The four shortlisted entries for the first IK Prize, a new annual prize presented by Tate celebrating creative talent in the digital industry, were announced today. They range from robots roaming the galleries, to an interactive video, stories told via social media, and an art experience in the online gaming world of Minecraft.
The shortlisted proposals are: Evan Boehm with Nexus Productions for Through the Eyes of an Eight-Year-Old, Adam Clarke, thecommonpeople.tv for TateCraft, Storythings (Matt Locke and Kim Plowright) for #TateText, THE WORKERS (Tommaso Lanza, Ross Cairns and David Di Duca) for After Dark
They were chosen from a longlist of 51 entries by a panel comprising high-profile individuals and industry experts: Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia; Jemima Kiss, Head of Technology at the Guardian; Mark Leckey, Turner Prize winning artist; John Porter, The Porter Foundation; Marc Sands, Director of Audiences and Media, Tate; and Tom Uglow, Creative Director, Google Creative Lab in Sydney.
Alongside the six panel members, Tate invites the public to cast the seventh vote. On display at Tate Britain and available online are four short films in which the finalists explain their ideas. To watch and to vote, go to www.tate.org.uk/ikvote Voting opens Monday 13 January and closes Friday 24 January 2014. The winner will be announced on 6 February 2014.
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia said: ‘Widening access to art through the application of digital technology is a mission I share. I am delighted to be part of a jury that supports creative minds in this way. The shortlist demonstrates the potential of digital to offer diverse and radical new was of enjoying culture.’
Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, said: ‘Tate encourages creativity and this has reverberations in the creative industries as well as the fine arts. The digital space is one of the most dynamic and fast-changing areas of contemporary life, a place where new and innovative ideas can be developed. We believe that this is the right moment to establish a prize which recognises outstanding, creative achievement in the digital field.’
The IK Prize, named in memory of the philanthropist Irene Kreitman, celebrates creative talent in the digital industry. Supported by the Porter Foundation, the Prize is presented by Tate to a team, company or individual for an original idea that uses the power of digital to enhance the way people experience art. The four entries shortlisted will be showcased at Tate Britain with the winner receiving a prize of £10,000 and a £60,000 production budget to turn their idea into a reality. The winning project will go on show at Tate Britain later in the summer.
Irene Kreitman was a generous philanthropist and longstanding supporter of Tate. She served as a volunteer for more than 25 years and was always interested in helping people to engage with and be inspired by art. She and her husband, Hyman Kreitman, funded a number of acquisitions, especially in the field of modern British art, as well as the creation of the Hyman Kreitman Research Centre at Tate Britain.