20 May 2015

UWS Alt-w Paisley Digital Art Commission

In support of the Scottish town of Paisley's ambition to be UK City of Culture in 2021, the UWS Creative Media Academy and New Media Scotland's Alt-w Fund with investment from Renfrewshire Council seek Expressions of Interest from artists in Europe for a £25k commission to make a new piece of work for the town.


Background

Paisley is the largest town in the county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It forms part of the urban conurbation of Glasgow, whose city centre is 6.9 miles (11.1 km) to the east. Glasgow International Airport, Scotland's largest airport, is located within Paisley's boundaries just north of the town centre.

The Industrial Revolution turned Paisley from a small market town to an important international industrial city in the late 18th century with respect to textiles. The most famous product being shawls bearing a colourful teardrop-like pattern; although of Kashmiri origin, they became known by Paisley's name across the western world.

The successful artist(s) will be encouraged to take inspiration from this rich international history and the world renown collections held in Paisley museums. The museums are home to 350,000 objects within 57 collections. There are 107 listed buildings, 46 underused physical heritage assets and 1 'Alien' gargoyle on Paisley Abbey.

More information on the town's Heritage Asset Strategy and City of Culture ambitions can be found here and by watching Stuart McMillan of Renfrewshire Council here.


Commission

This collaborative project aims to be an innovative part of Paisley's Heritage Asset Strategy and seeks to engage, reinvent and re-imagine aspects of the town's heritage for the digital age. This project will be a pilot for a potential series of Creative Media Academy projects that explore the interface between art, technology and research.

It is envisioned that the winning artist/s will undertake a series of documented workshops with UWS students & staff, New Media Scotland and other cultural stakeholders as they develop their work. If appropriate, it will also be possible for the final work to be presented within one of the town's many heritage sites or other locations.


Budget: £25,000 (including fees and all materials)



Expressions of Interest: 12th June 2015
Shortlisted candidates notified: 15th June 2015
Site visit & interviews: 22nd-23rd June 2015
Commission Announcement: 26th June 2015
Work to be completed and presented by: 30th June 2016

Expressions of Interest should consist of two-sides of A4 detailing an initial approach to the project. CVs of the lead artist/s and any collaborators must be included along with examples of five pieces of completed work. Send PDFs to alt-w@mediascot.org by 1200hrs (BST) on 12th June 2015.


Project Partners

UWS Creative Media Academy is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for creative industry practice and research. Part of the School of Media, Culture and Society, the Academy brings together students, staff and practitioners within subject groupings of film, television, radio, music, performance, journalism and digital art.

New Media Scotland is the national development agency fostering artist and audience engagement with all forms of new media practice. The Alt-w Fund supports artists to explore experimental and interactive practice, make use of technology as both medium and message, and recognise the changing role that digital culture has in our society.