Helen is of course quite right - we do need places to show this stuff. The question that then arises is whether the ICA or the Tate are in any sense equipped or prepared to deal with the challenges of a digital culture, and the answer is probably not and therefore new kinds of institutions and arrangements, such as Helen has herself been involved need to be developed and sustained. These might be places where 'Art', which is a thoroughly bankrupt concept anyway, no longer dominates
-----Original Message-----
From: Curating digital art - www.crumbweb.org on behalf of Helen Sloan
Sent: Sun 19/10/2008 10:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [NEW-MEDIA-CURATING] Live and Media Arts at the ICA
Just read Charlie's contribution but we need to find the means to make and
show this work so I'm sending this anyway...
Dear CRUMB List
I have read with interest all the comments about ICA and the closure of the
Live and Media Arts Department. Ekow Eshun is indeed short-sighted in his
approach to the closure of the department and this is symptomatic of the
cultural landscape in UK currently as well as the history of media arts
globally. ICA has certainly had an impact on my own development over the
years; it is sad to see it go given the paucity of provision in London.
Eshun has a background in journalism and not in arts production or
development. Certainly media arts rarely commands the 'depth' of column
inches that other artforms can achieve - this has been an ongoing issue and
ICA could have taken a lead on addressing this. As Eshun does not reference
it, we can only speculate on how he views the immediate and urgent effect
that this sudden closure has had on artists (and Emma) who were committed to
the programme beyond November.
The Arts Council England (ACE), who apparently support this closure at ICA
are currently announcing the 'Digital Opportunity' as a priority in their
funding and activities from 2008 - 11. On the surface they appear to be
supporting media/digital artists and organisations in their research into
new modalities and their potential for new forms of creativity.
What is worrying is that media arts is not mentioned in this 'digital
opportunity' (as it is not by Ekow Eshun) and, while it is a term that
people on this list are comfortable with, I suspect it is not met with very
favourably at funding and management levels for the reasons that Eshun
outlines in his statement. I've never been much interested in these terms
but it is indicative of the way media arts in its current phase is viewed.
On closer inspection of Arts Council England's announced plans, they are
aligning themselves to broadcast opportunities such as Channel 4IP and UK's
overall changeover to Digital TV in 2012. I am sure that many of us will
embrace this as an opportunity but it may also challenge the potential for
artists and organisations to work in their own self-organised networks.
These small networks are the ones that now and historically (as has been
pointed out) often influence change and enable more risk taking and
experimentation - they should be encouraged to flourish allowing for more
creative expression and innovation. These models appear to be significantly
under threat in favour of large institutions such as broadcast in the
context of UK public arts funding. The ability for these networks to
establish themselves in order for development is crucial in whatever
artform. Whilst ACE would say that they are doing this through their
dialogue around Creative Industries and also with academic sector, the
definition is limited and does not allow optimum conditions for these
networks to develop significantly.
It is encouraging to see that the academic sector continues to be active in
supporting new work through the development of interesting new models and
environments for creative processes. We should try to ensure that this work
is shared with audiences offering an alternative to that being shown by ICA
and other arts organisations who appear to be retrenching back to
established artforms (that actually do not really take into account many of
the lessons learned over the years). Did I say reinvention of the wheel?
Best wishes
Helen
Helen Sloan
On 19/10/08 02:13, "Susan Collins" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I wasn't surprised that this happened - although saddened given the complete
> lack of opportunities to show 'new media' art in London (with the notable
> exceptions of http gallery and Kelli's new reversioned Tate intermedia
> dept), and sorry for Emma to have been put in this situation.
> Having said this I was expecting the argument to be more that these sectors
> have matured and could be seen as being possible to support as part of the
> mainstream visual arts programme (whatever the arguments for and against
> absorption/specialism may be) but on reading I was disturbed to see in Ekow
> Eshun's statement that :
>
> " 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."
>
> Firstly he conflates new media with live and media arts (what about live art
> and old or normal media art?), and secondly he refers to a singular 'art
> form' lacking depth and cultural urgency.
> I agree with Simon that the time for cultural urgency has long passed - but
> he [Eshun] is so unspecific about what he is referring to and then saying it
> (whatever it is) lacks depth. It is a really lazy statement.
>
> I would be interested to know the response from the live art sector about
> this shift and whether (as with public spaces such as Camden Arts Centre,
> Late at Tate and South London Gallery - who don't in general support 'media
> arts') that that at least might be being absorbed into their planned
> 'mainstream' programme (thinking about their Tino Sehgal trio of works which
> took place in the galleries for example).
>
> Oh and does this also mean that all the (shallow/lacking) new
> media/digital/live art books that fill the shelves of their bookstore will
> be ejected/pulped forthwith also??
>
> Best wishes
>
> Susan
>
>
>
>
>> From: marc garrett <[log in to unmask]>
>> Reply-To: marc garrett <[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:46:36 +0100
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: Live and Media Arts at the ICA
>>
>> Hi Simon & all,
>>
>> I agree with Simon. It does seem that the ICA are sending a strong
>> message that they wish to maintain an old fashioned, perspective on
>> things by keeping mediums and practices apart from each other. Such an
>> approach is a mistake and only serves to show the world outside, how out
>> of touch they are with contemporary culture as a whole.
