Artsactive Think-Tank

SymbioticA hosted the Artsactive think-tank from the 22nd – 24th of July 2008 in Perth, Western Australia. The participants interrogated the issues impacting upon the success and sustainability of art/science residency programs now and into the future. A public forum “Artists in the Science Shrine” was held on the 22nd for the Western Australian arts community to hear about Artsactive opportunities for artists’ residencies in science and research settings in Australia and internationally. Outcomes of the think-tank will include a set of best-practice methodologies for the delivery of inter-disciplinary residency programs in academic and industry settings. The findings were disseminated immediately after the think-tank at the international conference, ISEA 2008, being held in Singapore (see below).

As well as representatives from SymbioticA, the think-tank will involve Denisa Kera (Transgenesis, Czech Republic), Marta de Menezes (Ectopia, Portugal) and Anne Kienhuis (Arts & Genomics Center, Netherlands) and Vicki Sowry, art research science Program Manager at the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT), . The participants will receive a guided tour of SymbioticA and the lab facilities at The University of Western Australia, as well as a field trip to Lake Clifton - home to largest lake-bound thrombolite reef in the Southern Hemisphere.

ARTSACTIVE THINK-TANK
Artsactive is the international network of organisations involved in running artists' programs in science and industry research labs. There are two Australian members: SymbioticA, an artistic laboratory dedicated to the research, learning and critique of life sciences, located at the School of Anatomy & Human Biology, The University of Western Australia; and the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT), which works with science, industry, academic and government partners to deliver programs of support to media artists. Artsactive is supported by DISONANCIAS and the the Basque Government (Industry Department), Spain.

WAY TO GO: THE IMPACT OF PROCESS ON ARTISTS’ RESIDENCIES IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH SETTINGS
The International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) was initiated in 1988 and is the world's premier media arts event for the critical discussion and showcase of creative productions applying new technologies in interactive and digital media. Held biannually in various cities throughout the world, this migratory event is being held in Asia for the second time in its history in 2008.

Presented by Vicki Sowry, art research science Program Manager at the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT), this invited panel will be held from 2pm – 4pm, Saturday 26 July 2008 in the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, Singapore Management University.

The panel will feature members of the Artsactive network alongside individuals with substantial experience in delivering interdisciplinary residency programs. Confirmed panellists include; Oron Catts (SymbioticA, Australia), Marta de Menezes (Ectopia, Portugal), Anne Kienhuis (Arts & Genomics Center, Netherlands), Denisa Kera (Transgenesis, Czech Republic), Irene Hediger (Artists in Labs, Switzerland) and Lonce Wyse (ISEA08 AIR program, Singapore).

The panel will present the findings of the Artsactive think-tank being held in Perth, Western Australia immediately prior to ISEA2008. The think-tank, hosted by SymbioticA, will interrogate the issues impacting upon the success and sustainability of art/science residency programs now and into the future, including: residency models and methodologies, contracting, IP and copyright, partnerships and ethics.

ANAT: www.anat.org.au
Artsactive: www.artsactive.net 
SymbioticA: www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au
ISEA: www.isea2008singapore.org/