Slow Notes 01

Between March–September 2026, we will be sharing Slow Notes, a reflective series of texts following our journeys on Slow Boat. 

This year, we began our Slow Boat journey in Wolverhampton. We met up with members past and present of More Art Inc – an initiative supporting independent emerging artists aged 18 to 30 in the Black Country which takes place at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museum (programmed by Dinosaur Kilby and Simon Suphandagli) – for their “Legacy Gathering”.

During this time, Slow Boat became a shared space to think together about how artists develop their work. We explored what it means to be an emerging artist today, and how changing social and economic conditions can open up — or limit — access to the art world.

While in Wolverhampton, we also took part in an experimental drawing workshop led by Sam Hale with Still Lively. Using the canal as our focus, we observed and sketched what we could see from the windows of Slow Boat — paying attention to movement, details, ecology and the surrounding environment – tracing its contours and recording them through mark making.  

Before heading onto Tipton, BA Photography students from the University of Wolverhampton joined us for a photo-walk-boat-ride. Moving along the canal, we passed tow paths which are usually inaccessible on foot. Together, we thought about the canal as part of a wider system shaped by work, use and layered histories. 

This year, Slow Boat will host a growing archive of materials from our Ikon Youth Programme. Young people involved with the programme will continue to contribute to it as our journey continues. Their voices will travel with us on Slow Boat as a reminder that their voices will always have the opportunity to be shared, heard and to land here, there and everywhere. 

We are continuing our journey along the canals of the West Midlands and the Black Country.  Join us on this reflective journey and stay connected for our next Slow Note, where we will share more about our time moored in Tipton during May 2026. 

About Slow Boat
With the support of Freelands Foundation, over six years (2021-27) Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) navigates the waterways on board Slow Boat, a converted narrow boat. IYP are collaborating with creative thinkers and makers to reimagine Slow Boat as a local art school. 

About IYP  

Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) is a group of emerging artists, designers, writers, photographers, policy makers and earth scientists (16–21yrs). We co-lead programming, exhibitions and events, working with regional and national artists through workshops, shared resource and ongoing knowledge exchange. Ikon Youth Programme is funded by Freelands Foundation.