We invite proposals from artists to bid for creative commissions each worth £2,500 which explore how literature is written, translated, presented, mediated or expanded online.
What constitute meaningful and creative ways to experiment with the possibilities the internet presents for the written word? How might we move beyond the reproduction of the printed page yet avoid the techno-fetishism associated with much ‘cross-media’ work? And how can we ensure that artistic integrity remains central to any exploration of new technologies?
We are interested in creative proposals for how a global technology might articulate a common language, and how the economies of the internet – a widely dispersed and remote audience, the relative poverty of the experience of reading or watching online, the emphasis on ‘content’ and consumption, the opportunities for true mass distribution – affect the work itself, and the artist’s relationship with the audience. From here, one central practical question we are keen to address is that of how technology can help literature travel.
We welcome artistic ideas both around the formats and means of distribution – relating to online platforms themselves – and those focused on new writing specifically, but all proposals should tackle issues around the specific space and language of the internet. Please include the following:
Five commissions, each of £2,500, will be awarded over the course of the International Literature Showcase project (October 2016 – July 2017). Two will be selected from this first call, and the remaining three next year.
Deadline for proposals: 9 December 2016
A selection panel will commission the first two proposals, to be announced by the end of December. Projects should aim for completion by 28 February 2017 if possible.
A second round of submissions will open in March 2017.
For more information, please contact Adam Pugh, Writers’ Centre Norwich: adam.pugh@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
