Date: Wednesday 19th October, 2005
Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
Venue:Llandrillo College
Partner: Conwy County Borough Council | www.conwy.gov.uk
Partner: Arts Council of Wales | www.acw-ccc.org.uk

This seminar aims to offer insight into possible routes and development potential for creative practitioners and SMEs in Wales. The creative industries are a much discussed sector which has, in fact, been long in existence. What, it could be argued, has changed recently is that this industry is now recognised as having the potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.

Outline:

Recent developments in Wales have placed a new focus on the creative sector with the development of the Creative Industries Hub, a new government initiative to encourage economic potential of this sector though Intellectual Property (IP) ´ IP is the focus of Bloc’s November Seminar.

The convergence of separate technological devices and new formats into single platforms have affected creative production, both in terms of content and user interfaces (UI) design and interaction. This has, and will continue to have, a huge impact on the creative technology sector, not least offering a new challenge for creative practitioners to develop content for new digital technologies. The impact continues on in production methods and marketing strategies. For instance, the change to industries value chain under digital coding has highlighted the need for new business models. Further, the Internet is an important site for consumption and new distribution channels, such as mobile online content and ad hoc device networks, offer other modes of delivery. Specific technological developments have affected interaction and offered radical departures to the way we will continue to ‘do’ things.

With the input of forecasters, designers, producers working with convergent technology and creative practitioners, this seminar aims to explore what are the forecast technological developments in the near future and how will these impact on the creative technology sector.

Contributors:

Chair: Dr. Robert Gittins MBCS | IT Wales – Regional Manager, Bangor School of Informatics, University of Wales, Bangor
www.itwales.com and www.wda.co.uk/index.cfm/wda_home/technium/technium_centres/cast_technium/en4528
Joel Cockrill | Film maker
www.24hourmopview.co.uk
Ricard Gras | Producer/Director, La-Interactiva
www.la-interactiva.co.uk/
Dr Lawrence Green | Research Fellow, Policy Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (PREST), Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
www.mbs.ac.uk/research/centres/engineering-policy/index.htm

Sponsors:

Conwy County Borough Council, the Arts Council of Wales, NESTA

The Northern Bloc seminar programme is supported by Conwy County Borough Council, the Arts Council of Wales and NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).

Area: northern bloc

Date: 28-30 October 2005
Partner: The festival is being developed between Bloc (Creative Technology Wales) – http://www.bloc.org.uk and Chapter – http://www.chapter.org. |
Partner: |

MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES is Cardiff’s inaugural Festival of Creative Technology – a three-day programme of events being held across the capital and includes a two-day conference, new commissions, residencies, screenings, and artists’ projects in public sites across the city.

Visit the website for the finalised programme of events.

The festival is FREE. Some events require prior booking – see website for details.

Outline:

Artist projects include: Blast Theory, Anri Sala, Grennan & Sperandio, TJ Wilcox, Jen Southern & Jen Hamilton, Scanner, Sarah Morris, Michelle Teran, Eddo Stern, Stefhan Caddick, Nina Pope & Karen Guthrie, Tim Davies, Rosalind Nashashibi, Tennantspin, Second Site, Andy Fung, Paddy Jolley, Mircea Cantor, STAR Radio, Valérie Jouve, Chris Evans, Mike Mills, Mike Stubbs and Artstation.

Conference day 1: 28 October – Locative media and emplacement
Speakers include: Prof Michael Corris, Head of Art & Photography, University of Newport; Claire Doherty, Director, Situations; Nina Pope, artist; Heath Bunting, artist; Giles Lane, artist, Proboscis; Steve Benford, Professor in Collaborative Computing, University of Nottingham; Dr Sarah Green, Social Anthropologist, University of Manchester; Jen Southern & Jen Hamilton, artists.

Conference day 2: 29 October ´ Gaming
Speakers include: Ju Row Farr, artist, Blast Theory; Stuart Nolan, artist; Christopher Sperandio, artist; Eddo Stern, artist; David Surman, Lecturer in Computer Games Design, University of Newport; Emma Westecott, Game Producer & Director; Daniel Etherington, journalisty, channel4.com, BBCi.

The festival is presented with the support of: Cardiff 2005, Cardiff County Council, Millennium Commission, the Arts Council of Wales, WDA, Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales, BBCi, NESTA, a-n magazine, Creative Mwldan, Mute, The Millennium Stadium, G39, The Big Sleep, Elfen, Zenith Media, UWN, National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Sequence, Cool Pants, Ping Wales, Custom Communication and @Wales.
Gordon Dalton
Festival Coordinator

May You Live In Interesting Times
Cardiff Festival of Creative Technology
28 – 30 Oct 2005
www.mayyouliveininterestingtimes.org
44 (0) 29 2031 1059 / 0779 234 1654

Area: all wales

Strategy extract:

This strategy is directed at commercial creative businesses who compete globally in the tradable services sector and make an important contribution to modern economies.

