folly seeks to understand young people's “Virtual Lives”
Archive | digi_club | follylab | 2008
folly, alongside fellow Northwest arts organisations FACT, Cornerhouse, Liverpool John Moores' University and ICDC, (the International Centre for Digital Content), has completed an exciting new project working with young people from the Northwest. The project culminated in the exhibition of two "Body Language" suits at FACT, at folly's follyplay event in Burnley in February and at Manchester's Cornerhouse last month. The suits were part of an artwork commissioned and conceived by the young people themselves.
It's all part of an ambitious research programme called Virtual Lives, whose aim is to better understand the new media technologies being used by the young people of today, and to thereby influence and challenge the long-term programming of media arts organisations.
Working with artist Dan Fox, a group of young people from the Northwest developed Body Language - two interactive body suits that trigger projected sounds and images. One of the aims for the young people was for the work to comment on how technology affects people's communication with each-other.
14 year old Josh said “Virtual Lives has given me the opportunity to meet new people and broaden my knowledge and ability to work with new people. The project has helped me to understand that art doesn't have to be looking at paintings but something to touch and play with. One of the best parts for me has been the opportunity to have my say in what happens with the suit and what I wouldn't want the suit to be - for a young person it's good experience for the future and that will benefit me personally in the future”
The enquire programme is funded jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children, Families and Schools as part of the Strategic Commissioning Programme for Museum and Gallery Education, and by the Foyle Foundation. The enquire programme is managed by engage and has been developed in association with Arts Council England
News Release: 10th April 2008
folly, alongside fellow Northwest arts organisations FACT, Cornerhouse, Liverpool John Moores' University and ICDC, (the International Centre for Digital Content), has completed an exciting new project working with young people from the Northwest. The project culminated in the exhibition of two "Body Language" suits at FACT, at folly's follyplay event in Burnley in February and at Manchester's Cornerhouse last month. The suits were part of an artwork commissioned and conceived by the young people themselves. It's all part of an ambitious research programme called Virtual Lives, whose aim is to better understand the new media technologies being used by the young people of today, and to thereby influence and challenge the long-term programming of media arts organisations.
The project has developed in partnership with young people, fostering their independence and their ownership of the project, and supporting them to develop their ideas.
Working with artist Dan Fox, a group of young people from the Northwest developed Body Language - two interactive body suits that trigger projected sounds and images. One of the aims for the young people was for the work to comment on how technology affects people's communication with each-other.
14 year old Josh said “Virtual Lives has given me the opportunity to meet new people and broaden my knowledge and ability to work with new people. The project has helped me to understand that art doesn't have to be looking at paintings but something to touch and play with. One of the best parts for me has been the opportunity to have my say in what happens with the suit and what I wouldn't want the suit to be - for a young person it's good experience for the future and that will benefit me personally in the future”Josh got involved in Virtual Lives through folly's own digi_club - the online youth club for young people aged between 12 and 16. digi_club aims to encourage young people to create their own digital art and is a place to meet artists and be inspired. digi_club increases the skills of young people and encourages them to think more creatively about their use of new technology through a programme of workshops, online activities and facilitated forums in order to encourage young talent to thrive. Young people can get involved in digi_club right now at www.digi.org.uk
Virtual Lives is funded by enquire. Partners: FACT, Cornerhouse, folly, LJMU and ICDC
The enquire programme is funded jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children, Families and Schools as part of the Strategic Commissioning Programme for Museum and Gallery Education, and by the Foyle Foundation. The enquire programme is managed by engage and has been developed in association with Arts Council England
