The Space has relaunched as an online platform to showcase new digital art.
The initiative was first piloted in 2012 through a partnership between the BBC and Arts Council England as an online arts service, broadcasting performances, events and films. The platform also commissioned artists and this will now be the main focus of its work.
“We are expecting about 50 commissions a year, but we may have more,” said Ruth Mackenzie, the interim chief executive and creative director of The Space. “The point of this site is that we are experimenting, that we are growing new ideas and new talent.
“I don’t think everything on the site is going to succeed and I don’t think it should actually. The point is to share the process of experimenting and to get people to engage, enjoy and debate with us.”
Mackenzie said the artists involved will include well-known names such Marina Abramovic, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei and Jeremy Deller, who have all been commissioned to produce works that can be seen on The Space.
But there will also be commissions for less-well known artists, including those who come from a background in digital technology.
The work will be a mixture of a curated programme of co-commissioned art and an open call for participants. The Space will spend £5m on commissions each year and the first open call ends on 11 July.
The Space was relaunched with a hackathon held in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern on 14-15 June. This 24-hour event brought together more than 140 artists and hackers with the aim of inspiring new forms of creativity.
“Artists have always been at the forefront of any major technological shifts, whether that be the printing press or photography, and we are now possibly living through one of those profound technological shifts,” said Alex Graham, the chairman of The Space, who also chairs the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
“We wanted to be in a position where we could help artists embrace this brave but sometimes scary new world.”
Funders for The Space include the BBC, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, British Council, and Creative Scotland.
The Open Data Institute, which aims to use open data to create economic, environmental, and social value, is among the partners involved in The Space.
The initiative was first piloted in 2012 through a partnership between the BBC and Arts Council England as an online arts service, broadcasting performances, events and films. The platform also commissioned artists and this will now be the main focus of its work.
“We are expecting about 50 commissions a year, but we may have more,” said Ruth Mackenzie, the interim chief executive and creative director of The Space. “The point of this site is that we are experimenting, that we are growing new ideas and new talent.
“I don’t think everything on the site is going to succeed and I don’t think it should actually. The point is to share the process of experimenting and to get people to engage, enjoy and debate with us.”
Mackenzie said the artists involved will include well-known names such Marina Abramovic, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei and Jeremy Deller, who have all been commissioned to produce works that can be seen on The Space.
But there will also be commissions for less-well known artists, including those who come from a background in digital technology.
The work will be a mixture of a curated programme of co-commissioned art and an open call for participants. The Space will spend £5m on commissions each year and the first open call ends on 11 July.
The Space was relaunched with a hackathon held in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern on 14-15 June. This 24-hour event brought together more than 140 artists and hackers with the aim of inspiring new forms of creativity.
“Artists have always been at the forefront of any major technological shifts, whether that be the printing press or photography, and we are now possibly living through one of those profound technological shifts,” said Alex Graham, the chairman of The Space, who also chairs the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
“We wanted to be in a position where we could help artists embrace this brave but sometimes scary new world.”
Funders for The Space include the BBC, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, British Council, and Creative Scotland.
The Open Data Institute, which aims to use open data to create economic, environmental, and social value, is among the partners involved in The Space.