>>
>> And yes, it is a great pity, not only for culture generally but also for
>> their audience, who are being sold a very limited vision of things.
>>
>> It also sends a rather dispiriting message that they are no longer an
>> interesting or viable option to show at, or worthwhile collaborating
>> with. It also gives the impression that they are all hiding behind some
>> kind of castle, trying to hold together some ideal, which does not
>> relate to the world outside. It is a shame that they have chosen not to
>> expand and take on new forms of creativity in a more positive manner.
>> Yet, this is their choice and perhaps it is more about keeping certain
>> jobs in the ICA - at the top. And unfortunately, those who are staying
>> in these positions at the top, are perhaps less interested in
>> contemporary art and its ever expanding, nuances. Not interested in
>> relearning, adapting their knowledge about media art and other related
>> practices.
>>
>>
>> I think that Emma is probably best out of there.
>>
>> marc
>>>
>>> Johnny is right and I take back what I wrote before. Or, rather, I wish to
>>> finesse it. Media arts, in the sense they are understood at the ICA (art
>>> that employs media) is, as I stated before, well and truly part of the
>>> mainstream of arts practice and therefore not having a specific program to
>>> engage it shouldn¹t be surprising nor necessarily a bad thing. However,
>>> creative media practice which facilitates, by its very nature, an expanded
>>> notion of what art can be well, that is what Johnny is proposing. It is
>>> something that is a force for change, for creating new modalities, new forms
>>> of engagement, new social formations.
>>>
>>> In this respect the ICA¹s decision seems to evidence their wish not to be
>>> involved with any meaningful challenge of the status quo. It wishes to see
>>> art that is ³art², music that is ³music² and cinema that is ³cinema². That
>>> is a great pity.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Simon
>>>
>>>
>>> On 18/10/08 12:40, "Professor SR Golding" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Dear Emma and List
>>>> It is disturbing, but not surprising, to hear of the kind of
>>>> short-sightedness and ill-conceived departure of live & media arts
>>>> from the ICA, especially under the misleading tag line of those arts
>>>> no longer being 'cutting edge'. We find at the Univ of Greenwich in
>>>> London that our MA-PHD Media Arts Philosophy and Practice Programme
>>>> has increased over the years by 300%, with huge home, EU, and
>>>> international interest. We have just established a cross-fertilizing
>>>> Media Arts Production BA/BSc with two Schools: The Humanities and
>>>> Social Sciences and School of Computing Mathematical Sciences. The
>>>> cutting edge work of artists, combined with philosophers, journalists
>>>> and scientists has been and continues to be exciting and provocative
>>>> -- and our situation is not unique. There are many universities,
>>>> post-academic and creative commons environments that are doing
>>>> precisely this kind of combination -- led by the live arts and
>>>> encompassed in the broad term of 'media arts', where the latter
>>>> ('media arts') points not to a 'sub-set' of technologies, but names
>>>> the paradigm shift of our age (eg, after 'liberal arts'), where speed,
>>>> energy, space, time embed themselves differently in the visual and
>>>> sonic arts, or what has been termed elsewhere as the 'altermodern'.
>>>>
>>>> How this substantial and lush environment could have escaped the eye
>>>> of the Director at the ICA is not clear from his letter.
>>>>
>>>> However, what is much more obvious is that the role of the 'art
>>>> institute', and especially the ICA, seems to have lost its shine.
>>>> Perhaps art galleries/ contemporary art institutes never did encourage
>>>> cutting edge works -- but now, at least in terms of the ICA, it
>>>> definitely is not encouraging it. The Gallery/institute appears to
>>>> have recoiled back to the safe shores of being a service sector
>>>> environment to the usual suspects of capital, industry, and banality.
>>>> Pity, really.
>>>>
>>>> Guess we'll just have to go elsewhere -- but then, isn't that the
>>>> usual story for
>>>> artists-philosophers-scientists-designers-curios-thinkers-doers?
>>>>
>>>> Johnny de Philo
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Message from [log in to unmask] ---------
>>>> Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:23:43 -0700
>>>> From: marcialart <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Reply-To: marcialart <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Subject: Re: Live and Media Arts at the ICA
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> Dear Emma,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sorry to hear about this. It's sad for you and the ICA, and
>>>>>> astonishingly short-sighted on the part of the director, especially
>>>>>> as the ICA was THE germinal institution for new media / computer
>>>>>> based art with its pioneering 1968 presentation of Cybernetic
>>>>>> Serendipity curated by Jasia Reichardt.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best regards and good wishes to you in the next phase of your
>>>>>> career, and congratulations on your accomplishments @ the ICA.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Marcia Tanner
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Oct 17, 2008, at 10:11:13 AM, "Emma Quinn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>>> From: "Emma Quinn" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>> Subject: [NEW-MEDIA-CURATING] Live and Media Arts at the ICA
>>>>>> Date: October 17, 2008 10:11:13 AM PDT
>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>> ----- End message from [log in to unmask] -----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Simon Biggs
>>> Research Professor
>>> edinburgh college of art
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> www.eca.ac.uk
>>> www.eca.ac.uk/circle/
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> www.littlepig.org.uk
>>> AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk
>>>
>>>
>>> Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, number
>>> SC009201
>>>
>>>
|
