[spectre] FWD: Electrohype throws in the towel

[Chris Byrne]

Marius,

It does seem strange that the city of Malmö choose not to invest 
further in the Electrohype event, but maybe they have other priorities. 
I don't know enough about the local context there to comment 
meaningfully.

I think both Zeljko and myself attempted to highlight that this issue 
is quite widespread within the media arts. My point was that, perhaps 
unfortunately for us all, media arts organisations seem to have to make 
more arguments, and try harder to put a case to funders than 
organisations active in more established artforms. Occasionally 
compromises are needed to secure regular funding from public sources, 
meaning that organisations have to change their activities or aims. For 
some, this is acceptable; for others it's not. Some organisations or 
projects can't survive without public funding, while others prosper.

I don't know that there are easy solutions to these issues. But we can 
look for successful organisational models, maybe from sectors outside 
the media arts, and see if these are useful for our area of practice.

Best

Chris

On 20 Jan 2005, at 22:06, Marius Watz wrote:

> chris,
>
> you and zeljko raise some interesting points.
>
>> The question is thrown back at media arts practitioners and 
>> promoters: what is so important or essential about what we do that 
>> the State should fund it?
>
> this is an essential question, and one I find myself constantly 
> wondering about.
>
> while "art as knowledge production" is a valid activity, it is not a 
> given that society will or should fund it. hence much of the more 
> obscure or theoretical media art will find it hard to find backers in 
> the mainstream culture establishment. I would also question whether 
> art should be funded just because it is media art.
>
> however, the irony with Electrohype is that their shows have 
> consistently been successful in engaging a broader audience, with the 
> latest biennal as a case in point. having had good reviews and high 
> visitor numbers it should be an activity easily embracable by the 
> funding bodies exactly because it does reach a broad audience.
>
> for info on the exhibition, see:
> http://www.electrohype.org/electrohype2004/index.html
>
> it should be mentioned that as a participant in the show I may be 
> biased, but the reviews and visitor numbers should speak for 
> themselves.
>
>
> marius watz
> www.unlekker.net
>
>
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