Call for proposals Playing Field (2nd & 3rd period)

Call for proposals Playing Field (2nd & 3rd period)

Playing Field is an international co-production of the Netherlands Media Art
Institute in Amsterdam, IMG in Mainz and Mecad in Barcelona, aimed at the
creation of streaming media art especially for Internet.

Internet and advanced technologies used on the Internet were originally
developed to cope with huge technological challenges in science.
Co-operating groups in different countries needed a fast communication
system in order to work on the same experiment in different locations.
Satellites collecting amounts of data needed a way to send information to
ground stations in real-time, the first examples of data streaming. Today
the data networks are expanding. Advanced technologies are becoming
available for other purposes. It is time for artists to explore the
possibilities of new technologies. Looking for new ways of expression that
were not possible without new technology rather than reformatting existing
art. Also time has come to reflect on the meaning of streaming technology
for our lives and culture in this modern world.

New technologies can also put restrictions on existing ways of expression.
The quality of video streamed on the Internet is poor, due to the speed of
the average Internet connection. Knowing the restrictions we have to look
for new ways of expression that take advantage of the specific qualities of
streaming, creating art that could never exist without streaming technology.
One of the challenges is to create streaming media art that establishes its
own position in the context of existing video art.

Playing Field aims at the creation of streaming art especially for Internet,
exploring the added value of Internet technology. Specific features of
streaming media are for example: live broadcast, interactivity,
time-dependent behaviour, 24 hour availability for a worldwide public,
multi-user communication, using several video, audio and interactivity
channels at the same time. Also the restrictions of Internet and streaming
media will be explored and exploited: small bandwidth, small video image
size, slow connections, waiting time caused by signal buffering.
The way the work is displayed on the screen has to be taken into account and
can be designed, the situation and the context in which the work is shown is
important and can be used in the concept.

Call for proposals

Media artists can submit a project proposal for streaming media content for
the Internet. One artist will be selected by the Netherlands Media Art
Institute for each working period of two months.

Main research fields:
1.Work specially made for low quality display
2.Non-linear work
3.Interactive work
4.Multi-user work
5.Pseudo-live streams created from existing content on the Internet
We ask:
Computer knowledge; basic knowledge of digital video processing; experience
with computer art/ internet art; strong artistic quality; interested in new
media; interested in international co-operation; available during working
period (see below); willing to work with art students; based in The
Netherlands.

We offer:
Computer and desk facilities, technical and organisational assistance,
presentation budget, international dissemination of the work via the
Internet and on DVD, participation in closing seminar 23-24 May 2003 at the
Netherlands Media Art Institute in Amsterdam. Artist fee: 3000 euro.

Proposals:
Proposals can be written in English or Dutch. They should include a project
description: description of content and technical implementation; a time
schedule: description of the work that has to be done in the time that is
available; equipment list; description of technical and organisational
assistance needed; biography, with documentation on your previous projects.

Working periods:
Period 2: 6 January - 27 February 2003; Deadline proposals 2: 15 November
2002
Period 3: 3 March -24 April 2003; Deadline proposals 3: 31 January 2003

Send proposals before the deadline to:
Mrs. Claud Biemans, project manager Playing Field
Keizersgracht 264
1016 EV Amsterdam
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

For more information please contact:
[email protected]
T (+31) 020-6237101 / (+31) 06-44566395
F (+31) 020-6244423

Background information:
<http://www.playingfield.net>

Playing Field is sponsored by:XS4ALL, Thuiskopiefonds, European Commission