About
Aims of this site
We are based in a rural northwest Ireland. Access to information is difficult. We have used the internet to research and conduct interviews on this topic. We aim to invite people from disparate professional worlds to focus on this topic from their perspective. For example, we hope that someone working in Internet/Arts could find out about Community/Arts and vice-versa, and see how these other areas could affect their work. We also aim to attract people to submit their own projects so we might find more examples of work which touches on community + arts + internet.
History of this project's development
This project was initiated by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland to research possibilities for community arts to use the internet, and help to make recommendations for training neccessary to undertake such work. Another arts organisation, The Nerve Centre in Derry, Northern Ireland, is also conducting action research under this heading.
Originally, we undertook two residencies in spring of 2003 which brought artists with varying new media skills, and little internet experience to not only conduct a residency in a community setting, but also develop skills during training sessions. Each residency had two artists collaborating with established community groups. You can read more about the residencies. Later, as we began to prepare the findings of this project, we decided to use the internet as a way to develop the report. You can see how we're using this site in our research section.
Learning through experience
The two residencies were staggered and we were able to learn from the first. We realized that artists who had little experience of using the web needed to see how other artists were using it. This would help them understand the formal conventions of the medium, limitations and possibilities. They could begin to develop their own critical perspectives on net art. For example, a review of current net art in the beginning of our second residency revealed to one of our artists that much of the work seemed emotionally flat. This perspective provided a springboard for the approach in their own residency. We found that a review of current net art practice was crucial.
During both residencies we conducted research relevant to our artists' investigations, and supplied articles or books that could inform their own work. We continued to search for innovative examples that would raise the bar for work that dealt with community + arts + internet. While we found few examples, we realized we could use the internet as a way to locate others by setting up this site.
Big Picture
The interviews served as a way to get topical information that we could not find. We went direct to the source and bent the ears of people whose work we admired. While there is little on community + arts + internet, the boundaries have gotten blurred to the point that it might not matter. For example, it made sense that while Lowell Monke writes on the affect of technology in education, his opinion on technology and culture is important. It made sense to ask a designer like Derek Powazek to talk about his work on CityStories as a voluntary arts project. It also made sense to ask a technologist like Mike Annany to see how his 'peice' is an innovative community arts project.
These ideas might have been off their professional radar, but responses to the questions we asked were refreshing and helpful. The interviews, which were conducted via email provided link-rich responses that hopefully provide points of departure for further investigation.
Language and Terminology
Where jargon is used we have provided definitions which appear with an underline. 'Roll' your cursor over this words to see the definitions. While we will use as little jargon as possible, we hope the reader can get familiar with key terms and language. If you are unsure about a term we are using, or disagree with the way we're using it, please tell us: http://sightings.kidsown.ie/contact/
The final report for this project is due in October 2003 so the Arts Council of Northern Ireland might formulate a plan for promoting community arts that maximizes the use of the Internet. The preliminary report, put online in Summer 2003 as a website, aims to elicit feedback from these wider profesional communities.
Behind this project
- Arts Council of Northern Ireland
- http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/
The ACNI have funded this project and provided guidance for conducting the work. - Kids' Own Publishing Partnership
-
http://kidsown.ie/
Kids' Own works with youths and communities on publishing projects which increase literacy and participation in the arts. Simon Spain, a director of Kids' Own developed the concept of this project in early stages.
Kate McCarthy, a consultant with Kids' Own Publishing Partnership helped to locate the communities and artists to participate in this project.
Heather James, a consultant with Kids' Own Publishing Partnership provided training for the artists, worked with the community groups, conducted research and prepared this website. - The Artists
- Brigid Corcoran
- Natalie Delimata
- Christine Mackey
- Helen O'Connell
- The Community Groups, who we thank for volunteering their time in participating
- Brollagh Youth Club, Belleek, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
- Age Concern Group, Roslea, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland