28 August 2013
Crawl round town to reveal creativity in unexpected places
Photo opportunity: 6.30pm on Friday, 30th August at Tin Roof Arts Collective, Bellfield Street, Dundee. Revellers will be gathering ahead of the art crawl.
Flats, back lanes and other equally unlikely locations across Dundee are to be converted into galleries and performance spaces for an 18-30-style "art crawl" taking place in the city this week.
The Crawl Inclusive Performative Art Tour Through Dundee takes place on the evening of Friday, 30th August as part of the inaugural Print Festival Scotland (PFS). The crawl starts at the Tin Roof Social Club, a mock "clubbie" designed as a location where artists, visitors and members of the public can socialise for the duration of PFS.
Venues for the crawl are closely guarded secrets, but organiser Catrin Jeans says exhibitions and performances will be held in places not normally associated with the arts. It was Catrin's idea to turn tables on booze-soaked, holiday bar tours and adopt the persona of a holiday rep and has since led art crawls round Dundee and Liverpool that encourage participants get intoxicated on sculpture, photography, film and dance while enjoying a sociable drink or two at the pop-up venues.
More than 30 artists who are either Dundee-based or who studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) will be taking part in the art crawl. Catrin will be dressed up in character for the night and, with the aid of a whistle, loudhailer and stopwatch, will keep the revellers motivated and on time for all the stops on the tour.
She explained, "I can't reveal too many details about Crawl Inclusive, as it is a surprise, but I can reveal that it will take place in flats, galleries and some really random places! People can follow us either physically or on Twitter, and there will be live updates from locations to show what's happening at them.
"The first art crawl happened in March last year as we wanted to showcase the talent that exists and has emerged from Dundee and provide opportunities for artists to exhibit or perform to an audience.
"We were also working with no budget, so decided to take matters into our own hands and turn flats into temporary galleries and back lanes into performance spaces. Most of the artists have taken a DIY approach and have curated or devised an exhibition, performance or other work to take place at every stop.
"The first event was such a success that we wanted to show off again to both the home crowd and the international audience who will be attending Print Festival Scotland events. As an artist I aim to provide a service within social situations. That service is to provide entertainment through the creation of art events that are hosted by me in various roles and guises.
"The events are informed by tabloid and mainstream culture, devised as a tool to encourage interaction, conversation and participation. For me, the branding and identity of the club rep and package holiday is easily identifiable to people, and very prevalent within mainstream culture.
"By using this aesthetic for an art event means it is more accessible and easy for people to get involved. Also, it's fun - the night is about having a laugh and enjoying yourself."
PFS accompanies Impact 8, the world's largest and most prestigious printmaking conference which the University is hosting later this month. Examples of numerous types of printmaking techniques are showcased in the exhibition, including etchings, screenprints, lithographs, mezzotints, monoprints and the latest digital printing technology.
The Tin Roof Social Club is an art project inspired by traditional Scottish pubs and social clubs created by Catrin and her fellow Dundee-based artist Fraser MacDonald. Thirsty art-lovers attending the PFS events will be able to put the world to rights at this unique venue created especially for the occasion.
Based at the Tin Roof Arts Collective in Bellfield Street, the "clubbie" is intended to act as a hub for the duration of the festival providing tea and coffee, daily newspapers and snacks for daytime visitors, with evening patrons will enjoy a fully licensed bar and pool, darts, dominoes and other competitions.
Notes to editors:
Print Festival Scotland
Print Festival Scotland is the nation's largest ever celebration of print and printmaking. It has been organised to coincide with IMPACT 8, the world's most prestigious printmaking conference, which is being hosted by the University of Dundee in conjunction with partner organisations.
Forty events will be held in Dundee and at venues across Scotland from August 23rd to September 1st 2013. Print Festival Scotland is a celebration of interdisciplinarity and exploration through the medium of print brought to the nation by partners including:
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
The University of Dundee
Abertay University
Dundee City Council
Dundee Contemporary Arts
V& A at Dundee
DC Thomson & Co Ltd
The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum
Scottish Print Network
The full programme for IMPACT 8 and Print Festival Scotland can be found at www.conf.dundee.ac.uk/impact8/exhibitions
UK City of Culture 2017 bid
Dundee is bidding to become the UK City of Culture in 2017. The first stage of the bid was submitted in April and it was announced in June that Dundee had been shortlisted, along with Hull, Leicester and Swansea.
Dundee's strengths in the arts and creative industries is underlined by the fact that there were 2,414,362 attendances recorded at cultural venues in the city last year. This will be enhanced by the V& A at Dundee, which will not only be the iconic centrepiece of the regenerated waterfront but will take Dundee into a global circuit of cultural destinations, generating 300,000 visits per year and creating 200 jobs.
Dundee is a creative city with a huge amount to offer and designation as UK City of Culture would provide a perfect stage to do it on at national and international levels.
More information about the bid and how you can play your part in supporting it can be found at www.wedundee.com
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
