TURNING GREAT IDEAS INTO REALITYWWW.MICROCOMMISSIONS.ORG

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Images (clockwise from top right): Daksha Patel, Diffusion, 2011, Pencil on cartridge paperGrace Oni Smith, Image by Lee Baxter

Image by Steve Hockett

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Ideas matter. And great ideas – scientific, artistic, philosophical or otherwise – often start small, bubble up from below and then spread across society.

The Micro Commissions scheme was established by Cornerhouse to generate more of these small but beautiful ideas. It has provided the support that talented people in the North West need to realise their creative visions and produce work that changes perceptions, sparks inspiration or simply raises a smile.

The scheme, supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, has resulted in exhibitions in galleries across the UK, performances in the streets, new found friendships and the scratching of many creative itches.

But it can do even more. We know there are many ideas out there that need nurturing and visionary people who can benefit from a small boost to their ambitions.

MICRO COMMISSIONSBringing great ideas to life

IT WAS INVALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A PROJECT I HAD WANTED TO DEVELOPALEXIA MELLOR

Find out what we’ve achieved so far, meet some of our artists and discover how Micro Commissions is bringing great ideas to life across the UK.

Prototype Committee building reactive furniture.

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TOUCHING THE CITYMulti-sensory walksThe streets of Manchester were brought alive by Morag Rose through a series of multi-sensory walks (derives) that explored unusual aspects of the city. Listening, touching and feeling were all part of the walks which have been converted into toolkits for those who want to explore by themselves.

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The Micro Commissions scheme was a really wonderful opportunity which has helped me to develop both professionally and personally. I feel like I have grown so much through the opportunities it has given me.

I’ve always been very passionate about psychogeography but I’ve not really viewed myself as an artist, because I have had no formal training and find my work really hard to describe.

Manchester Alley, Image by CrunchyLens (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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However, Cornerhouse was really encouraging and helped me to rethink what I was doing. They made me feel that my work is valid and I am an artist.

The scheme was a chance to construct events which conveyed the essence of what I do in a new way and get feedback (which has been very positive) from a new audience. The walks themselves were wonderful: everyone that came was engaged and I learnt so much. I was amazed and delighted by how quickly everyone immersed themselves in play and how generous they were in sharing their thoughts and feelings about the city.

My personal highlight was all the marvellous edible playdough models everyone made! I actually used them as the basis for my MRes dissertation. The resources available also meant I could document my walks in a way I haven’t done before.

The Micro Commissions gave me the confidence to write and deliver a seven week course on The Art of Walking in 2013, exploring walking as an aesthetic, cultural and political act. This was an amazing experience: I loved writing and teaching it. There was a lovely energy during the course and I met some really interesting people with whom I am planning some exciting collaborations.

I am now plotting what to do next. I will carry on walking of course with a new vigour. My MRes dissertation is nearly finished and I will be presenting a paper on my work at two conferences this year. I also feel more confident and capable as I embark on my next project.

Thanks to all the support, I now feel happy, proud and full of potential as an artist.

Morag Rose

Morag Rose, painting by Andrew Tilsley

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Aimed at both professional and amateurs in the North West, the Micro Commissions scheme has helped people realise low cost (under £500), original creative ideas.

People and groups have been able to take the risks they’ve always wanted to take, secure in the knowledge that they have the necessary funds and support required to achieve their visions.

The scheme is administered by a team of Cornerhouse programmers and producers, each with different areas of expertise, who also offer creative and practical guidance. Everything has been made as simple as possible for the artists involved. Applying for a commission is straightforward and administration kept to a minimum.

Micro Commissions has been open to everyone based in the North West. Reputation was not a key factor in who received funding: what mattered more than anything was the quality of the idea.

THE SCHEME

Images (from top): Adrian Pritchard, Coil effect detailQR3D, image courtesy of Rachel Lynn Rose

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Infra was a large installation by interactive artist Chris Shen that marks the evolution of TV technology. 625 discarded remote controls were converted into a sculpture that actually functioned as a television, using infrared light from the unwanted controllers. In other words an actual TV signal. The sculpture has exhibited in London, Manchester and New York.

A NEW WAY OF SEEING Infra

TV IS A WORLDWIDE LANGUAGE SO THERE ARE PLANS TO TAKE INFRA ELSEWHERE. THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO SEE IN THE INFRARED SPECTRUM STILLCHRIS SHEN

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I THINK IT IS REFRESHING TO FOCUS ON FUNDING SMALL, SPARKY IDEAS. THE INVESTMENT HAS A SIMILAR ESSENCE TO AN IDEA – A BIT OF A THUNDERBOLTLOWRI EVANS

Over the past three years, more than 500 people from the North West have sent in a Micro Commissions proposal: from established artists to community groups. With the support of Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the scheme has given over 60 individual or groups the opportunity to realise their creative ideas.

