CALL FOR CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS INTERESTED IN ARTSCIENCE
The Ark in association with Science Gallery's summer exhibition HACK THE CITY
In celebration of Dublin City of Science 2012
WORKING TITLE:
AWAKENING CURIOSITY
‘Exploring nature, biodiversity and the world around us’
‘Science mixes with art and art with science, and in the process neither merely serves the other.
Science, in the one case, changes public perception of art, and art, in the second case, changes public perceptions of science.’
David A. Edwards, Founder and Director, Le Laboratoire in Paris, France
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The Ark, Dublin, Ireland, is seeking artscience submissions for an upcoming exhibition.
Call opens: Wednesday 16th November 2011
Call closes: Friday 6th January 2012
Decision notification: Tuesday 31st January 2012
Draft Exhibtion Dates: May – August 2012
[Schools programme: May – June / Public: June – August]
Audience: Children (aged : 2 – 12 years, school groups, families, teachers, artists, scientists, general public, international visitors)
Send Submissions to: Karen Walshe, Producer, karen@ark.ie
THE ARK
The Ark introduces children to the joy, wonder and creativity of the arts, and plays a vital role in raising the standard of culture for children. We aim to present high-quality engagement and rich cultural experiences acknowledging children as a public living wholly in the present. We explore the child as maker and doer, looker and listener, as one of a school group and as a family member. Our ethos is to discover the integrated world of the child’s mind and the promotion of excellence in our cultural work by, for and with children.
Here, in a unique building designed specifically for them, children aged 2 to 12 investigate everything from theatre, music and literature to painting, film, dance and more. They discover what it means to be an artist, from respected professional artists. There’s no better way to nurture hungry young imaginations, or to inspire a lifelong journey through culture.
The Ark was founded on the principle that children, as citizens, have the same cultural rights as adults. We work with key players in the lives of children; seeking to influence and share our specialist knowledge with teachers, parents, artists, community workers, cultural organisations and policy makers. This is our way of helping to ensure that all children in Ireland have access to high quality cultural experiences.
DUBLIN CITY OF SCIENCE 2012
Dublin has been chosen to host Europe’s largest science conference, ESOF 2012 (Euroscience Open Forum), from 11-15 July, 2012. To celebrate this prestigious international event in Dublin, an exhibition of science-related events and activities will run throughout the year across the island of Ireland.
HACK THE CITY AT THE SCIENCE GALLERY
We are delighted to announce our first working partnership with the Science Gallery, Dublin for this unique special programme of events at The Ark.The Science Gallery will host their own major exhibition ‘Hack The City’ next summer 2012 and we are planning to work together in a contra-advisory capacity, to cross promote our exhibitions to both our own very unique audiences.
CALL OUT EXHIBITION SUBMISSIONS
We believe both art and science are fundamentally creative at the core. Crossover learning between science and the arts provides a kind of catalyst to innovation that sparks passion and freedom to pursue and realise challenging ideas.
We want to show how innovation is often catalyzed by those who cross a conventional line so firmly drawn between the arts and the sciences. So next May as part of Dublin City of Science 2012, The Ark will present a unique and exciting multi-disiplinary artscience exhibition designed to celebrate where science and art meet.
The theme we have chosen is AWAKENING CURIOSITY ‘Exploring nature, biodiversity and the world around us’. The Ark asks ‘what happens when we cross-pollinate the themes of nature and our environment, art and science? We believe creativity is inherent in science and we would like you to explore this crossover 3rd space, viewing the traditional art-science barriers as a zone of creativity we call artscience.
The potential in fusing art and science in a children’s exhibition excites us, and we urge you to consider our theme, the use of art and science, and the mediums of art, craft, film, design, dance, theatre, music, sound, light, experimentation and technology. We would also like submissions to preserve our core principles when preparing an exhibition for 2-12 year olds; sight, smell, touch, texture, colour, stimuli, shape, size, height, quirkiness, playfulness and always challenging.
