects Public Works. For this I have raised £1.2m with the Mayor’s Good Growth fund and built a consortium of macthfunders to develop and launch The Undercraft in 2023, transforming empty garages in the most deprived part of the council into permanent artist workspace. Read more.

 

Art Schools and Place: Manchester and Leipzig

PhD thesis and book ‘Art schools and place’ funded through a doctoral scholarship provided by the German Study Foundation. Supervision by Dr Roberta Comunian, Dr Johan Andersson and Prof Ilse Helbrecht.

“Art Schools and Place provides an intriguing, case study-based contribution to critical geographies of art. It focuses on delicate interrelations between locally specific, place-based criteria which shape fine arts education and variegated influences of globalized contemporary art worlds.”

2015 to 2019

 

2019 to date

National Association of Fine Art Educators

NAFAE is the membership organisation for Fine Art Education, which I am managing on behalf of a steering committee and members. I have set up a new website and simplified membership process in 2021, responding to the need for a more engaging online platform and online activities for members during Covid. We are stearing the organisation at the moment towards campaigning for Fine Art education in the face of government cuts to Arts and Humanities education.

 

2018 to date

NW3 CLT

I am the Secretary of NW3 CLT, a community land trust in NW3 Camden. We are working towards community-led housing in this area of London to provide affordable housing for priced-out residents and workers. I lead on various sub-committees including communications/membership relations, affordability, allocations and fundraising.

 

2020

Creative HE Covid

In collaboration with KCL’s Dr Roberta Comunian and colleagues from the Dept. of Culture, Media and Creative Industries I run #creativeHEcovid www.creativehecovid.com which is a platform for knowledge exchange around the changes the sector is facing during and after Covid-19

 

2014-15

Kultur, Standort, Bestimmung Leipzig

I advised and researched on topics and international speakers to shape the programme for this 2015 cultural policy forum (See programme). This was set up with the aim to raise awareness of the ‘free cultural scene’ in Leipzig and to increase the municipal budget for independent cultural organisations, producers and artists