Tilting Axis is an arts platform for, from, across, and through the Caribbean. It is a call to action to rethink the position and conditions of contemporary art practices in the region. Its perspective, informed by artist-led initiatives within the archipelago, recognises this space as central rather than peripheral and is fed by multi-generational voices. 

Vision

To build support systems which sustain contemporary art practitioners in the region, and serves as a catalyst for creative projects and collaborations.

Tilting Axis was co-founded in 2014 by Annalee Davis of The Fresh Milk Art Platform and Holly Bynoe of ARC Magazine. From its inception, Tilting Axis has grounded its concerns in the Caribbean as a part of a wider creative ecology, and the health, evolution and advancement, a primary objective of its annual meetings held inside and outside of the region. 

As a part of its expanded team, since 2014, the core has included Dr Mario Caro, former President of Res Artis; Tobias Ostrander, former Chief Curator at the Pérez Art Museum Miami; Lise Ragbir, former Director of Art Galleries at Black Studies, University of Texas, Austin; and Natalie Urquhart, Director of The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.

Bringing together artist-led initiatives, private and state sector arts institutions and artists, writers, researchers and curators, Tilting Axis offers an intimate discursive space to reflect on how we might contribute to more inclusive and equitable art worlds. At each meeting, several themes have been identified including the following but not limited to Development; Curating strategies for the Caribbean; the archive, cultural ecologies; and Decolonisation and Art Criticism. 

Fellowship

One of the practical outcomes of the annual convenings has been the establishment of a series of curatorial fellowships for Caribbean-based practitioners to access professional development opportunities while broadening their networks. Partners have included the British Council, Mother Tongue, CCA Glasgow, St. Andrews College, Art Galleries Black Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, Het Nieuwe Instituut and Kunstinstituut Melly both in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The curatorial fellowship is a direct outcome of the Tilting Axis meetings in 2015 at Fresh Milk in Barbados and in 2016 at the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

Barbadian multi-disciplinary designer and architect Israel Mapp has been selected as the recipient of the Tilting Axis /Het Nieuwe Instituut Fellowship 2023.