(2008) Body & Economy

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The Network Report for Cultural Olympiad in the North West November 2008

Curated by Dr Andy Miah, University of the West of Scotland Fellow, FACT, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, Liverpool

Initial ideas from Debbi Lander on B&E strand

This document arises from an Open Forum for a network of interested parties within the North West on the Body & Economy strand of the Cultural Olympiad for the Northwest.

The Forum was held in July 2008 in Liverpool. It was co‐hosted by Culture Northwest and FACT with financial support from the Legacy Trust UK. Report elements enabled by http://www.wordle.net/

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TABLE OF CONTENTS VISION FROM NW CREATIVE PROGRAMMER PROGRAMME OUTLINE KEY PROGRAMMING DIRECTIVES WHAT “BODY+ECONOMY” MEANS TO US PARTICIPANTS’ DISCUSSIONS CONCLUSIONS NEXT PHASE PARTICPANTS LIST

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VISION FROM NW CREATIVE PROGRAMMER | DEBBI LANDER

Initial programming thoughts broadly describe the areas of interest that apply to the B&E strand.

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PROGRAMME OUTLINE Body and Economy is one of the three programme strands of the Cultural Olympiad in the Northwest.

This programme strand explores our bodies and their relationship between biology, technology and the emerging economy of human enhancement. The network created for this strand met in July 2008 to define the framework for this theme within the context of the Olympics, elite sports and new media. It considered such questions as: • How are technological cultures redefining what it means to be human?

• What is the contribution of elite sports and new media to this redefinition?

• With human enhancement being one of the big themes of the 21st Century, what do we mean by the values of fair play, respect and excellence?

The Forum explored opportunities for regional engagement and collaboration with regard to developing the Cultural Olympiad programme in the Northwest. Key local development questions included: • What relevant regional practice is taking place that is distinctive to the region and of national/international significance to the theme?

• How can 2012 be harnessed to develop enduring cross sector and inter disciplinary collaborations?

• Which public agendas call for cultural commentary and attention through the Cultural Olympiad in the Northwest?

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KEY PROGRAMMING DIRECTIVES

• Gather information to assist the programming of relevant content.

• Provide clarity to regional cultural agencies on programming.

• Establish the theme’s scope– e.g. from science to new media, or interdisciplinary, guidelines for programming.

• Establish a resource and community list: related projects in regions, relevant organizations, opportunities for partnerships (and development objectives).

• Identify relevant policy stakeholders who can assist in facilitating the Northwest’s vision for its contribution to the UK wide Cultural Olympiad.

• Develop a cross‐sector approach to programming that allows the fostering of partnerships within the community around the Cultural Olympiad programme in the Northwest.

• Assist community to understand formal mechanism of participation.

• Use the forum as a developmental tool.

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WHAT “BODY+ECONOMY” MEANS TO US

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WHAT BODY MEANS TO US..

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WHAT ECONOMY MEANS TO US...

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DISCUSSION SUMMARIES Participants at the workshop were asked to outline their ideas, priorities interests and concerns. The following pages outline their conversations, much of which are summarized in the preceding narrative. Participants were divided into 4 groups.

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GOLD

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RED

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SILVER

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GREEN

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CONCLUSIONS THE NORTH WEST BOASTS A THRIVING BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR, COMBINING EXCELLENCE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ACROSS HIGHER EDUCATION, TISSUE ENGINEERING AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. Delegates were offered presentations from Olympic expert Dr Andy Miah, Head of FACT Liverpool Professor Mike Stubbs, pioneering wheelchairbound artist Ann Whitehurst and film‐maker Adam Tallon, to engage with a wide range of ideas related to B&E. The BBC’s Head of Regional Programmes, Tamsin O’Brien was invited to chair the proceedings drawing the community into discussions about the role of the media in working with the Cultural Olympiad. Chief Executive for Culture Northwest Libby Raper introduced the speakers, also providing a context for discussions.

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The leading edge of sport culture needs to be addressed; where emerging and alternative sports, integrated with digital gaming technology expresses the future of sport for some young people.

