The New International School came about as a response to the over determination of art practice in to a handful of key cities. The NIS is first of all a mobile coalition of artists whose interests among other things, is in examining the limits and limitations of art as it is practised in economically buoyant zones. The marginality of locations is not seen as a subject for artists and other specialists to comment or react to, but an opportunity to re examine their own practices in an expanded understanding of context and engagement. The international outlook of the group, first selected by Shahin Afrassiabi, will retain a multi-voiced relationship with all of its locations.
The projects are structured around loose groupings of individuals who act as peers. The volatility of this membership insurers that no defined dogma or methodology becomes instituted, and that all outlooks can be accommodated, or reflected.
The NIS meets at the Treignac Projet at its University, each summer, to exchange ideas, discuss new projects and introduce new participants. it is based on a seminar talk system, where artists are invited to talk about their work or other related projects.