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The Junction, Cambridge?s arts venue for young people, has launched a public art project aiming to create a pioneering work that will realise the potential of digital art in public spaces, says Lizzie Muller.

The artwork will be unveiled at the opening of the Junction?s new and refurbished spaces in the spring/summer of 2004.

Since the venue opened in 1990, we have sought to encourage the use of new and innovative media. The brief for this latest project required artists to take the concept of public art far beyond familiar static sculptures, integrating new technology in order to create a dynamic and responsive artwork that will actively engage audiences. Responses to the brief needed to reflect the radical mix of digital arts, performance arts and youth culture for which the venue is renowned.

Seven artists were selected from a long-list of 40, built up through recommendations from key producers and commissioners of digital arts. The shortlisted artists have backgrounds in performance art, architecture and visual arts, and represent some of the most innovative artistic approaches to digital technology and public space in the UK. Until the end of next month we will be consulting extensively with audiences and the people of Cambridge to involve them in the decision-making process for the new artwork. New media is playing a key part in this process; the seven proposals can be viewed in an interactive on-line virtual exhibition gallery at www.junction.co.uk/publicart, where the public can comment on proposals in an open access online forum.

The seven ideas are extremely diverse and collectively demonstrate the amazing breadth of possibilities opened up by new media and technology, ranging from street furniture brought to life, to a motion simulator ride through youth culture. The integration of new media has added an extra dimension to the artists? imaginative responses, allowing for responsive artworks where the audience plays an essential part. The mediating role of new technology between people and their built environment is increasing, with ?smart? buildings and ubiquitous personal technologies such as mobile phones and PDAs. This public art commission offers an imaginative approach to this phenomenon. The Junction has been committed since the outset to supporting new artists and new artforms. The digital arts programme has a regional remit to nurture talent and develop innovative art practice and the programme explores the possibilities of integrating new technologies into art and performance. With funding support from Arts Council England East, the digital programme has nurtured artists via commissions and bursaries and by promoting collaborative work by artists and scientists. The hope now is to create an engaging work of digital art in public space - a piece of art that can be justifiably described as innovative.

Lizzie Muller is Digital Arts Programmer at the Junction. t: 01223 578000;
e: lizzie@junction.co.uk;
w: http://www.junction.co.uk/digital