ABOUT
Dan Goodman is an artist-curator based in Newcastle upon Tyne. His practice is underpinned by a commitment to create generative spaces for artists to exhibit, connect, and grow. Since taking over Newcastle-based artist-run gallery System in 2016, Goodman has played a pivotal role in Newcastle’s arts ecology supporting artists through reactive and community-responsive practices. When System faced eviction, Goodman transformed the project into a nomadic platform—a form of resistance that allowed the initiative to continue despite the loss of its physical home. Beyond System, Goodman still embodies the same principles underpinning it —responsiveness, community building, and self-actualisation—across all spheres of his work.
Goodman’s identity as an artist-curator was shaped by his PhD research, which integrated his roles as an artist, curator, and educator. Entering the program with these distinct roles, he emerged with a cohesive hybrid practice, bringing together the methodologies of System and his academic research. His PhD documented and expanded System’s impact as an artist-run initiative, highlighting the vital role that such spaces play in challenging and reshaping traditional distinctions such as artists, curators, participants, community groups, and audiences.
This has been central to projects like Now That’s What I Call Art 1, 2, and 3, held at Newcastle Contemporary Art and The Auxiliary, which collectively engaged over 200 artists in an “open invitation” format rather than a selective open call. This approach—prioritizing inclusivity over traditional selection—allowed artists of all backgrounds to present their work. The NewBridge ‘Open’ Open at The NewBridge Project further extends Goodman’s commitment to experimental exhibition formats by inviting NewBridge’s community members (from studio holders to chefs-in-residence to members of our Youth Programme) into the exhibition-making process itself, redefining roles and traditional hierarchies within the exhibition space.
A core element of Goodman’s practice is the concept of “making space”—creating physical and conceptual opportunities for artists and community members to develop their voices and contribute to the cultural landscape. This approach extends into his work as an educator and researcher, both in his teaching and projects like More Than Meanwhile Spaces II, where Goodman acted as a mediator between grassroots artists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. By bridging these groups, he facilitates a richer dialogue that includes as diverse a range of voices as possible, ensuring they play a role in shaping the future of artist-led spaces.
Goodman’s collaborative approach is deeply informed by concepts of friendship and kinship, aligning with Terry Eagleton’s idea of “reciprocal self-realization” and Céline Condorelli’s notion of friendship as both a foundation and outcome of creative work. Through System’s nomadic journey and beyond, Goodman continues to make space for creative collaboration that questions and redefines boundaries, creating conditions that prioritise mutual support, accessibility, and meaningful interaction between artists, audiences, and the broader community.