The aim of the exhibition is to stimulate and awaken the curiosity of children, through rich, high quality inter-disciplinary experiences. We will work with renowned Irish and international practitioners to explore the connections between art and science within the theme of nature, biodiversity and the environment, to connect with Dublin as City of Science 2012, and to provide an enriching and imaginative legacy for children and young people.
We would like to create a fusion of all these elements throughout the three month exhibition in parallel with a 6 week schools workshop series (from May 14th), a 7 week public programme (from 22nd June) and a special events programme, all to coincide with the ESOF 2012 (Euroscience Open Forum) July 9th – 14th.
We are looking for written submissions from artists, scientists or artscience collaborators clearly outlining the concept behind the exhibition installation or art piece, plus images or sketches, a breakdown of the costs involved plus any production requirements (technical and dimensions).
THE BUILDING
The Ark building is an environment that is transformable into any visual, sensory or technical experience that is constructivist. i.e. children absorb information from their environment rather than being directed or taught by an adult.
The whole of The Ark building will be transformed into a free flowing explorative space, including a multi-disciplinary exhibition / installation and a series of children’s public and schools workshops for all ages; a Training Module for primary school teachers; an evolving space in the Gallery where children can meet artists and scientists, ask questions, and showcase their discoveries; and a specially devised digital science section where children can feed in their science projects and ideas on line.
We urge you to consider the building and its dimensions when planning your installation, its 5 floors and secret hubs including the basement, theatre, reception, The Long Room, The Gallery, roof garden, stairwell and outside railings and entrance. Please feel welcome to investigate the building in the afternoons as mornings are part of a working exhibition but you must call reception in advance to ensure we’re free 01 670 7788.
SUBMISSION CRITERIA
The Ark welcomes submissions for both existing and new work from artists, designers, engineers, scientists and everyone in between, in any and all media.
Submitted written (hard or soft copy) submissions for inclusion in the exhibition will be evaluated on criteria including: relevance to the theme, artistic interest, science and/or technology interest, relevancy to the ages 2-12, potential to engage and enthuse a broad public, participant’s background, costs, and ability to deliver the exhibition piece. We encourage artist / scientist collaborations, artists with a science background or scientists with an art background, to investigate creatively what happens in this new space we call artscience!
We are also looking for digital submissions. If your idea is a web-based or mobile phone application, then we would like to hear all about it.
SUBMISSION ENTRY
Each project needs to be delivered within a maximum budget of up to €5,000 if exceptional, sliding scales thereafter on projects, starting from €1,000. If your proposal costs more than €5,000 we will mark for consideration.
Submissions must be received no later than Friday 6th January 2012 at 12 noon by email or hardcopy to be considered for inclusion. The Ark will contact those selected for inclusion by Tuesday 31st January 2012.
*Supplementary information may be submitted in addition to requirements above to support your application but please note that they will not be returned to applicant (applicants should ensure that they do not send any unique or irreplaceable material).
Applications to be sent to:
Karen Walshe, The Ark, Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 / or email to karen@ark.ie
Deadline for applications is Friday 6th January 2012 at 12 noon.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail or this link http://www.ark.ie to other forums and individuals.
“AWAKENING CURIOSITY” at The Ark is part of the Dublin City of Science 2012 exhibition.
Further details and application procedures can be found on www.ark.ie
The Ark 2012 exhibition AWAKENING CURIOSITY ‘Exploring nature, biodiversity and the world around us’ is grant funded by ‘The Public Engagement Programme (PEP) for Dublin City of Science 2012. The Ark is funded and supported throughout the year by The Arts Council, Department of Education & Skills, Professional Development Service for Teachers, Dublin City Council, and Temple Bar Cultural Trust.
CONCLUSION
Since its inception in 1995, The Ark’s profile has steadily grown to the point where its name is now synonymous with the best in children’s cultural programming. We enjoy very strong audience awareness while our international reputation is second to none.
This exhibition will be ideally suited for school, children and family audiences and we look forward to working with you to explore creative, rewarding and innovative outcomes for their benefit.
The Ark
A Cultural Centre for Children
Lárionad Cultúir na Leanaí
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11a Eustace St,
Temple Bar, Dublin 2
P: +353 (0)1 670 7788
E: boxoffice@ark.ie
