FreqOUT! at FUSE

FreqOUT! will be screening a selection of films made by young people at FUSE on the 25th July. FreqOUT! is delighted to be chosen to exhibit alongside the British Film Institute (BFI), The Serpentine Gallery and The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). FreqOUT! will also be delivering creative digital workshops at the event!

You can find out more about FUSE here.

FreqOUT! Team Update

FreqOUT! Project Manager Jenny Irish is taking a 6 month sabbatical leave at the end of May to continue her community development work through international volunteering opportunities in Sierra Leone and South East Asia. Natasha Armstrong will head up the project moving forward. Natasha is an experienced Project Manager and Educator with a wealth of experience in the sector, joining us from an LDA funded employability project for post 16 learners at risk of becoming NEET. The project used education theatre workshops to develop the skills needed for work and life. Welcome onboard Natasha!

Congratulations to 100 Community Members!

FreqOUT! celebrated this month the achievements of over 100 community members on its Interactivity project. 36 participants between 16 - 82 took part intensively on the project across Westminster, from Church Street, Queens Park and Pimlico. They produced films, digital photographs and sounds to investigate the history of their local area. The project ran in partnership with Westminster City Archives where the groups researched material to digitse for their projects. You can view the final online work here.....

Queens Park Youth Group

Church Street Intergenerational Group

Pimlico Intergenerational Group

FreqOUT! Youth Film Screened at the Odeon

One of FreqOUT!'s participants who took part in the Firstlight funded programme in 2008, has had their film chosen to be screened in the 2010 Firstlight Film Awards, which will take place at the Odeon Leicester Square on the 2nd of March. Kieran's produced his film when he was living at the Centrepoint hostel in Soho.

Small Screens Need Big Ideas: Dogma Mobile Festival

This week FreqOUT! recommends…
Dogma Mobile International Film Festival is a new film festival that explores filmmaking on the mobile phone.
The festival is an ongoing online event and submitted films must have a specific identified topic.
The festival team inspires users by offering tips and tricks! There are also interviews with film professionals and experts, such as Aryan Kaganof, a South African filmmaker and artist, who made the world’s first feature film realised entirely on mobile phone (see Kaganof's webpage for more information) and Jens Arentzen, a Danish filmmaker and actor. (watch Jens Arentzen's Dogma Mobile film)

Poverty and Participation in the Media

FreqOUT! recently attended an evaluation event delivered by Spectacle.
Poverty and Participation analysed how the media treats poverty and those affected by it.
The project questioned what type of stigmatisation and stereotyping does the media create and does it influence, bridge or increase the divide.
The project looked at the representation of poverty in programmes such as ‘Rich Kid, Poor Kid’, ‘The Tower’ and ‘The Secret Millionaire’, with interesting feedback from the communities involved in the making of the programmes.

You can review the films on the Spectacle blog, where the projects are analysed further.

Are you virtual emotional?

FreqOUT! recommends SCIRIA, who are an interdisciplinary collaborative group of arts and science researchers.
The ‘Virtual eMotions’ project at SCIRIA investigates human facial expressions in order to create a visual platform to scale the expressions from happiness to sadness. The development of the project is connected with evolutionary aspects of human emotions. The practical work includes video and installation, print technology, visualisation of digital 3D work, animation, computer-mediated art, sound works and drawings.

If you are interested in how our emotions can be digitalised, you can find more information about the project here.

FreqOUT! Street View

As part of the Summer Uni FreqOUT! project, young people created mini podcasts and vodcasts of their local area. Some interviewed local community members on how they were fairing up during the credit crunch, whilst some explored what it was like to be famous and followed by the paparazzi!

You can view the google map complete with creative work here

NESTA Case Study

FreqOUT! has recently been included as case study in a recent pulication, funded by NESTA. Social by Social explores how new technologies are changing the way we engage communities, run companies, deliver public services, participate in government and campaign for change.
You can read the case study here

FreqOUT! Recommends…Social Innovation Camp

Social Innovation Camp is an experiment in creating social innovations for the digital age.
The web and related technologies hold huge potential to change some pretty fundamental stuff. Discovering what people really need, meeting people who’ve had personal experience of something they’d like to change and building the technology that can help - that's what Social Innovation Camp (SIC) is all about.
SIC are looking for the best ideas that use the web to change something that matters.
Through unusual, creative events SIC bring together talented software developers and designers with social innovators to build effective web-based solutions to real social problems. By bringing together these two groups – technology and need – SIC are creating a community of practice where people can experiment, discover, prototype and become advocates for using social technology as a driver of positive social change.
Visit http://www.sicamp.org/ for more information about the project.

