Contact: A Festival of New Experimental Film and Video
- Submitting institution
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Arts University Bournemouth, the
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output identifier
- Vallance_33051 Contact
- Type
- M - Exhibition
- Venue(s)
- Apiary Studios, London
- Open access status
- -
- Month of first exhibition
- May
- Year of first exhibition
- 2016
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- ‘Contact: A Festival of New Experimental Film and Video’ featured 70 film, video and performance artists across three days in May 2016 in its venues’ three studios. Vallance’s curatorial focus combined a multiplicity of forms, in an accessible and aware manner, which brought together niche and new audiences to inform the contemporary condition of experimental film practices across UK.
Through his programme of research, Vallance premised an independent, curated survey, supported by Arts Council England, to present single and multi-projector and performance-related works, and specially commissioned installations. To schedule the works in a relatable manner an innovative structure was initiated – the works were presented in small clusters, rather than the normative, often lengthy and formally inappropriate, short film programme format - which challenged viewing hierarchies, introduced new artists, providing the opportunity for the ‘sampling’ and discovery of unknown works. This conception was appreciated by the audience and artists alike (William Raban wrote: ‘Your programming was enlightened').
The Festival programmed established and emerging artists, from original members of the London Filmmakers Co-op to recent graduates, who showed new and untested works. These were selected in consultation with organisations such as no.w.here, collective-iz, Unconscious Archives, Nightworks and Screen Shadows. This ethos reflected the field’s and Festival’s co-operative and collaborative intent, and was emphasised by the supportive presence of many of the artists throughout its duration.
To document the event’s intentions and methodology a publication was produced, which included contextual essays, discussion pieces and the Festival’s details (Guy Sherwin wrote: 'the brochure is simple, informative, elegant’). This also addressed its legacy through further disseminating its composition and ideas, as such collectable reference points are vital indicators of experimental film and video’s development. The Festival’s discursive structure, which celebrated the fields’ diversity and vibrancy, was enthusiastically and critically received, with each day selling-out.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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