I am very sorry to hear this. Although the ICA has usually offered
inconsistent support to various artforms it has, when focused on the task,
given the media and live arts areas substantial space and time and afforded
it a broad engagement with the public that would otherwise have been less
likely to have occurred. For all its negatives the ICA is good at creating
audiences, especially audiences that others can find hard to reach.
In a way I am not surprised that media arts has been given the chop. It has
been going through a process of attrition for a decade or more, at least in
those places where it peaked early (eg: the late 80ıs and into the 90ıs).
The Walker Art Galleryıs reprofiling was a warning. The Australia Councilıs
closure of Media Arts was another. Arts Council Englandıs restructure, with
no dedicated media or moving image program, was a clear signal. Many art
schools have closed their new media courses or integrated them back into
general creative arts provision. The wave peaked and broke over a decade
ago.
Of course that does not mean there is not dynamic and cutting edge practice
in the media arts anymore. There is. Possibly more than ever. It is just
that as an identifiable medium it is no longer at the cutting edge. It has
matured and been absorbed. That there are now conservateurs (in contrast to
curators) being trained to look after media art tells us that.
However, I am surprised that the Live Arts program is also being closed.
This is an ICA program with a far longer history and with a higher
visibility than media ever had. I find it hard to imagine what the ICA will
be like without its theatre space. I guess they will keep it for music.
I am curious as to what Ekow Eshun means by focusing on visual arts, amongst
other things. Whilst cinema and talks are pretty easy to define music and
visual arts are much harder. Contemporary practice in both these areas is so
hybrid it could also mean anything. Most visual arts I ³see² these days is
not visual even much of the stuff in the mainstream. As for music, it is
often as much live art as music itself. I hope the ICA keeps a pluralist and
forward looking vision of what the visual arts and music can be. It has to
if it wishes to remain engaged with contemporary culture (which is Eshunıs
stated aim).
Regards
Simon
On 17/10/08 18:11, "Emma Quinn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Apologies for the blanket e-mail and any cross postings
>
>
>
> It is with sadness that I am writing to announce the closure of the
> ICA's Live and Media Arts Department. I have included a statement by
> Ekow Eshun, the Artistic Director of the ICA below.
>
>
>
> I am continuing with the programme here until the end of November 2008
> and will then be looking to develop and expand the programme with other
> partners and venues. I will of course update you on new developments as
> they occur.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your support and interest in the department's projects
> during my time at the helm, and please do make the most of the rather
> full line-up running over the next couple of months. It would be
> wonderful if you could continue to show your support by attending what
> will be an exciting finale.
>
> http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=12173
>
>
>
> I have enjoyed my time at the ICA tremendously and this has been a
> direct result of working with some fantastic artists and practitioners.
> The opportunity and privilege to work on the many exciting,
> thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable projects over the last 3
> years, has provided me with new challenges, joy, energy, pride, insight,
> thrills and above all has made me very very happy! I am very much
> looking forward to continuing with these established relationships as
> well as generating new ones in the next stage of my career.
>
>
>
> I will be contacting everyone again before I leave with my personal
> contact details should you wish to stay in touch.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> Kind regards
>
> emma
>
>
>
> --- From Ekow Eshun, Artistic Director of the ICA ---
>
>
>
> Following a review of the ICA's programming activities I have taken the
> decision to close the Live & Media Arts department from the end of
> November 2008.
>
> The ICA has led a pioneering role in new media arts practice over the
> last decade and more.
>
> We are proud of that legacy. However times change. And I no longer feel
> that the artistic rationale for devoting considerable institutional
> attention to that art form - to the extent of maintaining a dedicated
> department to its pursuance - can be strongly made.
>
> As an institution dedicated to the contemporary moment it is important
> that we continually review the timeliness and relevance of our
> activities and at times make decisions on that basis.
>
> New media based arts practice continues to have its place within the
> arts sector. However it's my consideration that, in the main, the art
> form lacks the depth and cultural urgency to justify the ICA's continued
> and significant investment in a Live & Media Arts department. Following
> discussion with the ICA Council and the Arts Council - and agreement
> from both bodies - I have decided to close the department.
>
>
>
> It's also my view that the sheer breadth of activity that our artistic
> programme encompasses means that we are often stretched too thin as an
> organisation. Our technical, building and financial resources are under
> considerable strain and it is hard for us to communicate our aims to our
> audience with directness and clarity.
>
> In closing the Live & Media Arts department, we will be able to invest
> greater resources in a more concentrated programme of activities,
> allowing us to create a more ambitious artistic plan for 2009/10. And in
> communication with the public, the focus of our activity will be
> exclusively on Visual Arts, Cinema, Talks and Music.
>
> In addition, these changes will offer the opportunity for the Digital
> Studio to be reconstituted as a dedicated Education space, offering a
> valuable benefit to an important and growing section of our audience
>
>
>
> ---End---
>
>
>
>
> Emma Quinn
> Director of Live & Media Arts
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Institute of Contemporary Arts
> The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH
> ---------------------------------------
> t: +44 (0)20 7766 1415
> e: [log in to unmask]
> w: www.ica.org.uk <http://www.ica.org.uk/>
>
> Dogs Ears
>
> Online Art
>
> www.ica.org.uk/dogsears
>
>
>
>
>
>
Simon Biggs
Research Professor
edinburgh college of art
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www.eca.ac.uk
www.eca.ac.uk/circle/
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AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk
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