In 2019 SAW released a publication. The publication was the outcome of many months of self reflection and careful consideration, within it’s pages we sought to explore and explain what SAW is, what it has been, and what it aims to be as an organisation. There are several essays within it that explore different aspects of our thinking and practise- here is one of them.
This publication marks a significant turning point in the life of a project; nine years after launching Holy Biscuit in May 2010, from May 2019 our work will continue under the new name ‘Shieldfield Art Works’ or ‘SAW’. As we transition from being Holy Biscuit to Shieldfield Art Works/SAW we felt it was important to reflect on where we have come from, where we are now and where we want to go as we look to the future.
In September 2018, Holy Biscuit team took the decision to close the gallery programme and to set aside quality time to review our purpose and vision. We called this period PROCESS and it was an important process of re-examining all of our activity, motivations and values as an organisation.
We are excited to share with you the story of Shieldfield Art Works, from the initial transformation of Shieldfield Methodist Church into the Holy Biscuit, our work over the last 9 years, and all that we have learnt leading up to our new identity as SAW. The publication features writing not only from our staff team but also guest contributions from a diverse range of colleagues and friends in our communities, reflecting the nature of how we work and the varied way people interact with our organisation.
We are thankful for what has happened through Holy Biscuit and the community and identity we built around the Holy Biscuit brand. This publication is a way for us to acknowledge, critique and celebrate where we have come from and to be thankful for all we have received. It is also an opportunity to set out the values and vision we intend to embody as we move forward as SAW, as we launch our new name and visual identity.
Alison Merritt Smith, (former) Director of Shieldfield Art Works
