Artists' Film and Video Fund - Recipients Announced
17/03/2010
Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council have announced the recipients of the 2009/2010 Artists’ Film and Video Fund. Visual Artists Gair Dunlop and James Houston, were each awarded £20,000 to create two major new pieces of moving image work that are ambitious, fresh and experimental.
James Houston is developing his conceptual film proposal, ‘The Perfect, Perfect Pac-Man’ which compares the parallels between pop-culture gaming sensation Pac-Man, with the themes of determinism, heuristic logic, evolutionary human traits and the desire to control and conquer.
Gair Dunlop is at work on his project, ‘Atom Town: life after technology’ - a film installation exploring the technological optimism of the 1960s and the future of a town enthusiastically decommissioning itself.
On receiving the Artists’ Film and Video Award Gair commented:
“I am delighted to accept this award and am already at work in the film archives. It's a great honour to receive such backing for my work, especially in an economically tough time. The project will be a series of multiscreen projections, some plannable and some surprises.”
Leslie Finlay, Talent Development Executive at Scottish Screen, said:
“Scottish Screen alongside the Scottish Arts Council is delighted to support the Artists’ Film and Video Award. The recipients of this year’s award are two very exciting artists who are at the forefront of experimentation and innovation, pushing the boundaries of moving image and art.
We are very excited about the prospect of two new works by emerging Scottish-based talent.”
Scottish Screen’s previous Film and Video Fund has supported artists such as Luke Fowler, Duncan Campbell, Henry Coombes, Matt Hulse and many others.
The films funded under the previous versions of this scheme have gone on to win awards such as the Tiger Award for Short Film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Baloise Art Prize, the Jarman Award and many more.
The Artists' Film and Video Fund is administered jointly by the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen to support the best innovative and experimental work by visual artists working in film and video.
Notes to editors
- Scottish Screen is the national screen agency for Scotland with responsibility for developing all aspects of screen culture and industry across the country.
- In 2009/2010 Scottish Screen invested around £6m in the development and promotion of Scotland’s screen industries. This included distributing £2.2m of National Lottery funds.
- New investment guidelines for 2010/2011, that will operate during the process of transition to Creative Scotland are now available on the website. Scottish Screen invests in a range of initiatives, projects and activities designed to develop talent, audiences and businesses across the country.
- For more information on the activities of Scotland’s screen agency, visit the website: www.scottishscreen.com.
- The Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor. The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. It’s corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. The Scottish Arts Council invests £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding.
- For further information on Gair Dunlop, please visit his website: www.gairspace.org.uk .
- For further information on James Houston, Please visit his website: www.1o3o.tumblr.com
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
|