WHAT IS TRANSACTIONLAND?

Transactionland is an artwork, pop-up shop, community space & venue for thinking about economics. Created by artist Rachael Clerke, the first iteration of Transactionland took place in Bristol at Bricks St Anne’s House in March 2022. Transactionland is a space where visitors can ask difficult questions, play games, meet new people, take part in workshops, attend performances or film screenings or just hang out. It is fun, free to access, child-friendly and amateur-led. Accepted currencies in Transactionland include cash, card, stock cubes, time & anecdotes amongst others. 

As well as regular fixtures like ‘shoplift-o-clock’ (where shoplifting is encouraged) and ‘doughnut hour’ (a group discussion about doughnut economics, with doughnuts), Transactionland is a container for artworks exploring economy, labour & value, by Rachael Clerke and other selected artists. You can read more about the different elements that make up Transactionland here.

BACKGROUND

Transactionland emerges from late capitalism, the housing crisis, low economic literacy, and a desire to look at the inside of the machine and perhaps even remake it. It is frustrated with the idea that the economy is ‘too complex’ for anyone other than the men in suits to understand. 

Transactionland takes the stance that we are all involved in the economy, that it affects our lives every day, and therefore we have a right to ask questions and take part free from embarrassment and stigma. This is a non-expert, peer learning and exploring space. 

Transactionland is part of Rachael’s 10 year body of work ‘Businesses’, an irreverent yet earnest attempt to understand, expose and co-opt systems of money, trade and exchange.

You can read more about Rachael and their practice on their website here.

CONTEXTS

In 2022, Transactionland took place in the newly opened community and cultural centre, St Anne’s House in Brislington, Bristol. The project attracted large audiences, and it was often the first time local people had been inside the building. 

Following this pilot version, I am keen to take the project to empty shops in high streets around the UK, as well as other art and community spaces. 

High streets full of empty shops have been one of the most immediately recognisable signs of an economy in trouble since the financial crash in 2008. These are places we walk past every day but often don’t register. By bringing conversations about economy, labour and value right into the centre of town, Transactionland invites everyone to be curious and take power over the systems that rule our lives.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Transactionland has a number of different formats at play. This modular approach means that the project can be easily reconfigured for different contexts and spaces. 

  • Shop floor regulars - things that happen at the same time every day (doughnut hour, shoplift-o-clock)

  • Concessions - pop up installations and interventions created and hosted by commissioned guest artists

  • Workshops & talks - these are events for an audience wishing to delve deeper into a specific theme. A mix of playful, hands on creative workshops (eg. fashion for shoplifting workshop) and short presentations/Q&As

  • After Hours Trading - evening events including performances, film screenings and parties

Alongside this, the shop is open every day for set hours, where it is hosted by artist-shopkeepers who are available to give tours, have chats, play games or signpost people to other services.

COMMISSIONS / CONCESSIONS

Transactionland Bristol saw the commissioning of new or adapted artworks from artists Vijay Patel, Jarsquad (Rachel Dobbs, Tess Wilmot, Carmen Wong), Paula Varjack, Gillie Kleiman, Conway & Young, Amy Mason, Hunt & Darton.

In future iterations, there is opportunity for bookers to collaborate with Rachael on commissioning new artworks for the space. These can be installations, performances, films, workshops or artist-run ‘concessions’ (like in a department-store). Transactionland aims to nurture a cohort of artists who are already working with the themes of the project, and to encourage others to consider tackling this content.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Transactionland is for anyone who is curious about the systems that rule our lives. Visitors to Transactionland Bristol included: local families living in St Anne’s, an MP and a councillor, artists, academics, a primary school group, students, economists, visitors to St Anne’s House community meet-up, a whole selection of people who saw the billboard and walked in, queer partygoers, art-fans and many many more.

Transactionland is a welcoming non-judgemental space where you can stay as long as you like. It is hosted by people who are interested in economics, but who are definitely not experts. It is not a straightforward education space.

REQUIREMENTS/BOOKING

For a two week (2 x 5-day periods) pop-up Transactionland:

  • Empty shop space for minimum of 17 days, with display windows and access to water & toilets.

  • Connections with local people who can be ambassadors for Transactionland.

  • Connections with local groups that may be interested in being involved in Transactionland.

  • Access to festival/organisation’s pool of volunteers (if there is one, or help organising if not) or providing staff to assist with the running of the space. 

  • Connection with local carpenter.

  • Help sourcing scrap wood, craft materials, unwanted/2nd hand inflatables. Transactionland is a zero waste project. 

  • Connections with local artists. 

  • Cost: We intend to submit an ACE touring bid to support a ‘slow tour’ of Transactionland in 2025. Match funding of around £4-6000 per iteration will be needed to support this. This could come from a range of presenters/partners/funders and we’re really open to discussion about how this works.

    I am hoping to tour Transactionland in 2025 & 2026. Please get in touch rachaelclerke@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss booking Transactionland.