It’s shopping, but not as you know it! Transactionland is an artwork, ‘shop’, community space & venue for thinking about economics. Created by Art Business Ltd, headed by artist Rachael Clerke, the first iteration of Transactionland took place in Bristol at Bricks St Anne’s House in March 2022. Transactionland is a space where visitors can ask difficult questions, play games, meet new people, take part in workshops, attend performances or just hang out. It is fun, free to access, child-friendly and amateur-led. Accepted currencies in Transactionland include cash, card, stock cubes, time & anecdotes amongst others.

As well as regular fixtures like ‘shoplift-o-clock’ (where shoplifting is encouraged) and ‘doughnut hour’ (a group discussion about doughnut economics, with doughnuts), Transactionland is a container for artworks exploring economy, labour & value, by Rachael Clerke and other selected artists. You can read more about the different elements that make up Transactionland here. 

Transactionland emerges from late capitalism, the housing crisis, low economic literacy, and a desire to look at the inside of the machine and perhaps even remake it. It is frustrated with the idea that the economy is ‘too complex’ for anyone other than the men in suits to understand. 

The project takes the stance that we are all involved in the economy, that it affects our lives every day, and therefore we have a right to ask questions and take part free from embarrassment and stigma. This is a non-expert, peer learning and exploring space.