Memorandum 52
Submission from the Arts Catalyst
1. SUMMARY OF
MAIN POINTS
1.1 The Arts Catalyst is a contemporary
arts commissioning organisation based in the UK with an international
profile and programme, funded by the Arts Council of England to
develop artistic activities and events relating to science and
technology. The Arts Catalyst has been investigating space research
in pioneering artistic projects since 1997 and has organised many
art exhibitions, events and education projects on this theme.
In 2005, The Arts Catalyst was commissioned by the European Space
Agency to lead a study into cultural utilisation of the International
Space Station.
1.2 The Arts Catalyst recommends to the
Committee that increasing public awareness and involvement should
be an intrinsic part of the UK's space policy and that artistic
and cultural activities relating to space are an important way
to strengthen public engagement.
1.3 It has been The Arts Catalyst's experience
in organising art-science exhibitions and events that the theme
of space has wide and enduring appeal to the general public. Above
all, the theme of human spaceflight has been a key interest factor
in engaging people with our work.
1.4 The response of teenagers and children
in particular to the idea of space—and particularly human
space exploration—is consistently one of enormous enthusiasm.
1.5 We recommend that the UK reconsider
its position in relation to human spaceflight, given that it would
provide enormous inspiration and incentive to a new generation
of children to study science and technology.
2. BRIEF INTRODUCTION
TO THE
ARTS CATALYST
2.1 The Arts Catalyst, the science-art agency,
is a contemporary arts commissioning organisation based in the
UK with an international profile and programme. The Arts Catalyst
has a 13-year proven track record in making connections between
new art movements and science in ways that have been shown to
appeal both to the arts world and to a wide public audience, and
funded by the Arts Council of England precisely to develop artistic
activities and events relating to science and technology.
2.2 The Arts Catalyst has an extensive educational
programme, devising and running projects that explore scientific
concepts and issues through the arts. We work with primary and
secondary schools, mainstream and special schools, colleges and
organisations outside the formal education sector.
3. FACTUAL INFORMATION
WE WOULD
LIKE THE
COMMITTEE TO
BE AWARE
OF AND
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS
WE WOULD
LIKE THE
COMMITTEE TO
CONSIDER INCLUDING
IN ITS
REPORT
3.1 The Arts Catalyst's Space Programme
3.1.1 The Arts Catalyst has been investigating
space research in pioneering artistic projects since 1997. We
currently hold a contract from the European Space Agency to develop
a cultural policy for the International Space Station. The Arts
Catalyst has organised zero gravity flights for artists and scientists
with the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, set up artists' residencies
in space research facilities, enabled projects that interface
with astrophysics research, and facilitated both hi- and low-tech
aeronautics and space projects, using rockets, meteorological
balloons and unmanned surveillance airplanes.
3.1.2 Involving culture in space research
and exploration activities is an innovative way of directly sharing
the space endeavour, not only with artists but with the wider
public through the experience of art. Contemporary artists create
new images and visions that help us to form our perception of
the world. They provide a different perspective from that within
the space community.
3.1.3 We believe that the arts world has
created an enormous amount of public exposure and discussion of
current issues in space exploration.
3.1.4 The European Space Agency appears
to appreciate the contribution that the cultural community can
make in commissioning our study for them into cultural utilisation
of the International Space Station.
3.1.5 We recommend that increasing public
awareness and involvement should be an intrinsic part of the UK's
space policy and that artistic and cultural activities relating
to space are an important way to strengthen public engagement.
3.2 Interest in Space among the General Public
3.2.1 The Arts Catalyst's many exhibitions
and events in this area during the last eight years include the
recent major exhibition and event Space Soon—Art &
Human Spaceflight in September 2006 at the newly reopened
Roundhouse in Camden, North London. In the last few years, other
Arts Catalyst space-related events include Simon Faithfull's Escape
Vehicle No 6, which launched a chair to the edge of space,
Flow Motion's Astro Black Morphologies, a dialogue between
astronomy and electronic "dub" music, and the Artists'
Airshow, a day of art and flying which attracted a wide family
audience to the now-deserted Farnborough Royal Aeronautical Workshops,
3.2.1 It has been our experience organising
art-science exhibitions and events, that the theme of space has
wide and enduring appeal to the general public. Our "space"
programme has continued to expand, responding to the enthusiasm
and interest from our audiences and participants. Above all, the
theme of human spaceflight has been a key interest factor in engaging
people with our work.
3.3 Interest in Space among School Pupils
3.3.1 The Arts Catalyst's education programme
currently includes a major project with artist Kate Tierney working
with Mulberry School for Girls (secondary school), Tower Hamlets,
London to make a time-line to show the 13.7 billion year history
of the universe along a 100 metre corridor. Recently, we organised
the Near Earth project, a week of workshops for young people (14-19
years) at the Roundhouse in London to explore space through digital
photography, animation, sound and music, drama and the performing
arts. For three years, Arts Catalyst ran the Zero Gravity programme
in London primary schools exploring the theme of gravity and zero
gravity through dance, science and art.
3.3.2 The response of teenagers and children
in particular to the idea of space—and much of the time
they assume this to mean or predominantly include human space
exploration—is consistently one of enormous enthusiasm,
propelling them to ask how they might find out more and begging
their teachers to "do more space stuff" at school.
3.3.3 Many pupils have said to us that space
is the only area of the science curriculum that interests and
engages them, appealing to their imagination and sense of awe
and wonder, in a way that the rest of their science lessons leave
them relatively cold.
3.3.4 Of course, the one question we are
asked above all others by school pupils is: "What do I need
to do to be an astronaut?"
3.3.5 It is beyond all frustration to have
to answer: "Well, to have or to acquire a nationality other
than British would be your essential starting point", rather
than to be able to pick up on their natural enthusiasm and point
them to the advantages of studying science, technology and design,
not to mention business studies!
3.3.6 It is clear, from our experience of
organising space-related education projects in schools over the
last seven years, that the theme of space, particularly human
spaceflight, acts as a real incentive to children and young people
to study science and technology. It is also clear that Britain's
lack of involvement in human spaceflight acts as a disincentive.
3.3.7 We recommend that the UK reconsider
its position in relation to human spaceflight, given that it would
provide enormous inspiration and incentive to a new generation
of children to study science and technology.
3.4 Public Awareness of British Policy relating
to Human Spaceflight
3.4.1 It is interesting to note that it
is little known among the general public that Britain does not
participate in the international human spaceflight endeavour.
When we point this out to audiences, they are generally astonished
and often very disappointed.
October 2006
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