LightTAG was an Arts and Science project for young people culminating in exhibition at BFI, London.
LightTAG (2010 – 2011) was developed by artist, Dr. Tine Bech, and scientist Dr Kathryn Harkup. It was funded by Mediabox, SEPnet (South East Physics Network), University for the Creative Arts, and University of Surrey.
LightTAG is a unique outreach project that has enabled sixty-two young disadvantaged people from across South East England to build confidence and achievement through an innovative science and media art collaboration. The young people produced personal and exciting creative work with more than 1750 images and 22 animations. LightTAG’s exciting fusion of media art infused with science facilitated a very positive experience of learning. It demonstrated how art and science work together through light. Science and Art have much in common – both are trying to make sense of the world around us.
The project provided the opportunity for young people with a background of NEET, care leavers and special needs to express themselves creatively through the use of light while gaining insight into basic scientific concepts. Participants created high profile, visually engaging outcomes in the form of light drawings and animations.
LightTAG culminated in a large celebratory event and exhibition for all the participants, their family and friends, at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank as part of the Future Film Festival. The exhibition then toured galleries across the South East England.
See more here:
University for the Creative Arts, and University of Surrey, 2010-2011.
LightTAG’s fusion of media art infused with science facilitated a very positive experience of learning reflected in the feedback:
It’s surreal to have my work on show at the BFI in London – it’s a big achievement for me. LightTAG has given me a big confidence boost as I now know that my artwork is good enough to be shown in a gallery.
It’s great fun messing around with lights – I made a Star Wars LightTAG which took about 20 goes to get it right, so I learned not to give up for the first time in work.
I’d never been to a university before this and thought it was just full of rich kids walking around, but after doing LightTAG there I realised that they’re all normal and now I’m thinking about going to university and doing a Video Games course which I would never have thought about doing before.
-LightTAG Participants (NEET, Not in Education, Employment, or Training)
Thank you once again for the fantastic work you did with us during the LightTAG workshop. The kids absolutely loved it- it’s the talk of the town!!
-Suzy Evans, Course Tutor – Staines, Nacro, the crime reduction charity
I just wanted to pass on how much the children enjoyed the LightTAG workshops and how impressed we were with the standard of programme provided by all the science and media arts staff who contributed. It is such a fantastic programme and really did inspire awe and wonder in each and every one of our students. It was particularly heart-warming to see some of our most vulnerable children respond so positively and confidently to the tasks.
-Hannah Procter, Combined Learning Centre Manager, Kings College for the Arts and Technology