Interactive Arts

In spring 2001 I decided to apply for an art and design foundation course. The purpose of this was to take some time off working and learn different creative techniques. I went to the interview and had an offer. At the interview I was asked if I wanted to apply for Interactive Arts too. It looked good and I went to the interview and was offered a place on this too. Then came flux dancing and the accommodation mess of my first year. Somehow this seemed to spur my creative practice and I came up with several pieces including abstract video and work for a BBC2 programme.

Also I went to Berlin with many people in my year. This was very enjoyable and a great opportunity to get to know people on the course better and explore the various galleries, museums and events in a frezing historic city. A couple of years later I went to Prague and had a whale of a time there too. In between these trips I got involved with Pulp magazine and doing short films at IDEA. Thus my second year work was completed (except for a late journal). Then I lost my way and failed to get my dissertation done (still the case). Eventually I pulled out of my final year before the last term and am starting again now (registering in April).

Interactive Arts is a great course to do but you need to be self motivated and willing to get broke or do a lot of awful work like call centres, telesales or bar work. This is much the same with any university course. What makes Interactive Arts different is the huge freedom to explore your chosen subject area and develop a variety of ideas using different artistic media and processes. It also involves preparing and working on the course catalogue and degree show. This means the class working as a team fundraising, getting sponsorship, catalogue, DVD and Web Site and managing the degree show. I am getting ready for the challenge but must sort my time out and get my dissertation done and project well under way.