Radiator: New Technology Festival, Nottingham

http://www.radiator-festival.org

As new technology moves rapidly into ever more user friendly and haptic interfaces, the distinction of what is hi-tech and what is an everyday tool is blurred. The mystery decreases in inverse proportion to the size of user base.

The second Radiator Festival celebrates new technology art as a discipline practised by an increasing number of artists. Not so long ago this practise was restricted to the computer monitor, now there is the capability to take it to the outside world.

Since the late nineties there has been a rapid proliferation of media art festivals trying to encapsulate this new form of art. Although the term is vaguely defined by its usage of electronic or digital technology, considering the wide range of artists from all fields now utilising it in some form, new media art could be seen as an umbrella term rather than a specific discipline in its own right.

The works shown within Radiator 002 create environments within which the viewer can experience the real world with technology acting as the mediator. This is in contrast to the assumption that digital art can only take us on a screen based computer generated fantasy. While online galleries have neither proven to be a run away success nor done away with the need for a traditional exhibition space, the white cube is increasingly finding the need to accommodate digital technology within its infrastructure.

Media art today has moved away from a merely virtual environment contained within a ‘beige box’ in favour of placing work in a physical space; from the passive state we now move towards the interactive and immersive. Interestingly, many of the artists presented in the Radiator 002 Festival come primarily from a performance background rather than a digital or technical one.

As the name might suggest, Radiator presents electronic art works that spread away from the small screen of a computer into the wider world of space and architecture. Such interdisciplinary work tests the possibilities that new technologies throw up and readily combine with the process of exploration that artists have always engaged in.

In these ten days Radiator 002 will present a packed programme of exhibits, screenings, workshops, talks, evening events and presentations.

On wednesday [tomorrow], there is:

PLUG-IN DAY

Plug into a whole day of careers advice and information for creatives. Representatives and individuals working within the creative industries will be offering advice about funding systems, business opportunities, courses and much more.

Included in the programme are the following:

Arts Council England has launched its Grants for the Arts for individuals, organisations and national touring, with just one application form and one set of guidelines for people applying from anywhere in England

Business Link

Christine Johnson is the Creative Industries Specialist Adviser for Business Link. Although based at Business Link Derbyshire with a focus on developing business support in the county the role also has a regional perspective. Research into the Creative Industries sector, commissioned by EMDA, defined the need for Business Link as a key partner to developing and supporting the growth of the creative industries sector within the East Midlands. This is acheived by working with individual companies, networks and key strategic partners throughout the East Midlands region, linking appropriate funding sources and business support to the needs of individuals and companies.

Creative Technologies – Postgraduate School of Art and Design

Frank Abbott is the Course Leader for the new one-year PGDip/MA/MSc Creative Technologies course at Nottingham Trent School of Art and Design that starts in January 2004. Besides the traditional art based intake they are looking to recruit technologists and science orientated workers looking to re-skill or change careers. He will be present in the Mezz to introduce this course, plus a portfolio of postgraduate courses that cover the many riches at Nottingham Trent School of Art and Design.

EM Media

EM Media is the integrated media agency for the region. We exist to grow the media economy by supporting access to, production and distribution of media in the East Midlands. In particular, we distribute Lottery funds on behalf of the Film Council and can provide a wide range of support to those thinking of setting up or developing their media business or project. Media includes: film, video, broadcast, radio, games and website

development.

Contact info@em-media.org.uk for more details.

Wed 07.05.03 Broadway Mezzanine @ 11am – 4pm Cost: Free

http://www.radiator-festival.org

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