Connecting the Olympics and Paralympics requires specific new attention; recognizing the important role of DaDa Fest in the Northwest. A discussion point was the advancement in prosthetic devices acting as a catalyst to the Olympics and Paralympics merging programmatically by 2012 and therefore what issues this raises in terms of greater visibility for the Paralympics, but potential loss of support for its Movement?

Connecting culture and science was identified as a key opportunity for the B&E strand, specifically in the context of regional distinctiveness i.e. drawing on and promoting our pioneering status – as the birthplace of the industrial revolution and the leaders in areas of biotechnology and therefore the biological revolution of our future.

Leveraging expertise in anti‐doping through the communications opportunities around the Cultural Olympiad. Partnerships could be formed to build a critical mass of attention around the harms of doping and the way that emerging technologies might change the capacity and values of anti‐doping. Linking to the wider social context of substance abuse, opportunities to programme and/or drive development of youth led projects using arts and culture to raise issues of substance abuse.

Drive debate around healthy living and elite sports, particularly the space for young people to engage with the Olympic values and the recognition of the significant health challenges in the Northwest.

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Dance was discussed as a toy, tool and container for expressing the identity of youth culture, sub cultures and also humanity. Dance in all its forms from contemporary to street connects art and sport and embraces both the competitive and co‐operative elements of body based cultural practices. It offers opportunities to debate image and identity, connect culture to the health agenda and to connect culture to the Olympic context through the art/sport link.

The Olympic Truce provides an integrated opportunity to develop partnerships towards, for instance, conflict resolution and development.

A step‐change in participation and engagement is central to discussion about the role of the arts and cultural sector in providing excellence of engagement opportunity and inclusion commitments through the Cultural Olympiad. It was noted that the Northwest is a diverse area, but that there is work to be done in integrating communities further, celebrating their differences through the common endeavour of the Cultural Olympiad. Understanding the process of involvement was critical to participants, particularly given the complex branding issues that surround the Games.

Knowledge transfer can be achieved through the Cultural Olympiad, by connecting regional research projects which relate to the Body and Economy and the using the Higher Education sector to facilitate debate around the theme.

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NEXT PHASE In February 2009, the Northwest will launch its cultural legacy project, WE PLAY and in March 2009 there will be a trailblazer for the major legacy programme linked to the Body and Economy Stand – the new Northwest festival of film and digital culture, AND (Abandon Normal Devices).

This will provide a further opportunity for stakeholder dialogues.

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PARTICIPANTS LIST

Max Alder University of Liverpool Philip Birtles Outside‐Centre Cathrina Bourke FACT Jackie Brennan Regional Public Health Group Mardi Brown Culture Northwest Tim Brunsden Artist Neil Chester John Moores University Heather Cochorane FACT Gareth Cross Sport England Gina Czarnecki artist sole trader John Devine North West Development Agency Laura Drane Laura Drane Associates Alayna Ellis North West Disability Arts Forum Abigail Gilmore Culture Northwest Maggie Graham Mencap Sam Gray Manchester Metropolitan University Chris Guthrie University of Salford Julia Hanna Liverpool Culture Company John Hunt University of Liverpool Rebecca Johnson young person, FACT Alison Jones NWDAF Maureen Jordon Arts Council of England North West Julia Keenan Arts Council England North West

Tom Kelly, young person, FACT Debbi Lander London 2012 Peter Mearns North West Development Agency Sam Meech Artist Andy Miah FACT/University of the West of Scotland Pascale Moyse moves Amy Mullen young person, FACT Tamsin O Brien BBC North West Bren O Callaghan BBC Live Sites Erinma Ochu Manchester Beacon for public engagement John O'Shea The Meat Licence Proposal Jim Parry Leeds University Steve Parry Ambassador, UK Sport Libby Raper Culture Northwest Mark Remarkable Performer Mike Stubbs FACT Josie Sykes Museum of Science and Industry Mary Tabbon Freelance Events producer Adam Tallon filmmaker Kate Taylor FACT Ann Whitehurst Outside‐Centre Brian Wynne Lancaster University

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