The National Media Museum is seeking to commission an artist in residence for The Season of Light 2015, a series of installations and events between July and November 2015 responding to the UNESCO International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies.

Our collections of photography, cinematography and television technology are perfectly placed to inspire responses to this internationally important celebration (for more information on the programme for The Season of Light 2015, please see Appendix 1 at the bottom of this page).

The artist will be asked to provide artworks for display in an on-gallery workspace and to devise a series of workshops, with support from the Museum Learning Team, which result in the production of a new artwork/series of artworks.  The residency will include times when the artist works in view of visitors and times when they work directly with visitors. The content of the workspace and workshops must be inspired by National Media Museum collections and should focus on the creative potential of light.

Artists are invited to submit proposals that utilise any media. We are particularly interested in creative practice that explores the scientific principals and artistic potential of light.

The residency will offer artists the opportunity to:

• Engage with and respond to the National Media Museum’s Collections and the themes explored by the UNESCO International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies
• Research, develop and display new artworks and/or performances at the Museum
• Demonstrate or share their artistic approach and methods with Museum visitors
• Lead engaging sessions with groups of visitors related to the themes of The Season of Light and their own practice.

The National Media Museum’s Collections will be available for research purposes. A small selection of Collections objects will be displayed on-gallery as part of the programme of events (see Appendix 1). These may include magic lantern slides, cinematography, photography and photographic technology, shadow puppets, lenses, cameras and lighting equipment.

Residency Objectives

• To explore relationships and connections between the ways in which art and science use and manipulate light
• To re-imagine and re-explain the National Media Museum Collections in a unique manner which is relevant and meaningful to your practice and our audiences.
• To make and display/perform new work in response to the National Collections of Photography, Film and Television in an on-gallery workspace, contributing to our unique interpretation of the themes of the UNESCO International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies
• To provide a unique, memorable, participatory and interactive experience for our visitors
• To engage visitors with current art practice and with ideas surrounding the wonder and magic of creating with light.

Practical Objectives

• Artists should expect to be on-gallery at least three days per week
• The workspace will be available to visitors at any point during Museum opening hours
• The workspace and workshops should be accessible to and engaging for a wide range of visitors from independent adults to families with children aged 7-17.
• The workspace and workshops must be accessible to visitors with physical impairments including limited mobility, hearing or sight
• The residency must be produced and completed in line with our project schedule, highlighted below
• Any artwork produced or performed must be installed, performed and/or displayed in accordance with the Museum’s health and safety policies.

Project Schedule

Deadline for proposals: 10.04.15

Interviews for shortlisted artists: 20.04.15

Appointment of artist: 24.04.15

Development and production: May – August

Delivery of work to museum: September

Residency opens to the public: September

Residency closes: 01.11.15

Budget

• £11,000 including Commission fee, development and production (Note The National Media Museum will also provide curatorial and technical assistance).

Eligibility

• We welcome applications from individual artists or collaborative proposals from a group of artists. Please note if a collaborative proposal is selected the fee for the project will remain as stated above
• Applicants are required to be UK residents
• Applicants must not be in undergraduate study.

Submitting Your Proposal

Please tell us…

• How you would use the residency to further your practice and an outline of what you would do during the residency period
• How your work links to the themes of the UNESCO International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies, the project themes and objectives of The Season of Light 2015 (see Appendix 1 for further details), and National Media Museum Collections
• Your practical requirements for the space
• Your experience of working with different audiences in public spaces
• At least two referees relating to residencies or arts projects that you have completed in the last two years.

Proposals should be accompanied by an up to date CV with links to examples of your previous work.

The deadline for proposals is 11:59pm on Friday 10th April.

The Season of Light 2015is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Appendix 1: Information on The Season of Light 2015

Our Main Message:

 “Throughout history technologies have been invented that create, capture or manipulate light resulting in a myriad of creative and everyday scientific applications.  It is the scientific principles of light that allow people to capture, create and enjoy still and moving images through Photography, Film and Television.”

Our plan:

The Season of Light, 2015 will be a series of experiences and events taking place in National Media Museum galleries between 18 July – 1 November 2015. It will be aimed primarily at families with children aged 7–11 and will incorporate the following elements: 

• An immersive light show / artwork: We have commissioned artist Liz West to create an exciting and memorable light-based experience inspired by the Museum's collections. This will be in place throughout The Season of Light, 2015 and will set the tone for the Museum’s investigation of light and light based technologies.

• Artist(s) in Residence: We will commission artists to provide artworks for display in an on-gallery workspace and to devise a series of workshops (with support from the Museum Learning Team) that allow visitors to learn about the process of creating with light, be it film, still images, or other media. The residency will also result in the production of a new artwork/series of artworks by the artist. The residency will include times when the artist works in view of visitors and times when they work directly with visitors. The content of the workspace and workshops must be inspired by National Media Museum collections and should focus on the creative potential of light.

• Collections display and interpretation: A summer-long small display of approximately 15 quirky and unusual looking objects from NMeM collections that manipulate/create/capture light. This display will be supported by interpretive talks & detailed information/context delivered through a variety of media. 

Our project objectives: 

• Create enjoyable, memorable experiences for visitors (primarily families with children aged 7–11)
• Respond to the UNESCO International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies
• Take inspiration from NMeM science & technology collections
• Focus on the creative potential of light and technology that manipulates and/or creates light
• Consider surprising / unexpected / non-traditional approaches to interpretation and display.