In February 2007 Anna Francis initiated and curated the Indefinable City exhibition at the artist-run AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent. The curation of this particular exhibition was to focus on the changing nature of cities in the context of globalisation. The fundamental focus for this research concept was the artist’s involvement with cultural regeneration in the context of the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The work selected spanned a variety of media such as graphic art, photography, photographic installation, video and video installation. The exhibition included internationally renowned artists such as the Australian painter Ben Frost and the Berlin-based fine art film maker Niklas Goldbach. A 32 page ‘map-folded’ catalogue accompanied the exhibition. The rationale informing AirSpace is to provide an infrastructure for local cultural production. The rationale reflects the artist’s own research interests; which are focused on contributing to and helping establish a vibrant local art scene for Stoke-on-Trent, fed by a network of artists that extends into the national and international community of emerging artists. This methodology is informed by the current research activity which Francis is engaged with, which sees 2008 becoming ‘The Year of Finding Spaces In the City for Art.’

This is a year long project, starting in January 2008, which sees the artist set up one investigation per month. The project as a whole examines the impact that art and cultural activity are having on our cities, and the problematic nature of finding adequate and appropriate research methodologies which can measure that impact.

The project kicks off with two investigations; the first at No.4 Broad Street, Stoke-on-Trent (The new AirSpace Gallery) and the second at No. 204 Gloucester Road, Bristol (Windows 204.) Both spaces were disused buildings which have, over the last year, been brought into use by artists. The investigations examine just what sort of an impact the current use of the buildings has had on their immediate environs.

The investigations have involved a number of activities; a photographic exploration into the context of the buildings in their surroundings;

- an excavation of the two sights, in order to uncover the remnants left by the previous artist/occupants of the window spaces

- a public consultation process, which aims to look for the impact and recognition of the people using the streets where the spaces are situated.

This consultation process aims to find out what the public think about artists bringing the disused buildings in our cities back into use; and more specifically what impact the projects at No. 204 and No. 4 are having on the public. The findings from No. 204 will be displayed in the window of No. 4, and vice-versa.The Year of Finding Spaces in the City for Art project can be followed via www.annafrancis.blogspot.com.