Explore Planet Science

This week the FreqOUT! team have come across this site....
http://www.planet-science.com/
The site is run by the Future Innovators Team at NESTA and offers a variety of resources, ranging from games and feature articles to career information. The keywords here: enjoy the science, the technology and the innovation.
You can build your own indestructible planet, take part in a battle for planet science or investigate music-science by mixing and sampling.
You can be surprised by opening the magic box - there are top tricks that look like magic, but are in fact science; or try some science experiments at home.

A careers profile search is also a useful tool - the Planet Science database of scientists offers many opportunities such as the science library, full with science sites, news in science and technology; scientific organisations and museums.

We recommend you check this out for yourselves!

Summer Uni 09 Launched!

FreqOUT! has launched its Summer Uni programme this week. 11 young people are working alongside new media artist Jonathan Hall on the 'StreetView' project. The group is working to make short films, record interviews and take pictures of the local area in attempt to challenge Google's 'StreetView' application. We are sure theirs will be much better!

Transitions Film @ Young Co-operative Film-Makers

'Magic Number 13'n'23' has been selected for the Young Co-operative Film-Makers Festival in October. The short film made by 4 young people on the FreqOUT! 'Transitions' programme was produced by artist Rob Pyecroft Rainbow, formerly of The Light Surgeons.

The young people will travel to Bradford where they will watch their film along with an audience of 300!

Find out more about the Young Co-operative Film-Makers Festival here.

FreqOUT! on the Community Channel

FreqOUT! has been chosen to feature in the Meet the Future, a month of programmes celebrating the talents and creativity of young people up and down the country. 'From the Inside' was made with young people from Centrepoint as part of the First light funded programme in 2008.

Programmes showcase the work of young people, giving the most marginalised a platform to get their voices heard and understood.

This special month ties in with SHINE Week, 6 – 10 July 2009, a national campaign to celebrate the talent of all young people.

FreqOUT! Footie Crazy

Young people from the FreqOUT! project got to meet their hero Ray Parlour, who played for Arsenal. The group played a football match at the David Beckham Academy as part of the Private Equity Fundraiser. The trip was a thank you to the group who had worked incredibly hard on the project in the last year!

Make Your Mark with FreqOUT!

FreqOUT! Project Manager Jenny Irish is featured on the Make Your Mark Website following FreqOUT!'s success at the Catalyst Awards last July. For more information on Make Your Mark and to read Jenny's profile visit this link. Following on from this article Jenny's image will be used in a new artwork displayed at a central London student residence. The piece is based on inspirational Londoners and created by a Central Saint Martin's Fine Art student.

FreqOUT! is Twittering!

FreqOUT! has started to Twitter! keep up to date with the most recent updates on the project by becoming a follower!

Amy Robins in Conversation

Former FreqOUT! Project Manager Amy Robins has written an article for Co-Pilot.net a shared online resource for peopel working at the intersection of art, technology and social change. You can read the full article here. The article titled 'Working with funders from the commercial sector' gives an insight into securing corporate partners for charity projects.

NESTA Award

FreqOUT! is being supported by NESTA to consolidate research into the benefits of using social technologies to engage socially excluded young people. FreqOUT! will be comissioning the research across the next 2 months. The investment by NESTA will build the capacity of the FreqOUT! project to extend its services to more young people.

FreqOUT! Dazed & Confused

FreqOUT! is covered by leading arts/fashion/music magazine's online 'DAZED DIGITAL.COM' You can read the full article here.

If you are a student and would like to get involved with the FreqOUT! project, London, please e-mail your CV and a covering letter outlining your experiences to Project Manager Jenny Irish at jirish@cwh.org.uk.

FreqOUT! Showcase at the London Coliseum

An audience of 80 visited the FreqOUT! showcase at the London Coliseum to celebrate the achievements of the project over the last 3 years. The night was also a chance to watch 2 films made by young people from the Queens Park New Media Centre and Centrepoint. Both groups made their films under the professional guidance of MediaShed artists and film makers and were on hand to answer questions from event guests. The film project was funded by First Light Movies and Simon Marshall, Senior Programme Manager at First Light spoke about the scheme. Other guest speakers included Vicki Costello, Development Manager from NESTA, Donatella Grillandi, Area Business Manager from Centrepoint and Louisa Benjamin, Centrepoint Youth Worker. Vital Regeneration Chair of Trustees, David Bowler was delighted to introduce the event.

