Museums at Night: Connect10 Shortlist
Connect10, a national competition for UK wide cultural venues to win an artist-led event and a share of £7000, announces the artist line-up. Culture24′s new project for Museums at Night, Connect10, matches ten contemporary artists with ten museums and galleries for a series of special one-off Museums at Night events over the weekend of May 18,19 and 20 2012.
The 10 artists announced for Connect10 are:
Claire Barclay, futuristic Scottish sculptor whose carefully balanced installations have been exhibited in Tate Britain and Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket Gallery.
Bompas & Parr, the Jellymongers, create spectacular culinary experiences ranging from architectural jellies to lakes of cocktails.
Ryan Gander, provocative installation artist whose Artangel commission in a Hoxton warehouse provided clues for visitors to solve a mystery.
Jon McGregor, award-winning novelist and short story writer, author of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things and Even The Dogs.
Polly Morgan, contemporary taxidermist whose poignant installations have been collected by Kate Moss.
Terry O’Neill, fashion and rock photographer renowned for iconic images of Hollywood stars and bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Martin Parr, Magnum documentary photographer whose pictures tell stories of leisure, consumption and communication.
Simon Roberts, landscape and documentary photographer who spent a year crossing Russia and was Official Artist of the 2010 General Election.
Bob & Roberta Smith, sign-painter, activist and installation artist who uses text on recycled signs and floorboards.
Susan Stockwell, creator of beguiling installations, drawings and films commenting on globalisation and colonisation, often using recycled materials.
In order to compete for the artists venues should find connections between their venue, location or collection and the work of one of these artists. They have until Tuesday 31st January to pitch a Museums at Night event idea involving their chosen artist to Culture24 (Museums at Night organisers) through this simple online form (http://bit.ly/waAfmO ).
Culture24 will select the two or three most interesting event ideas for each of the ten artists. It will then be up to the public to decide, via online voting, whether, for instance, Martin Parr will be sent to Manchester, Middlesbrough or Merthyr.
Jane Finnis, Culture24 CEO said:
“Culture24 is thrilled to be working with Arts Council England again in delivering Museums at Night, the flagship audience development campaign for arts and heritage. Connect10 will connect some of the country’s most exciting contemporary artists with museums, galleries and heritage sites in a way that has never been tried before. We think the competitive element of Connect10 will give venues a playful way to reach out to their local communities, asking them to vote for and secure a visit from a top artist who has a connection to their specific collection or building.”
Each successful venue will receive a £500 bursary for their event, while those venues that don’t win an artist will still receive £100 to support an alternative Museums at Night event.
Participating artist Susan Stockwell said:
“Museums at Night is a great project with an impressive line-up of artists involved in Connect10. I’m really excited to see the creative event ideas people come up with and I’m looking forward to an inspiring Museums at Night experience in whichever venue wins me!”
