Already renowned as the vanguard of creative content, the New Generation Arts Festival (NGA) notoriously champions the independent cause of showcasing the brightest emerging graduate talent in the arts world today. Previously supported by a host of celebrities including model Erin O’Connor, social commentator Germaine Greer, comedian Frank Skinner, artist Anthony Gormley and author Philip Pullman, this year the New Generation Arts Festival, organised by Birmingham City University and supported by Arts Council England, celebrates youth, diversity and the rise of digital culture.
The topic of this year’s festival is Digital Utopia, where the exploration of the digital theme takes centre stage through a dynamic blend of celebrated talent and hotly tipped emerging artists on the verge of international success. Pushing the boundaries of innovation, 2008 will feature over 35 massive performances, exhibitions and special features including exhilarating collaborations with musician Julian Lloyd Webber, acclaimed digital artist Jane Prophet, applauded curator Mona Casey, and the extravagant up and coming VJ/DJ club collective Project X Presents. The eminent Big Debate, with a panel of renowned guests, chaired by the BBC’s technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, will explore whether the digital revolution equals More Power or More Powerless?
A centre piece of the festival is the Mobile Phone Portraiture which seeks to engage the local Birmingham community by inviting them to submit mobile phone pictures of “Life in Birmingham”. The photo gallery will be exhibited on the BBC Big Screens across the city alongside ‘Billboard Narratives’ supported by the Betty Trask winning novelist Nicola Monaghan. By posting storylines on billboards located around the city commuters will be encouraged to contribute their ideas and responses via text message which will be developed by a network of writers, allowing members of the public to fashion their own unique story board.
One of Europe’s largest showcases for graduate talent, the New Generation Arts Festival 2008, organised by Birmingham City University, kicks off on the 5^th June 2008 and is jam packed with over 16 days of digital art based euphoria. The festival aims to be the ultimate platform for showcasing new graduate talent alongside established names within the framework of the modern digital era - once again reinforcing Birmingham’s status as a centre of culture, creativity and digital innovation.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Jem Bahaijoub or Ian Roberts
Zest PR
Tel. 0044 (0)207 734 0206
[email protected] / [email protected]
Notes to the editor:
The New Generation Arts Festival is supported by Arts Council England.
Part of Birmingham City University, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design is the largest centre for art, design and media education in the UK outside London. It’s rated as one of the top ten art and design institutions in the country , providing education for over 4,000 students on five major campuses located across the city centre, including the internationally recognised School of Jewellery and the Department of Art. The Institutes state of the art facilities include a Milo motion control rig, the first of its kind in an education establishment. This together with the support of Mario Miniceillo , a nationally recognised Head of Visual Communication , confirms the University’s commitment to provide the best in cutting edge education. Recently awarded Media Skillset Academy status, Birmingham City University is the only University in the region to be awarded this prestigious recognition , reinforcing the University’s commitment to industry led, creative training.
The University’s substantial performing arts provision also includes Birmingham Conservatoire, a specialised music college of international stature which trains musicians to the highest standard in performance and composition and Birmingham School of Acting, one of the UK’s leading vocational drama training schools.
Based in the heart of the city centre only a few minutes’ walk from Symphony Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire has some of the finest performing and teaching facilities of its kind, including the renowned 520-seat Adrian Boult Hall, 150-seat Recital Hall customised for performance with live electronics, six state-of-the-art recording studios and a specialised music library. The Conservatoire educates and trains musicians to professional standards in solo performance, composition, early and chamber music, orchestral playing, jazz, community music and musicology. Additional courses are provided through collaboration with partner faculties and other institutions. Research is focused on the study of music in performance and there is a dedicated Centre for Composition and Performance with Technology. A thriving Junior Department provides tuition in classical music, jazz, chamber music, music of the north Indian subcontinent and A-Level studies for 200+ students aged 3 to 18. Birmingham Conservatoire is a part of Birmingham City University. For further information, visit: www.conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk
The National Academy of Writing, part of Birmingham City University, is an exciting new departure - a dedicated writing school set up by internationally renowned writers. This Specialised training facility supports emerging writers with the chance to develop their talents supported by leading writers who deliver masterclasses and lectures alongside individual tutorials. The aim of the founders is that the Academy will become a showcase for national and international writing talent.