FreqOUT! hits local news

This week young people's achievements were recognised by the Paddington, Marylebone and Pimlico Mercury. They have been working on the 'Video Sniffin' project with artists from MediaShed to make a film using wireless cameras. The project is supported by the Lottery through the UK Film Council's First Light Movies initiative. The film will be screened at Vital Regeneration's Awards Ceremony on the 27th of November at the Cockpit Theatre.

FreqOUT! visits the RSA

FreqOUT! visited the RSA this week to listen to a debate surrounding how the advent of technology has opened up the potential for placing young people at risk. Speakers included award-winning teacher and star of “The Unteachables” Phil Beadle, international internet consultant on child safety John Carr; media literacy consultant, Cary Bazalgette; and Sarah Dyer, director of new media, Beatbullying. They asked; What structures can we put in place to reduce the risks and how do we draw the line between ensuring protection and allowing free access? And what is the role of government, regulatory bodies, parents and teachers? An interesting and lively debate ensued and you can listen to the comments here.

Reaching Excluded Communities Successfully

The final showcase of 'Being Connected' at the Science Museum was truly inspirational! 13 young women from the London Tigers gave a musical presentation using their 'singing sculptures' made with artists from the 'Scrap yard challenge'. 50 members of the Bangladeshi community supported the young people on the night, many having never been to the Science Museum previously. One participant commented, "At first I thought hmm.. Science.. that is not for me, I don’t want to do it, it sounds boring! But then Jenny and Ruth showed us films and took us to the Museum to see the Listening Post and I thought it was amazing! I had never seen anything like it before and wanted to join in the project!"

Get Yourself Connected

During the last week of October 2008, 10 young students from London Tigers will work alongside professional artists at the Science Museum in a creative exploration of how contemporary digital technologies transform the way see and understand our culture.

Drawing the inspiration from Listening Post, an acclaimed artwork by Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin, the week of activities will culminate in a final celebration that will show case much of the creative work that will be produced.

The artists that will be involved are Graham Peet, Furtherfield, MediaShed, Johan-Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki.

FreqOUT! visits Dana Centre

FreqOUT! visited the Dana Centre this week to debate 'Perverting Technologies'. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, creator of the installation Under Scan, talked about his work, which opens in Trafalgar Square in November. Project Manager Jenny Irish has also previously worked as a visualisation designer for 'Greyworld' who also talked at the event. 'Greyworlds' Andrew Shoben captured the crowd with his 'art for all' approach and subsequent discussions about community consultation in public art.

The Big GPS Draw!

FreqOUT! will be running it’s own workshop focusing on GPS drawing. Young People will work with Jeremy Wood to make GPS drawings of the local area. Using the latest GPS receivers this is an innovative project that pushes the boundaries of drawing in the digital age.

FreqOUT! Partners with the National Portrait Gallery

FreqOUT! is working in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. A three day workshop entitled 50 Pieces of Personal Info will run daily from 29 - 31st October, 11.00 - 16.00.

Using digital equipment, artists will construct their own multiple data portraits, featuring some of the personal information required for the forthcoming ID cards. The course is inspired by the Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990-2005 exhibition and led by artists Melissa Bliss and Miranda Lopatkin. A screening of everyone's work will be held on Friday 31st October at 17.00.

Video Sniffin with Media Shed

Artist collective Media Shed will be working with 20 FreqOUT! young people at the Queens Park New Media Centre to make films using CCTV footage. The young people will work with international artist collective Media Shed to devise films based on issues that interest them. The group will be discussing their projects at the Photographers Gallery on the 15th of November so come along and chat to them there!

My Movie - North Fulham NDC

5 young people from North Fulham worked with film maker Lucy Williams to make a short film about issues they felt were important to them. They interviewed members of the community in Normand Park to uncover what they felt could be improved in the area. The young people showcased their final films at the Brunswick Club and put added their film online.

Accolade for youth media initiative!

FreqOUT! has received coverage in Regeneration and Renewal magazine this month, adding to the wide coverage leveraged by the 'Catalyst Awards'. You can read the online article here. For more information on how you can volunteer with the FreqOUT! team contact Project Manager Jenny Irish on jirish@cwh.org.uk or call 02072452263.

FreqOUT! covered by the Society Guardian

The Wednesday 30th July issue of the Society Guardian covered news of the FreqOUT!'s 'Catalyst Award' win with the article also available here for online readers. The article outlines the power of social technologies when working with marginalised groups. A wide community of interest is developing in this innovative area, with interest from NESTA, BERR, the Cabinet Office, Unltd. and the Council on Social Action.

