Cutting Edge Line Up for AV Festival

25th January 2008

Type: Editors Picks

Categories: Middlesbrough Arts, What's on

AV Festival is the UK's largest international festival of electronic arts, and features visual art, music and moving image. Middlesbrough takes a leading role in hosting the event, alongside Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, and has just announced an action-packed, cutting-edge programme launching on the 28 February. Major highlights include:

NOW HEAR THIS

Artists Marcus Coates, Zoe Irvine and People Like Us have been invited to install various audio works in unexpected public spaces across Middlesbrough Town Centre, sites include The Mall shopping centre and the Tourist Information Centre at the Town Hall. All loosely themed around the idea of broadcast and public address, the artists were selected on the basis of their interest in the complex relationships between sound, space and location.

Middlesbrough Hub

Relax with a coffee and a bite to eat in Middlesbrough's very own AV Festival Hub. In the comfy surroundings of Blue café bar, you'll experience audio visual treats, like films and animations by NOVAK, moving image creations made for the AV:IRAL YouTube channel by North East students, and radiophonic delights transmitted from Resonance FM at mima.

Resonance FM at mima

The UK's only radio art station, Resonance FM, is relocating to Middlesbrough's mima for AV Festival 08. Ed Baxter, Chris Weaver and their team have devised a unique series of programmes that will be broadcast daily. Visit the live studio in mima's atrium during their opening hours. Visit: www.avfestival.co.uk/onair.

Atlas of Electromagnetic Space

The Atlas of Electromagnetic Space visualises the radio spectrum in a spectacular interactive screen-based installation. Initiated by Spanish curator, Jose Luis Vicente, it will be unveiled at the new Institute for Digital Innovation at the University of Teesside and then will tour to the CCCB in Barcelona.

Write Your Own Radio Play

This is an intensive two-day workshop for budding radio dramatists aged 13 - 19 years. Work with a professional writer to create a radio play and then bring it to life with voices and sound effects. Then, as the icing on the cake, hear it broadcast by art radio station Resonance FM, broadcasting from Middlesbrough during the AV Festival.

Middlesbrough Late & Live

Middlesbrough comes to life in this fantastic Late & Live evening, where you'll get to go to exclusive receptions, meet the artists who have made exhibitions in Middlesbrough and experience extraordinary music. The rise of Middlesbrough as a cultural hotspot is one of the stories of the last few years and at this Late & Live you will see why.

A Marriage of Shadows, Michael Edgerton

The American composer Michael Edgerton is an innovator par excellence. This new work is a modern classical composition for voice, flute, saxophone, guitar and percussion focusing on new sounds within complex structures. This piece is formally influenced by the study of networks -- in this case, the roadmap of Middlesbrough and the surrounding area.

Lumen and AV:ISION Lounge

The AV action moves to Middlesbrough's cutting edge music venue, Basement, as the night draws in. The three producers who have come together as NOVAK for AV Festival collaborate with Lumen for a programme of performances by regional artists. A laid back and relaxed atmosphere is promised -- and it's free.

Northern Screenwriters Conference 2008

This year's AV Festival coincides with Middlesbrough's annual Northern Screenwriters Conference, which, in the past, has attracted speakers of the calibre of Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Peter Straughan (Sixty-Six) and Paul Fraser (A Room For Romeo Brass). 2008 will be a two-day event aimed at helping new and experienced writers gain a better understanding of how to maximise their chances of finding and sustaining employment in the television and cinema industries. It will be directed by BAFTA nominated writer Ian Fenton.

At the Top of the Game featuring Jimmy McGovern

Jimmy McGovern's name is synonymous with powerful, hard-hitting drama. In a career that spans over twenty years he has created landmark shows that include Cracker, Hillsborough, Sunday, and The Street.

AV:ISION Presents 3D Disco

Let your hair down at a special party presentation from NOVAK, the partnership of producers responsible for the late night AV Festival attractions. NOVAK will be performing an all new 3D Disco set, last seen supporting the Chemical Brothers in Trafalgar Square, along with other AV fun. But it's 8pm until Midnight at Bar Absolute and an audio-visual feast is guaranteed.

Further Information

For visitor details click here. To view full details on the AV Festival website see www.avfestival.co.uk or click here to download the AV Festival programme.