There has been no such thing as a ‘typical’ project. Fields have included installation, photography, digital experiments, carpentry, inner city games and conceptual art. The process has been one of discovery, development and the forging of new relationships.

Eight commissions of £2000 have also been used to further develop the practice or projects of successful Micro Commissions. Several of the commissioned artists went on to have a show at Cornerhouse or with its partner organisations.

A REAL IMPACT

Steve Ounanian, zoomorphic gown built

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MICRO COMMISSIONS ENABLED ME TO TEST MY IDEAS AND LEARN ABOUT MY STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES THROUGH MAKING A NEW WORKJASON SINGH

The past and present were brought together as artist (and leading UK beatboxer) Jason Singh performed a score to the landmark silent film Drifters. The 1929 documentary follows North Sea herring fishermen through their dramatic daily routines and explores the underlying struggles between tradition and modernity.

Jason used a combination of live vocal sound effects, beatboxing and voice manipulation at performances in London, Manchester and Poland.

A SOUNDTRACK TO HISTORYDrifters live score

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Kinokologue explored how a collected sound is preserved and presented to the public and if its meaning changes in an archive/exhibition context. Part of this project involved placing found sounds in specimen boxes normally used for insect collections, together with physical objects that could influence the interpretation of that sound. The next step involved creating a ‘cabinet of sonic curiosities’ where the artists worked with an electronics expert and a carpenter to create art for the eyes, ears and imagination.

LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICEKinokologue

Images (from top): Kinokologue exhibition at MadLab, Martin Solomonsen photo.

Kinokophone and the cabinet of sonic curiosities

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AS ARTISTS, THIS PROJECT ENABLES US TO EXPLORE OUR OWN RELATIONSHIP TO SOUNDS WE RECORD, THE PROCESS BEHIND CREATING THEM, WHAT THEY MEAN TO OTHERSKINOKOPHONE COLLECTIVE

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Micro Commissions isn’t simply about funding great ideas to create a piece of art. It can have long term impact on those who get involved, both artists and funders.

• Weempowerindividuals,givingthemthe confidence to realise their visions and succeed in other aspects of their life.

• Thesupportweprovidecanlaunch a career or enable talent to be noticed by a wider audience.

• TheMicroCommissionsscheme brings people together: audiences, artists, art lovers.

• Asuccessfulproject can inform and inspire even bigger ideas.

GOING BEYOND ART

Images (from top): Grace Oni Smith, image by Chris Dresden Styles

Image by Steve Hockett

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WE HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO SEE THE MICRO COMMISSIONS PROJECT UNLOCK THE CREATIVE TALENTS OF PEOPLE IN THE NORTH WEST.DOROTHÉE IRVING, PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION

Implementing a Micro Commission is a great learning experience for all involved:

• Theexcitementoftestingouta new idea.

• Animmensesatisfactionfromhelpingoriginal talents to realise their visions.

• Awiderunderstandingofhowartistswork and view the world differently.

• Projectmanagementskills:theexperience of turning ideas into reality.

• Everyonebenefitsfromapositiveassociation with creativity and innovation.

• Thecommissionsencouragefurtherinvestment in the region’s economy.

Ultra Violet Violence, image Jamie Alun Price

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Daksha Patel has always been interested examining the relationship between subjective and medical models of the human body. This Micro Commission involved the ‘visceral mapping’ of Manchester, combining images produced by digital medical visualising technologies (CT, MRI, electron micrograph) with hand drawn maps. The medical imagery conceptually links to different parts of the city, for example flow maps of air pollution were imprinted upon lung scans.

MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY Manchester Visceral Mapping

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SOMEONE FIRST SAW MY WORK AT CORNERHOUSE AND RECOMMENDED ME TO MOSI. AS A RESULT, I WILL BE SHOWING NEW WORK THERE THIS YEAR. I ALSO SOLD TWO PIECES WHICH WAS AN UNEXPECTED BONUS!DAKSHA PATEL

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All images: Daksha Patel, Diffusion Series, 2011, Pencil on cartridge paper

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Since it began, the Micro Commissions scheme has been a remarkable journey for all involved. And it is a journey we hope to continue into the future as Cornerhouse becomes HOME – one of the most exciting new arts development in the UK.

For further information on the scheme, the artists or how to get involved, please contact:

Isabelle CroissantCreative Industries and Micro Commission Programme Manager Cornerhouseisabelle.croissant@cornerhouse.org 0161 200 1557

Sarah PerksProgramme and Engagement Director Cornerhousesarah.perks@cornerhouse.org 0161 200 1543

FIND OUT MORE

WWW.MICROCOMMISSIONS.ORGCover images (from top): Illustration for Faiz Jam, composition by Kooj (Kuljit) ChuhanGrace Oni Smith, Image by Chris Dresden StylesVolkov Commanders

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