FreqOUT! covered by NESTA

This week the FreqOUT! project was covered in a press release issued by NESTA. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - a unique body with a mission to make the UK more innovative. NESTA invests in early-stage companies, inform and shape policy, and deliver practical programmes that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the future. You can view the press release here.

Westminster Summer University

This week FreqOUT! worked with young people recruited through Westminster's Summer Uni Scheme to create a digital record of their local area. 7 young people worked with lead artist Jonathan Hall to take photographs, video footage and record sounds around Queens Park.

Using only mobile phones and MP3 sound recorders the group created a fantastic online story of their local area using Google Earth.

There are still some places on the Summer Uni scheme- call Jenny on 020 7245 2263 for more information!

FreqOUT! wins Catalyst Award

FreqOUT! has been praised by the Prime Minister as it joined a list of winners at the inaugural UK Catalyst Awards this week. Vital Regeneration’s FreqOUT! project won the ‘Chalk & Cheese’ category for their groundbreaking technology projects which have worked with more than 400 young people in London who are disadvantaged.

Gordon Brown chatted with Vital Regeneration’s project team and beneficiaries before presenting the Catalyst Awards. Youth ambassadors for FreqOUT! explained to the Prime Minister how they use technologies such as GPS, PDAs, Web 2.0 and Bio-mapping to change society for the better and break the negative perceptions they often face. They illustrated how young people in Westminster worked with artist Christian Nold to investigate their perceptions of urban spaces using bio-mapping technologies. As a result, a report was presented to the local neighbourhood management team to inform plans for neighbourhood open spaces.

FreqOUT! Project Manager, Jenny Irish said, “winning a UK Catalyst Award is absolutely fantastic! This really rewards the efforts of the young people involved, who have got really involved and moved into areas such as market research, even setting up their own film companies. We are extremely proud to be recognised as a pioneer in the world of social technology and innovation. We are excited about the new relationships and opportunities that will arise as a result of winning.”

You can view photos from 'Make Your Mark' at the event here.

CATALYST AWARDS

The UK Catalyst Awards recognise those who use technology to make a positive difference to the world around them. Our FreqOUT! project has been working since 2005 to provide young people with access to film and new media technologies, inspiring their ambition and increasing their employability.
Vital is nominated for the UK Catalyst 'Chalk & Cheese Award' which rewards work that brings two different groups of people together. One of the key successes of FreqOUT! has been the empowerment felt by our young people through access to cutting-edge technology, expert artists and innovative ideas.

Award winners will be announced on 24 July 2008.

Catalyst Award Nominee

Exploding Narrative!

FreqOUT! visited the ICA to watch 5 finalists pitch their ideas for mscape location based games, stories and educational journeys. They are experienced on GPS-enabled PDAs and based on easy to use software developed by HP Labs. The finalists pitched their ideas to an audience who gave their feedback with the aim of improving the presentations for the final competition. You can watch the final videos here and vote for your favourite ideas!

http://www.just-b.com/btween/hp-labs

Mobile History Walk Pilot Phase Complete

Artist and previous FreqOUT! intern Daniela Boraschi led members of the FreqOUT! Steering Group, Frank Longworth (Capgemini) and Charlotte Fergusson (Westminster Arts Service) around Victoria to mark the completion of the pilot testing phase of the Mobile History Project. The group listened to sounds, narratives and viewed imagery generated from the Westminster Archives; triggered at specific points on the PDA. Mscape software allowed the participants to become immersed in the history of the area whilst walking around the contemporary urban landscape. FreqOUT! is now in the final development stage before rolling the project out to local young people.

Westminster Arts Strategy - FreqOUT! a case study

The FreqOUT! project has been included as a case study in the Westminster Arts Strategy which was launched at the London Transport Museum. Photographs taken by Jake Novak as part of the Perceptual Landscapes project were showcased alongside images from the Photographers Gallery in the theatre foyer. You can download a copy of the strategy here.

FreqOUT! at the Royal College of Art

Jenny Irish presented the FreqOUT! project as part of the Design Interactions practitioner lecture series, alongside Steering Group Chair, Julie Freeman. Jenny is currently recruiting artists to collaborate with on FreqOUT! projects in the future. If you are an arist with an idea you would like to work on with the FreqOUT! team please contact Project Manager Jenny Irish at jirish@cwh.org.uk for consideration.