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the Creative Futures

Institute

Our News July-Dec 2013

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Our News July-Dec 2013

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Welcome from our Director

“The second part of 2013 saw us submit 60% more staff to the UK’s governmental

research assessment compared to five years ago. This newsletter provides

insight into our submission ahead of its public release. We also focus on activity

from new appointments whose research & practice spans film, music, & politics.”

Professor @andymiah

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Contents Research Outputs / In the Media / Project News / Research Impact / Spoken Word / Exhibitions, Performances, & Screenings / People / Our Creative Future /

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Research Outputs

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Books Hassan, G. (2013) After Independence, Luath Press Ltd. Robinson, P., McPherson, G., Finkel, R. & McGillivray, D. (Eds.) (2013) Research Themes for Events, CABI.

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FOCUS: Dr Gerry Hassan Dr Gerry Hassan joins us as a new Research Fellow, bringing a wealth of expertise as a journalist, cultural commentator, and political expert. His latest book ‘After Independence’, offers an in-depth and varied exploration of the possibilities for Scotland, from both pro and anti-independence standpoints.

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Journal Articles Overend, D. (2013) World Wide Wandering: e-drifting in Paris and London, Scottish Journal of Performance, Vol.1(1) DOI: 10.14439/sjop.2013.0101.03 Kosmala, K. and Sebastyanski, R. (2013) The Roles of Artists’ Collective in the Gdansk Shipyard's Heritage Protection, Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. (3)2: 116-129 Overend, D. (2013) Making Routes: Relational Journeys in Contemporary Performance, Studies in Theatre and Performance, 33(3). Pp.365-381. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/stap.33.3.365_1

Book Chapters McGillivray, D. & Jones, J. (2013) Events and `Resistance, In: R. Finkel., D. McGillivray., G. McPherson and P. Robinson (eds) Research Themes for Events, Oxon: CABI

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Practice Clifford, A. (2013) Turbluence.

Reports McGillivray, D & McPherson, G. (2013) Evaluating Scotland's London 2012 Cultural Impact, Creative Scotland.

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FOCUS: Turbulence Turbulence is an audio-visual artwork by artist Alison Clifford and composer Graeme Truslove; it is the fourth work in the Interstitial Articulations series exploring aspects of the interstitial through collaboration. In Turbulence, Clifford translates abstract light-forms in the source photograph into moving image fragments that represent different layers in the audio. These were constructed using a combination of techniques: particle systems in Maya (3D software) were used to create the slower moving background forms, whilst the frenetic foreground activity in the audio was represented by tubular forms animated using dynamics (specifically Maya’s wind simulations). The audio is an extract from an acousmatic work, composed using techniques common to microsound composition. In previous works in the series, visual elements were constructed then matched to elements present in the audio.

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With Turbulence however, by means of a custom-built software interface created with Max/MSP, the audio drives motion through the visual material, forming synchretic (Chion) relationships between sound and image. The final work consists of a montage of these different responses from the interface, combined and edited together with more deliberate ‘human’ responses linking audio and visual. It is through the interaction between human and computer responses that new interstitial aesthetic possibilities for audiovisual art are proposed.

Image still from ‘Turbulence’

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“The Scottish vote next year will be an act of collective self-government whatever the result” Dr Gerry Hassan, 2013

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Media Impact “Institute staff have been interviewed by CNN, the XL Semanal, and the BBC, among others, speaking about digital media, Scottish independence, technology, and mega-events.”

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(2013 Dec) The Scotsman Multiple articles by Dr Gerry Hassan, covering Scotland, politics and the future. (2013 Nov) XL Semanal, Visionarios: El mundo en 2050. (2013 Nov) Evening Times Article on Parasport research. (2013 Nov) Canal+ Coverage around Congress of Brilliant Minds. (2013 Nov) BBC, Journalists and academics: trade your ‘fortresses’ for practical partnership. (2013 Sept) CNN, Sochi 2014: Will social media foil Putin's grand Winter Olympics plan? (2013 Sept) BBC News 24 (2013 Sept) BBC Radio 4 (2013 Aug) Jyllands-Posten, Feature on Doping. (2013 July) Aargauer Zeitung, Interview on Convergence of Man and Machine.

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“What's crucial about these technologies is they don't just repair us, they make us better than well. The human enhancement market will reveal the truth about our biological conditions – we are all disabled.” Professor Andy Miah, 2013

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Project News “Our research is often focused on action and change, with researchers embedding themselves into the places they are studying. This provides a rich design for developing impact and understanding.”

