| Medway Superstars is a project by 51zero showcasing and mapping the creative talents of artists located/based across Medway – from those in the early stages of their careers, to those who are internationally renowned.
This is STAGE 1 in the development of this ambitious project advocating the value of the artist’s role in local urban and cultural regeneration. This will be delivered in three stages (Between 2023 – 2030). The aim is to represent all of Medway’s artists by 2030 (end year of the present Culture Strategy, that was written collaboratively and led by Creative Medway). We will also create a tool for future artists to be included in the map post 2030.
The project is about Medway artists. By ‘Medway artists’ we mean anyone who practises an art form as their career and has a strong connection with the area. They should have contributed to or currently be contributing to Medway’s cultural landscape with their art practice. This includes those in the early stages of their careers to those who are internationally renowned. This can be in any medium; visual arts, music, digital arts, theatre, dance, poetry, writing, sculpture, (and more!), whether that’s two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or digital media.
STAGE 1 – what has happened so far
For Stage 1, we were looking to select 10 submissions, however, the aim of the full project is to represent all of Medway’s artists, therefore, submissions that were not selected for STAGE 1 will be considered in STAGE 2 and 3.
We worked with the selected artists to capture the essence of who they are and what they do. 51zero will produce a filmed portrait of each of the ten selected artists, as well as a film of edited portraits bringing the individual films together.
Each selected artist is invited to an informal discussion with the lead artist about how their film will be shaped.The process is an artistic one. Interviews are both formal and playful, expressing the artists’ relationship with the place they live/work, and their ambition for culture in Medway over the next 10 years.
Each film will be between five to ten minutes final length and will be filmed by a two person crew (lead artist and a DOP) at the sites chosen by each artist, within the five Medway towns including the Old High Street INTRA.
We envision that each selected artist’s participation will take a total of one day, divided into two half days for informal discussion and filming.
Each participating artist will receive a digital copy of their interview to use for their own digital platforms and publicity.
SELECTION
An advisory panel formed of local and external practitioners across the creative sector supports 51zero in the selection of the artists. Decisions are based on artistic practice and reflect local diversity, as well as geographic spread across Medway. The selection of applicants aims for inclusivity with a view to curating a piece for Stage 1, that is representative of the ambition for the planned full project.
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