Bloomberg ON: 2 Year Artist Professional Development & Schools Programme

2011 – 2012

SPACE and Bloomberg have formed a unique, 2 year programme called Bloomberg ON. The aim is to enhance SPACE’s artists’ professional development and schools programme and to support the opening of a new SPACE run, Olympic edge cultural venue, The White Building.

Bloomberg ON is focussing on supporting emerging practice and work around the intersection of art, technology and sustainability. This ties in with the theme of The White Building, opening in late Spring 2012, where key elements of the programme will take place.

The programme includes:

Neu! – the exhibition programme for emerging artists, giving them a first, significant show in London. Bloomberg ON supports 4 Neu! exhibitions each year with supporting programmes.

Artist Residencies – each year 2 international artists will be resident at The White Building, alongside 6 London / local artists. Each artist will develop practice around a theme focussed on the tensions between art, technology and ecology.

Haymerle Studio Bursaries – each year, 2 graduate artists are supported with free studios in our Haymerle Road building in Peckham. We are working in partnership with the South London Gallery for one studio, to offer an exhibition and residential space.

People Power – this is an artist led programme with Tower Hamlets and Hackney secondary schools. The lead artist will work with a group of pupils, using creative approaches to engage them with art, technology and sustainability. Pupils will bring these themes together to make their own objects, for instance wind powered art works, biofuel powered boats, solar powered robots and more.

The White Building – key elements of the programme will take place at this new cultural cen- tre, focussed on practice at the intersection of art, technology and sustainability. Beside the Olympic Park, at Hackney Wick, with The Legacy Company as the key stakeholder, it will operate for up to 10 years. It aims to help anchor the creative focus of the area and provide a place to engage with the wider community in the area. It will house a mix of studios for tenants with practice relating to the theme of the building, a residency studio for the Permacultures and schools programme, a cafe and a hires and event space on the top floor, with direct views of the Olympic stadium. Bloomberg’s support has enabled SPACE to deliver its programme at the building, for the first two years.

Jemma Read from Bloomberg said “We’re delighted that our collaboration with SPACE will inspire artists and audiences to engage in new ways through exciting new technology. Building on our long term commitment to innovation and access in the arts, we are proud to support this unique initiative and SPACE’s commitment to local and international artists and communities.”

SPACE CEO, Anna Harding said: “Bloomberg have been a great supporter of SPACE for the last few years. This programme is recognition of the work that SPACE does and provides an exciting new platform to showcase the work of many more artists.”

• The exhibition and bursary programme started in September 2011.
• The residencies and school projects are starting in 2012.
• The White Building is due to open in late Spring 2012.
• The launch programme for the building will take place in mid July 2012

For images and further information please contact: Hannah Barton at:hannahjane@spacestudios.org.uk // 020 8525 4331

Download the full press release here.