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Cultivating Creative Collectives As part of the Collective Futures project, which aims to define the nature and form of cooperative business models used by designer-makers to sustain and grow their creative businesses, Prof. David McGillivray, along with Catherine Docherty of Glasgow School of Art and Sue Fairburn of Gray's School of Art, travelled to Shetland in late August to undertake fieldwork as part of a case study for the project. “Shetland was of interest to us because of its unique geography and landscape. The aim was to explore whether the characteristics of an island setting, with its geographical boundaries represented, were a help or hindrance to working, and operating, collectively.” David McGillivray

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Evaluating the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in Scotland In November 2013, Professor Gayle McPherson and Professor David McGillivray published their report, which evaluated the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in Scotland. Commissioned by Creative Scotland, the report examines the Olympiad through the lens of a devolved Scotland, exploring how Scottish cultural programmes and projects are being evaluated and what this approach might offer for the wider UK and International context. The report discusses the relationship between sporting mega events and culture, with specific interest on the nexus around the 2013 Olympic Games, before going on to consider conceptual, policy and practice debates surrounding cultural value, examining the extent to which current research tools and techniques capture the contribution of culture to major events, public and social policy.

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“Scottish projects felt that being part of the Cultural Olympiad celebrations brought greater national profile, a sense of being part of a wider national celebration and enabled greater ambition and scope for projects.”

Professor Gayle McPherson & Professor David McGillivray, 2013

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Gdansk Shipyard In August, the student led event on the regeneration of Gdansk Shipyard commenced pedagogic and research based collaboration for staff and students of UWS CCI and ASP Art Academy, Gdansk. The Summer Schools aim was to develop and launch collaborative projects, initiating a social radical planning process for regeneration of Gdansk Shipyard area, and thus aid in creating a new and alternative vision and development for the Shipyard's cultural heritage. Preceding the project, UWS students were asked to discuss their experiences and relate the project back to Scotland and Govan's regeneration experience with a focus on cultural planning and art-led activism presented by Fablevision and SURF.

Image of Gdansk shipyard, adapted from Steven Taylor, on Flickr

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EVENT: Tristan Da Cunha In November, the Scottish Centre for Island Studies (SCIS) and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) as a ‘Research Talks and Archive Screenings, Media Academy Knowledge Exchange Event’. The event commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Resettlement of Tristan da Cunha (pictured below) in November 1963 after the volcanic eruption of 1961 led to the complete evacuation of Tristan Islanders to the UK. The event was fully funded by the UWS, was oversubscribed (and almost half of the 50 + present were Tristan Association members. Professor Neil Blain introduced Dr Kathryn A Burnett, CFi Associate. Kathryn’s presentation was on ‘Tristan da Cunha – The Volcano Years 1961-63 – Media Archive Representation in a Scottish Context’. She highlighted how the media often stereotyped Tristan da Cunha and its Islanders as ‘a problem’ and identified the island community’s culture and traditions as ‘exotic’, emphasised by visual images in films of the time.

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“The plight of the Tristan islanders was a global media event. In the changing times of the early 1960s, their story was one that intrigued and invited comment in terms of how people thought and imagined ideas of island living, remoteness and sustainability. And it can be argued that these ideas continue to inform how we think and represent island communities today, here in Scotland, and beyond.” Dr Kathryn Burnett, 2013

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MAKE an Impact

"The Media Academy Knowledge Exchange (MAKE) is based in the same premises as the Creative Futures Institute and assists Associates in developing impact around their research. Here are some of the things it has enabled and is helping to develop."

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Putting Policy into Practice Much of our research activity operates around a number of policy priorities within Scotland and the UK. This year, we have three staff members who are working closely with the Scottish Government to advise on various agendas. Ewan Crawford has taken leave from his normal lecturing duties to advise the Scottish Nationalist Party. Professor Andy Miah has accepted an appointment to Fiona Hyslop MSP’s Ministerial Advisory Group on Digital Participation, and Professor Gayle McPherson spoke at the European Cultural Parliament event in Edinburgh. Through these connections, we hope to shape policy decisions with our research findings.

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Planning for Culture The Cultural Planning short course was delivered by CFi Associates Graham Jeffery, Professor Gayle McPherson, and MAKE Manager Margaret Scott to provide an introduction to the background and concepts of cultural planning, drawing on a range of sectors such as culture, housing, planning, social work, health and education. The course provided participants from the aforementioned industry sectors, to develop an understanding of the concepts and practical models of cultural planning.

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Spoken Word

Andy Miah speaks at the International Federations Forum, in Lausznne

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Invited Talks  

Congress of Brilliant Minds, El Ser Creativo, Madrid, Spain. Cambridge Union Society, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. International Federations Forum, Sport Accord, Lausanne, Switzerland. Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Edinburgh, UK. Lyric Theatre, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The European Cultural Parliament, Edinburgh, UK. Future Fest, NESTA, London, UK. Future Human, The Book Club, Shoreditch, London, UK. University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Thailand Creative & Design Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. Tentspace Gallery, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. Migrating Art Academy at Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland, UK. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany. Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue, Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

 

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Conference Presentations Our Associates also regularly submit papers to academic conferences. Here is a sample of where we were in the first part of 2013. National Association of Writers in Education, NAWE, York, UK. Relate North, University of the Arctic, Reykjavik, Iceland. Mapping the City, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Mega-events and legacy conference, University of East London, London, UK. TaPRA, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, UK.

