Current: An Experiment in Collecting Digital Art

Artist Call: Now open for submissions
Deadline: 17th December 2010
£1000 exhibition fee to short-listed artists; £10,000 acquisition fee for final selection.

An exhibition, acquisition and debate, presented in partnership by the Harris Museum & Art Gallery and folly.
http://current-experiment.org.uk/

The Project:
Artists working in digital media are invited to propose work for a public display at and acquisition by the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston, as part of 'Current: an Experiment in Collecting Digital Art'.

This project not only celebrates innovative and creative use of new media technology, but forms a pioneering practical case study for the collection and integration of digital artworks into existing permanent collections; furthering the Harris' quest to establish a nationally significant collection of new media art.

An expert advisory panel will select 3 - 5 artists to exhibit at the Harris from 25th March - 4th June 2011, from which one artwork will be selected by a secondary expert panel for acquisition into the Harris' permanent collection.

A public debate will be held in May 2011 to analyse the experiment and share findings and best practice on collecting digital art.

About Us:
The Harris is a magnificent Neo-classical Grade I listed building which opened to the public in 1893 in Preston city centre, and houses the largest galleries in Lancashire - including stunning contemporary gallery spaces. The museum holds strong collections of fine and decorative art and local history, including work by Lucien Freud, JMW Turner and video artist Robert Cahen.

folly is a leading digital arts agency, based in Lancaster and working across England's North West. folly aims to lead, promote, maintain, improve and advance the field of cultural activities that embrace the creative interaction between arts and technology, by presenting an artistic programme that provides collaboration between artists and the wider public.

Requirements:

Applicants must:
* Demonstrate innovative use of new media technology (e.g. digital art, interactive art, net art, electronic art, multi and time-based media) in the making, display or distribution of their work.
* Be able to articulate how their work might be presented in a gallery environment
* Submit recent work, i.e. produced up to 2 years previous to the submissions deadline.
* Currently reside in the UK
* Have previous experience in distributing work publicly (online, in museums, galleries, etc)
* Hold the copyright for the submitted work
* If selected be available for scheduled project dates:
Gallery visits from: 17th January
Installation dates: between 10th-24th March
Exhibition opening and selected acquisition announcement: 25th March

Fees:
* Short-listed artists will each receive an exhibition fee of £1000
* Final artwork will be acquired for an acquisition fee of £10,000

For further information and free registration for submission, please visit www.current-experiment.org.uk

Best wishes
Denise Fahmy

Relationship Manager, Digital & Creative Economy
Arts Council England
21 Bond Street
Dewsbury
West Yorkshire
WF13 1AX
Email denise.fahmy@artscouncil.org.uk
Phone 44 (0) 1924 486 231
Fax 44 (0) 1924 466 522
Textphone 44 (0) 1924 438 585
Mobile 07872 416 710
www.artscouncil.org.uk