"With people in places, doing things"

The Poly-Technic, established in 2006, is the collaborative arts practice of Steve Pool and Kate Genever.

Why Poly-Technic? Poly as in many and Technic as in techniques.

The Poly-Techic works in places – any place and builds on a history of artists working with communities. Our contemporary social practice creates opportunities for ourselves and others to come together to make, talk, think and learn. We stepped, back a few years ago and asked ourselves what can we do that's worth doing or rather - What can art do, that’s worth doing? In response we decided to ask tough questions, critically think and open up 'active' spaces. To date these have included discussion groups, artist development, curated programs, radical print workshops, open call commissions and the production of work for exhibition.

Completed self-initiated projects:

Never-Land - Sheffield/Leicester/Venice: an international work which is catalysed by a 6 week participatory commission at Yorkshire Artspace Sheffield, followed by a week long residency in Venice; which will include workshops, an exhibition of work from whole project and paper presentation at the ‘Ruskin in Europe’ conference at Ca’Foscari University. 2018 - 19. Funded by Yorkshire Artspace and Ca’Foscari University, Venice.

We are not an Island. 2017 - 18. Funded by The British Council, Making Ways - Sheffield and Ca Foscari University, Venice.

Taking the Lead - research through action. 2015-17. Arts Council Funded

The Business of Life. Sheffield. 2012-14. Arts Council Funded

Artists Arts and Artefacts. Leeds 2007-2009. Arts Council Funded

Recent commissioned works:

Never-Land-Sheffield. Yorkshire Artspace. Sheffield, 2019

Artist Commission. The best thing in Life aren’t things. PECT. Peterborough. 2018

Planet B Festival. Artist Commission. PECT and METAL. Peterborough. 2017

British Art Show 2016. Offsite project and conference development.

Utopia: Festival of the Mind. 2016

Beyond the Gallery. Research publication. Axisweb. 2015

Artist Residency. The Arthouse, Wakefield. 2013

Artwork for Force of Nature exhibition. Millennium Galleries Museum Sheffield. 2013

Made for You. Yorkshire Artspace residency. 2012