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