fowlersumner.net / ONE

ONE: The working social
Next Event - Sunday 16 May

Funded by Arts Council England and Shropshire Council.

Fowler+Sumner are developing a programme of events for emerging and established digital media artists to come together and enjoy a day of creative exchange. Our Working Social is an opportunity to create new work, experiment with new ideas, and share inspiration with a group of peers.

Originally called the Obstructions Network Event, after evaluating our pilot events we have shaped the project as a working social, with less emphasis on networking for networking sake, and more on sharing in a creative process.

The events will be an opportunity for media artists to come together, and work in a creative environment for a day, responding to a set of instructions, or obstructions, to create new work. Each participant will produce their own piece of digital media.

Book early to assure your place

We are now taking bookings for the ONE events, 20 places are available at each event.

Please check the eligibility criteria on the right before booking, and do contact us if you are uncertain.

Participation in ONE is free

There are six available dates for 2010 and we will conclude the series with an exhibition in early 2011, at a venue to be confirmed. 20 places are available to book, for free, at each event. The dates are:

Sunday 16 May 2010
Sunday 13 June
Sunday 11 July
Sunday 10 October
Sunday 14 November

Participation is not limited to a single event - if you enjoy the challenge and the community your are welcome to book on as many events as you wish (subject to availability).

Participating in a ONE event will offer continued networking through free membership to an exclusive social webspace, designed specifically for ONE.

How ONE works

ONE is a digital media production day, based in Shrewsbury, where artists come together to share practice, network, and above all make new work from a set of challenges, or obstructions, given them by the organisers.

Artists should bring any equipment they might need with them, including computing power. Any specialist requirements, certain software or cameras may be available, but it is best to check in advance.

The day begins at 10am, and concludes at 5pm. Light refreshments are available and the town centre location means sandwich shops are within a 5 minute walk for lunch.

Participants will receive their obstructions at the beginning of the day, and not before. At the end of the day there will be a screening or showcase of the produced work, and a vote for the winning piece.

Artists coming to the event should expect to work outside of their comfort zones, so prepare to think creatively.

ONE concludes with an optional social gathering after 5pm in one of Shrewsbury's many pleasant venues for a period of reflection and, most importantly, relaxation!

Pilot Events

In 2008 we ran three pilot events, in Shrewsbury and Hereford, to gauge the reaction to, and demand for, this type of event. We would consider them to have been great successes, and most of the artists enjoyed the working environment and their results. We know that collaborations have happened as a result of the ONE events.

Did any artists provide negative feedback? Yes. A couple of artists struggled with the obstructions and were not happy with their work as a result. We know one artist would not take part again because they don't enjoy or need to work outside of their usual format. For the other artist it was a matter of taking inspiration from a failed experiment.

The rigid challenges and tight format are not to everyone's liking - but we believe in the power of creative renewal through working in a different way, with unexpected objectives.

View the evaluation film from the first event here

Eligibility

ONE is a digital media production event, but does not exclude artists who usually work in other media, as long as they are technically self-sufficient. Although a sharing and collaborative day, all artists need to be able to work independently as there is no technical support.

The event is open to any practising artist but not students. Artists do not have to be based in the West Midlands, although there is no support for travel or accommodation. ONE is aimed equally at emerging artists and established artists.

ONE on tour

Fowler+Sumner are keen to push the ONE format out into the wider arts community and would be interested in collaborating with other organisations, institutions or events that can see the value of including a ONE event in their programmes.