Call for submissions between the 5th - 31st March 2018. Thank you for your participation. Submissions are now closed. Winners will be informed by email the second week of April
Idea: We are becoming ever dependent on technology. We can hardly leave our smart devices aside for five minutes, but have we become any smarter ourselves? With opportunities to connect with anyone online, are we more compassionate and attentive to others? With so much flexibility and information at our fingertips, do we learn more and do we have more time for the things that truly matter?
Focus Inside is a unique pop-up event that explores our relationships with our devices and how they are changing us. It’s a space designed for people to stop and think about how we use technology and where it serves us well, and where it does not. We are looking for artistic works that explore this phenomenon. The project is supported by Westminster Council and Create Church Street Fund.
What you can submit: We welcome all kinds of artistic projects, but we have a special preference towards interactive ones. These can be art installations, photos, videos, or performances – anything that encourages people to stop and rethink their relationships with their devices so they can focus on themselves. In most cases, you will need to supply your own materials and deliver them on the day if you are a winner (we might have a projector/computer if you need to show a video).
When: Submit your proposal between the 5th and 31st of March at midnight.
Awards: Results are announced within one week of the deadline. Winners are to present their works on the 17th of April at the opening of the Focus Inside pop-up in Central London. The final winner will be determined based on a public vote by the end of the exhibition. All winners will receive memorable gifts from our sponsors, will be included in the event brochure, and will be featured on our webpage after the event has been finished.
Exhibition: Your work will be exhibited between the 17th and the 22nd of April in Central London at Focus Inside.
Who is eligible: Current full-time or part-time students, people working in design. Unfortunately, we cannot cover any travel costs if you are not based in London.
How to submit: Use the form below. Please, remember to include links to any pictures or videos. If your work has not yet been created, please attach a picture of a prototype. If you are submitting an idea for a performance, including pictures is not mandatory, but please include information about its duration and whether it has been shown anywhere else beforehand.
Our jury
Jury Tim Murray-Browneis an artist and creative coder based in London. He works with code, sound, graphics and interactive technology to create immersive spaces for interactive installations and live performance. His research examines interactive art — computer-driven works that change in response to the behaviour of their audience, focusing on physical interaction with the body. Marina Shtager is an internationally established art consultant, curator, and gallerist. Prior to moving to London in 2014 Marina was the State Mariinsky Theatre spokes women and the Managing Director of the Lazarev Gallery for over 8 years, during which time it became the largest and most prestigious contemporary art gallery in St Petersburg.
Katerina Barabouti is an award-winning artist, performer, and musician, who also teaches creativity and art & performance technologies (voice & body). Honoured with the HELMEPA/UNER-UNESCO and the Russian Art-Critics Federation distinctions. Katerina has been participating in international biennales and art festivals and many of her artworks belong to private collections around the world. She was Member of Board and Chief Curator of the International Comics Festival of Athens for 11 consecutive years.
Anna Radchenkois an award-winning director and multidisciplinary artist. Her specializations are short films, photography and art installations.
Dr Tereza Stehlikova is an artist working primarily in moving image, as well as performance, with a focus on sensory perception, sensory aesthetic and embodiment. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Westminster and a research coordinator at the Royal College of Art. She is a founder of Sensory Sites, an international collective generating collaborative exhibitions and research projects that explore sensory perception and bodily experience.