Guest Seminar - Sam Francis - Creative Producing, Curating

Sam Francis joined us for another guest seminar, this time focussing on working as a Creative Producer and Curator. Recording of session is on Teams, see links and notes from this session below. For notes from yesterday’s Experimental Media Arts workshop go to this page

‘I am a creative producer, maker and doer now living in Weston Super Mare after 15 years in Bristol. 

 I am interested in engaged, live work that is not bound by a singular art form, and am currently project producer for Outlands experimental music network, a member of Supernormal Festival and arts collective Bristol Experimental Expanded Film (BEEF). 

 I also create things and make stuff sometimes. I like to observe and experience things through sound, image and words; snippets and moments, as a way to connect with place, space and spirit. I like working collectively and collaboratively, building and being part of communities, connecting people and responding creatively to contexts.

I am a creative producer, maker and doer now living in Weston Super Mare after 15 years in Bristol. 

 I am interested in engaged, live work that is not bound by a singular art form, and am currently project producer for Outlands experimental music network, a member of Supernormal Festival and arts collective Bristol Experimental Expanded Film (BEEF). 

 I also create things and make stuff sometimes. I like to observe and experience things through sound, image and words; snippets and moments, as a way to connect with place, space and spirit. I like working collectively and collaboratively, building and being part of communities, connecting people and responding creatively to contexts.’

Sam Francis

Notes and Links from Session

Supernormal Festival

SUPERNORMAL is a three-day, experimental arts and music festival taking place at Braziers Park in Oxfordshire. It offers a platform for artists, performers and musicians to work collaboratively and creatively for a new kind of audience seeking experiences out of the mainstream. It is determinedly small and intimate with an audience of 1,500. It has been born from a place that values the currency of ideas and imagination, as well as the inclusivity of artists and audiences alike, rather than commercialism and profit. Read more

Trailer:

Short Film (2015) by James Hankins & Richard Edkins

BEEF - Bristol Experimental Expanded Film

Bristol Experimental Expanded Film (BEEF) is a film and sound collective supporting experimental practice in Bristol since 2015.

BEEF provides an independent platform and much needed resource for artists’ production, distribution and critical engagement, predominantly focusing on experimental and analogue practices. BEEF members collaborate and work together to organise a regular programme of events, screenings, performances, exhibitions, residencies, and film & sound workshops. Read More

Why you Shouldn't be an artist 

LINKS - Weston super Mare

Weston Artspace: a studio hub and workshop space for Weston’s creative community, on the High Street.
https://www.westonartspace.com/

Culture Weston: develop inspiring cultural initiatives and events
https://cultureweston.org.uk/

Creative Meet Ups for young and emerging artists and creatives. The next one is 13 April. Book here: https://cultureweston.org.uk/listings/creative-meet-up-emerging-artists-creatives/

There will be event volunteer opportunities, and specific student opportunities.
Keep an eye out on FACEBOOK: Culture Weston / Weston Artspace.

FURTHER INFO + LINKS:

•Curating Context – Beyond the Gallery and Into Other Fields, edited by Magdalena Malm, 2017

•What Does an Art Producer Do? by Grace Bordelon

•BFI Future Film Festival film industry festival for young, emerging filmmakers

•BFI Film Academy - opportunities for young creatives aged 16 to 25:

Further Viewing:

Day in the life of a film programmer

Curator talk: curating in context - making exhibitions work 

How to succeed as an artist

How to get your short screened at film festivals:

The fifth sense: making exhibitions 

See more of Sam Francis’s work at: https://samfrancisco.co.uk/



Steve Albini talk about music distribution.

Definitely worth watching if you have the time

Space is the Place - Screening - AfroFuturism - Watershed- 23/10/14

Sun Ra's Space is the place is showing at Watershed as part of their 'Afrofuturism' programme.

'Calling planet Earth, you are cordially invited to experience (or re-experience) the Sun Ra sci fi classic Space Is The Place, one of the most elusive cult music films of all time. Sun Ra was a Pharoah from another galaxy who took the form of philosophical and experimental jazz genius leader of the Intergalactic Arkestra. Travelling through the cosmos in his music fuelled spaceship, Ra discovers a planet where the 'vibrations are different', a world that might serve as a new home for the black humans from Earth, a place where they still struggle to achieve equality. Before our hero can offer the people of Oakland the chance of a new life, he must first do battle with the establishment, as well as a pimpish Devil-like figure known as The Overseer. Whilst earthbound, he manages (but of course) to play some of his most famous songs with the Arkestra. For Ra (born Herman Blount in Birmingham, Alabama, also the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan), outer space wasn't just a gimmick, a convenient source of song titles and an awesome theme for outfits (there's full on glitter-Egyptian regalia, gold silk tunics and chain mail skull caps galore). It was a zone where racism didn't exist, a place where black people could make their own destinies - just imagine. This is a wonderfully strange filmic adventure, one we should all get on board for - join us for a jazz-flavoured ride into space!

With an introduction by Professor Denenge Akpem, performance artist, designer and lecturer.

Ticket prices: £5.50 full / £4.00 concessions. Ticket holders also receive priority entry to the pre-film DJ set (see below).

Join us for FUTURE SHOCK, a pre-film warm up in the Café/Bar from 22:00-23:00 with DJ Food (Ninja Tune/Solid Steel), who will present a turntablist soundscape of sci-fi songs, cosmic music and retro electronic visions of a future very different from the one we live in now.'