Outline:

The strategy for the creative industries in Wales aims to:

Support and encourage those Wales-based creative businesses that can make a significant contribution to the economy in Wales.

Stimulate growth in the creative industries in Wales, both by encouraging more inward investment, and encouraging more business to Wales.

Whilst the strategy’s initial focus is on film, television, new media and music, it does not exclude other sectors that are also able to make a
significant contribution to the Welsh economy by exploiting creative IP.

To download the strategy document from the Welsh Assembly Government website, click the direct link below to the PDF document.

Contributors:

Welsh Assembly Government | Creative success – a strategy for the creative industries in Wales
www.wales.gov.uk/subitradeindustry/content/wda-creative-wp-e.pdf
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Area: all wales

Date: Training Workshop: Thurs 1st and Friday 2nd Sept. (All applicants for the training workshop must be available for an Internship between Thursday 27th and Sunday 30th October ´ please see details on INTERNSHIP in Can You See Me Now? See download for further information). Deadline for application: Midday, Thursday 28th July 2005.
Venue:National Museum and Gallery of Wales

A free two-day training workshop in audience interaction, performing in public spaces and new media for Wales-based performers run by Blast Theory, renowned internationally as one of the most adventurous artists` groups using interactive media.

Outline:

For between 4 and 6 workshop trainees, the workshop will lead to an internship with Blast Theory during their presentation of Can You See Me Now? for MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES, Cardiff Festival of Creative Technology, 28th to 30th October, 2005.

Can You See Me Now? is a game developed by Blast Theory that happens simultaneously online and on the streets. Players from anywhere in the world can play online in a virtual city against members of Blast Theory. Tracked by satellites, Blast Theory’s runners will appear online next to a player on a map of Cardiff. On the streets, handheld computers showing the positions of online players guide the runners in tracking you down.

Date: Deadline:Tuesday 19th July. Electronic applications only sent by midday on the day of deadline. Short listed candidates will be notified via email/telephone by Wednesday 20th July. Interviews: Tuesday 26th July at Tafarnaubach, Tredegar. Post begins:August 2005

Bloc is looking for a Project Officer to assist in establishing a Southern Bloc in Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, South Wales.

Salary Scale: £120 per day VAT inclusive paid in six instalments. Days: 50 days (equivalent to two day a week) over 6 months beginning in August ’05. Base: The project officer will be based at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council offices in Tafarnaubach, Tredegar. Responsible to: Director, Bloc

Outline:

Qualification and experience: The appointed person will have experience in project and accounts management and organising activities and events. An informed approach to the Creative Industries and New Media in Wales is essential. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable. The post holder will be experienced in using PC computers, XP and databasing. The applicant will need to have access to private transport to carryout out some of the duties required of this post.

Aims and Objectives: As a Wales-wide agency, Bloc’s development strategy is to establish four bases in North, South, East and West Wales in order to successfully address need across Wales. The appointed Project Officer: Southern Bloc will identify and bring together individuals and clusters from the creative industries working with new technology specifically in Blaenau Gwent County, South Wales. The post holder will be based at the Council’s offices in Tafarnaubach, Tredegar. The project will also attract professionals in the region including neighbouring counties.

Area: southern bloc

Date: May 2003

In 2002 Bloc commissioned two major pieces of research. These reports are:
A Survey of New Media & Visual Art in Wales, Dr Justin Marshall, January 2003
A Review of New Media Art in Wales, Eddie Berg, May 2003

Outline:

Bloc commissioned this research because it needed, as an organisation, to identify what provisions were being made for the sector (new media and visual arts in Wales) and what the needs and demands were.

The Survey of new media and visual art in Wales researched facilities, surveyed individual artists, and organisations such as galleries, arts organisations, business initiators, broadcasters, independents, Higher Education Institutions, and other trainers in Wales. Its primary task was to assess whether there was a demand for a sector-specific venue or umbrella organisation.

The Review benchmarked against provision in Wales, organisations outside Wales and other countries, where there are numerous existing examples and models of practice. The Review identified that, unlike Scotland and England, where major organisations are funded by their relevant arts councils to deliver in the area of new media and the arts, Wales has no significant organisation currently acting as an agency for new media and the visual arts; there is no specialist officer within the Arts Council of Wales, and little priority made for new media through any of its current funding schemes.

Area: all wales

Date: Deadline: Monday 4 July, midday. Interviews: Friday 8 July 2005, Chapter. To be in post beginning of August

The post holder will coordinate Cardiff`s inaugural festival of creative technology, MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES, 28-30 October 2005. From 3 to 5 days a week (August – 3 days, September – 3 days, October 5 days, November – 1.5 days) based at Chapter, Cardiff. Salary: 50 days over 4 months (August to November) at £100 per day (VAT inclusive).

