The X Collab: Fostering a Sense of Community in a Time of Disconnect

“The X Collab’s primary aim is to inspire creatives to continue making work and offer them a platform to do so.”

Made In Bed’s Reviews Editor Olivia Wilson spoke to the founding members of The X Collab, a student-led platform aimed at fostering a sense of community supporting young creatives, to gain further insight into what drives them to create lasting change.

The X Collab co-founders. From left to right: Darragh, Andrei, Josh, Brandon. Source: X Collab.

The catchy tagline “by creative for creatives” defines The X Collab, a student-led platform hoping to foster a sense of community across the nation during increasingly difficult times for those graduating from art schools. Collaboration, exposure, digital exhibition and connection: the four necessary ingredients to create successful inter-institutional, multidisciplinary collaborations and support young creatives. The X Collab’s inaugural project ‘01/Blue’ ambitiously brought together over 200 UK-based artists to create a digital publication showcasing boundary-pushing creatives working today. This will be transformed into an exhibition, set to be held later this year, and a physical book, which can be purchased in aid of supporting their future initiatives.

When asked what catalysed the inception of The X Collab, its founders responded: 

“We felt great frustration when faced with the limitations that the restrictions imposed on us. This loss of inspiration resulted in us being less active within our artistic practices. While the project was a way to prompt ourselves and our close network to create artwork, it naturally progressed into being openly available to others experiencing the same frustrations. During the peak of the lockdown restrictions, there were no opportunities for networking, exhibiting, or working within the studio spaces, which is all part of developing our art practices. Andrei initially approached the team with the idea of hosting a project where artists, designers, and others created work collaboratively, which was then to be swapped between the generated pairs to make a new piece with elements from their partners. That’s when us 4 - Andrei, Brandon, Darragh and Josh started brainstorming and developed the first theme: blue.”

Full-page spread from The X Collab’s art book showing a collaborative work by Brandon Coyle (a co-founder of The X Collab) and Lauren Quarmby. Source: thexcollab.com.

The X Collab pride themselves on their participant-run model. Rather than being motivated by pursuing self-promotion, they seek to create a genuine community run by all those involved, not just the founders. The X Collab brings artists together during a time in which we have been more divided and isolated than ever before.  

“The X.Collab’s primary aim is to inspire creatives to continue making work and to offer them a platform to do so. It is our way of supporting the transition period between education programs and beyond. Having said that, whilst it was initially aimed at students and recent graduates, the reach attracted creatives from diverse backgrounds, including those in professional positions, former students and full-time artists. Our differentiation point stems from being a platform for the participants rather than self-promotion. We value knowledge sharing, opportunity sharing and encouraging personal growth to provide an alternative education model. Peer to peer learning inevitably declines after completion of mainstream educational programs. However, our platform pushes it further. A new collaborator becomes a life-long friend. We want to dissolve barriers that have been created and give artists the space to meet one another. We encourage participants to join us for each project in an effort to introduce creatives to as many other creatives as we can.” 

The X Collab’s digital publication, due to be published in physical form later this year. Source: thexcollab.com.

Despite any feelings of increasing anxiety over the uncertainty of the future, leading some to put down their brushes for good and pursue a more ‘conventional’ career, The X Collab feels refreshingly positive about things: 

“We are feeling hopeful of the future because we have witnessed new art collectives and communities being created throughout lockdown, which results in more connections than ever before. Whilst the majority has been digital, nothing is stopping us from developing these relationships past online networks. No one adapts better than creatives due to the required resilient nature of artists. As evidenced by our project, there is a need for supporting each other. 152 people came together, and for many, this is something completely new, as it is for us. We hope to have inspired everyone by concluding ‘01/Blue’ with a feeling of hope - that there are better times ahead.” 

With atrocious news in circulation recently, reporting that the British Government plans to cut funding in the United Kingdom to art courses at universities by up to 50%, there is more reason than ever for soon-to-be-graduates to feel panicked and unsupported. About this, The X Collab said: 

“The Arts have been continually shown a lack of priority by the government, especially in the age of the pandemic where artists have even been encouraged to ‘retrain’ and find new careers despite the high importance of artistic practices being evident now more than ever. As a community, we all need to take a stand against this kind of government initiative and ensure our voices are heard and that the importance of the industry is recognised and given the support it deserves.” 

Image of Guardian news article announcing news of cuts to funding arts subjects at universities, 6th May 2021. Source: theguardian.com.

Overcoming such threats to institutions’ longevity can only be overcome through collaboration, working together to create a better future for art schools and courses. 

“Participants from The X Collab are likely to have positions within the institutions as teachers, lecturers and heads of departments to carry on influencing the future generations. As a community, we can develop the ideal vision for an art school. Whilst this may not happen overnight, day-by-day, we can approach the difficulties we are faced with and stand strong together.” 

Thank you to The X Collab. 

For more information on The X Collab, check out their Instagram profile.

Olivia Wilson

Reviews Editor, MADE IN BED