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Exhibitions, Performances & Screenings Seeing Sound 3, Centre for Visual Music & Bath Spa University Centre for Musical Research, USA/UK. The Peoples Voice, University of Glasgow, UK. FILE 2013 Hypersonica, Centro Cultural FIESP, Brazil.

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People

“While our Associates drive our research, we are surrounded by a world-class community of practitioners, innovators, and intellectual agitators who shape our creative ecology.”

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Associates School of Creative & Cultural Industries Dr. Kathryn Burnett Samantha Clark Dr. Alison Clifford Ewan Crawford Kenny Forbes Dr. Gerry Hassan Prof. Nick Higgins Graham Jeffery Prof. Katarzyna Kosmala Dr. David Manderson Prof. Gayle McPherson Prof. David McGillivray Prof. Andy Miah Dr. David Overend Dr. John Robertson Dr. Jo Scott Dr. Holly Tessler Dr. Helen Wolfenden Associates from Other Schools Dr. Daniel Livingstone, Dr. Alexandre Gagnon, Prof. Andrew Hursthouse, Prof. Malcom Foley, Dr. Sandro Carnicelli Filho, Dr. Lorna Stevens

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FOCUS: Prof Nick Higgins Professor Nick Higgins, award-winning documentary filmmaker, joined our team in October, taking up the position of Professor in Media Practice and Director of University of the West of Scotland’s Creative Media Academy. Most recently Nick was the creative force behind the mass participation documentary, ‘We Are Northern Lights’ – the first ever Scottish documentary to be released by the cinema multiplex chain, Cineworld. His initial interest in making documentaries arose as a result of fieldwork experiences in Mexico, where he conducted research for his doctorate on the Zapatista rebel movement. The resulting film, ‘A Massacre Foretold’ premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2008 heralding the start of what some have seen as revival of creative documentary filmmaking practice in Scotland that has centred in large part around the Edinburgh-based Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI).

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FOCUS: Dr Jo Scott

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Dr Jo Scott was appointed as a lecturer in Commercial Music. She gained her PhD in Musicology from the University of Glasgow for her development of a new and creative form of music analysis based on research into schizophrenia, which she calls 'schizoanalysis'. As a musical practitioner, she writes and performs in the nu-folk genre under the name Jo Mango. Combining her field of practice with her work on new musicological methodologies, Jo is currently researching the music of Joanna Newsom for the 'Cambridge Companion to the Songer-Songwriter', due to be published in 2015. Recently, Jo completed a 7 date tour of Japan, where her album 'Murmuration' was released in May. Her latest EP 'When We Lived in the Crook of a Tree' released in the UK on the 2nd of December, explores women's issues as represented in folk story and song.

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PhD Students Pamela Barnes / Kyle Barrett / Alison Bell / Andrea Braeuning / Nick Brooks / Carole Brookes / Kenneth Byres / John Carruthers / Christopher Dooks / Ian Falconer / Danielle Farrel / Marco Federici / Rachel Flynn / Amanda Geary / Jacqueline Greener / Jennifer Jones / Stephen Langston / Mingxia Li / Kirsten Macleod / Andrea MacNicoll / Anne McVitie / Mirjam Muller / Carole Naylor / Ben Parry / Lou Prendergast / Roman Sebastyanski / Sarah Scott / Emilia Sosnowska / Mary Speath / Anna Sznajder / Iain Taylor / Eleanor Thom / Eleanor Yule

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PHD JOURNEYS: Dr Ana Adi

This year, Ana Adi graduated with her PhD. Ana is originally from Romania & won a Fulbright scholarship to the USA before coming to UWS. In her final year, she won a Lectureship in Bahrain and subsequently took a post at The Media School at Bournemouth University, where she is now Head of International Development. Ana’s PhD thesis was titled “The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Human Rights & China” follow @ana_adi

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“The contemporary city is now global, networked and increasingly integrated with virtual spaces. In this fluid, dynamic environment, wandering should be reimagined and refocused in order to retain its potentially resistant qualities.” Dr David Overend, 2013

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Our Creative Future

"In our next issue, we take our research to Russia, China, while building our impact around Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games, doing work on Google Glass, and experimental creative practice.”

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Contact Creative Futures Institute School of Creative & Cultural Industries University of the West of Scotland MAKE Space A Block, Barbour Building Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland, UK PA1 2BE http://creativefutur.eu

@CreativeFutur