The Potential of High Speed Networks as a New Space for Cultural Research, Innovation and Production
Active and sustainable collaborative research programmes between UK innovative Media Arts organisations, creative producers, universities, archives, and other institutions are to date very problematic due to access to funding for research and few opportunities for collaborative R&D projects. In addition small and medium arts organisations face structural and financial issues for networked access to the high speed UK Educational Internet Network ‘SuperJanet’ which can potentially open opportunities to new forms of production, innovation and collaborations.
The resolution of these problems specially if done in collaboration with Universities research resources will potential lead not only to new forms of cultural content, models and practices but also to technological advances and innovative learning applications in ICT.
The seminar explored the potential of the high speed UK Educational Internet Network ‘SuperJanet’ as a space for creative productions and to identify the opportunities for new types of research that innovative networked ICT tools can facilitate between different sectors of the creative industries and the research base. In particular, the seminar offered a space for discussion and debate in developing a collaborative strategy between academic and arts/media practice.
It also provided a unique opportunity for key stakeholders working in academia and arts and media practice with a shared interest in exploring the potential in advanced use of Grid and Network Technologies for new forms of research, production and archiving in the area of Arts and Humanities, to meet and discuss future challenges, collaborations and opportunities.