Outline:

Salary: 50 days over 4 months (August to November) at £100 per day (VAT inclusive) paid in monthly instalments
Commitment: From 3 to 5 days a week (August – 3 days, September – 3 days, October 5 days, November – 1.5 days).
Base: The Co-ordinator will be based in the Visual Arts Office, Chapter, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1QE.
Responsible to: Festival Directors, Hannah Firth (Chapter) and Emma Posey (Bloc).
Shortlisted candidates will be notified on the morning of Tuesday 5 July.
Interviews: Friday 8 July 2005, Chapter. The interview panel will consist of Hannah Firth (Festival Director), Emma Posey (Festival Director) and Emma Geliot (Arts Council of Wales).

All applicants need to apply for the post with a CV and covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 to Hannah Firth addressing the particular points of experience outlined in the job specification. Postal or electronic applications will be accepted. Electronic applications need to be sent by midday on the day of deadline.

Hannah Firth
May You Live In Interesting Times
Chapter
Market Road
Cardiff CF5 1QE

Direct line: 029 2031 1055
hannah@mayyouliveininterestingtimes.org

If you have any queries or would like to speak with Hannah Firth about the post please contact her on the above number/email.

To download further information including job specification and background information on the post and related information on the festival

Area: southern bloc

Date: Thursday 9 June 2005
Website: http://amino.org.uk
Location: england

Outline:

amino in association with BALTIC presents

performance lectures series

BILL DRUMMOND

HOW TO BE AN ARTIST

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art ! South Shore Road ! Gateshead ! UK

Thursday 9 July 2005 ! doors open 7:00

£4 / £2 concessions ! ticket reservations from BALTIC on 0191 478 1810

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In 1970, at the age of 17, Bill Drummond tried to walk across Iceland from top to bottom and failed.

In 1981 he fell in love with the work of the land artist Richard Long.

In 1994 Richard Long walked across Iceland from top to bottom. This walk was a work of art.

In 1995 Drummond bought a photograph and text work by Richard Long. It was called A Smell Of Sulphur In The Wind and cost $20,000. The photographic element of the work depicted a stone circle constructed by the artist while on his walk across Iceland. Drummond hung the work on his bedroom wall and was happy.

In 1998 he realised that his relationship with A Smell Of Sulphur In The Wind had become non-existent. An idea evolved that would rectify the situation. He would sell it for the original $20,000 (despite the fact that its value had risen); return to Iceland with the $20,000 in $1 bills; start walking across the island from top to bottom until he got to the remains of Richard Long’s stone circle; bury the money in the middle of the circle; take a photo of the enriched stone circle; and complete the walk across Iceland. Back home, he would develop, print and frame the photograph identically to the Richard Long original; call it A Smell Of Money Underground and hang it on his bedroom wall in the hope that his relationship with the work would be rekindled.

In 1999 he procrastinated.

In 2000 Drummond changed his mind. Instead of selling the Richard Long to one lucky art collector he gridded the whole thing up into 20,000 sections. His thinking was that if he cut out and sold off each of the sections to 20,000 individuals the burden of owning the art would be shared. Drummond did not take into account the logistics of doing this and by September 2004 he had not sold many more than 5,000 of the sections but the process had spawned much work of his own and evolved into the exhibition, performance and book How To Be An Artist.

Drummond still plans to do his walk across Iceland, bury the money, take the photo, hang it on the wall and call it A Smell Of Money Underground in the hope that his relationship with the work will be rekindled once all 20,000 sections of A Smell Of Sulphur In The Wind have been cut out and sold off.

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Bill Drummond was born in 1953. Since leaving Liverpool College of Art in 1973 he has used various means to investigate and converse with the cultural landscape. These investigations and conversations have found expression via the written word, pop music and actions.

His written words include the following books: The Manual (1989), Bad Wisdom (1996), 45 (2000) and How To Be An Artist (2002).

The pop music (1977´1992) consisted of various projects, from Big In Japan to The KLF and The JAMMS, the details of which have now passed into the twilight world of pub pop-quiz questions and car boot sale bargain-box oddities.

The actions have been the one constant in his practice. There have been hundreds of them over the years, nearly all carried out anonymously and unrecorded. . Recently Drummond’s activities have included the production of a pack of cards titled Silent Protest, the foundation of the Intercontinental Twinning Association and The Soup Line and setting up the websites www.mydeath.net and www.youwhores.com.

Since 1998 all Drummond’s work has been framed within the context of the Penkiln Burn. For a better understanding of this, please visit www.penkilnburn.com.

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this is the last in the current series of performance lectures, but watch out for series 2 later this year

available now from amino to accompany the performance lectures series

amino essays: twenty short performance papers

by fiona wright

64pp hardback ! £6.00 /£3.00 at performance lectures

available by mail order from amino: http://amino.org.uk/shop.html

Area: not in wales