In 2000 ANAT (Australian Network for Art and Technology) convened ALCHEMY: the International Masterclass for New Media Artists and Curators.
The Masterclass took place in Brisbane in May and early June 2000. 16 tutors and 42 participating artists and curators explored new media practices, critical concepts for cross cultural collaboration and generally had an extraordinary time exploring with and playing in the newly opened Brisbane Powerhouse – Centre for the Live Arts, who partnered with ANAT on the realisation of this project.
Participants had 24 hour access to the equipment and the building and the project provided participants with an incredibly rich learning environment, both technically and conceptually. The masterclass engaged with a diverse range of topics. Themes included: science discourse; curatorial practice; net art practice; Indigenous and regional Asia Pacific issues; and performance and hybrid practices.
Participants for Alchemy were selected from a call for proposals distributed internationally in late 1999. The participants were chosen through their proposals, with reference both to the thematics and with geographical and cultural considerations also taken into account.
Alchemy participants:
| Brook Andrews (NSW) | Caroline Farmer (SA) | Christian Thompson (Vic) |
| Clare McGrogan (Qld) | Dena Curtis (NT) | Gongxin Wang (China) |
| Hartanto (Indonesia) | Jenny Fraser (Qld) | Jo Law (WA) |
| Keith Armstrong (Qld) | Kim Machan (Qld) | Mae Adams (Vic) |
| Megan Rainey (SA) | Monica Narula (India) | Patricia Adams (Qld) |
| Raewyn Turner (NZ) | Rebecca Youdell (Qld) | Sam James (NSW) |
| Sarah Neville (SA) | Shilpa Gupta (India) | Steve Bull (WA) |
| Bruce Gladwin (Vic) | Chris Dempsey (Qld) | Christiawan (Indonesia) |
| Deborah Lawler-Dormer (NZ) | Edwina Bartleme (Qld) | Grisha Coleman (NY) |
| Jane Schneider (Qld) | Jernej Kozar (Slovenia) | Kamal Krishna (Qld) |
| Kelli Mccluskey (WA) | Lisa Anderson (Qld) | Jernej Kozar (Slovenia) |
| Mari Velonaki (NSW) | Mike Stubbs (UK) | Partha Pratim Sarker (Bangladesh) |
| Peter Toy (WA) | Raul Ferrera (Mexico) | Rolando Ramos (NSW) |
| Sarah Ryan (Tas) | Sheridan Kennedy (NSW) | Sophea Lerner (NSW) |
| Vanessa Mafe-Kean (Qld) |
Tutors for the ALCHEMY MASTERCLASS:
| Alexei Shulgin (Russia) | Nina Czegledy (Canada) | Mongrel (UK) |
| Geert Lovink (Aust and Netherlands) | John Tonkin (Aust) | Rea (Gamileroi/Wailwan) |
| Shudahabrata Sengupta (India) | Sara Diamond (Canada) | Marko Peljhan (Slovenia) |
| Tess de Quincy & Laura Jordan (Aust) | Blast Theory (UK) | Mike Stubbs (UK) |
The project provided for an intensive and productive period for exploration, conversation and the generation of dialogue and new ideas. The masterclass included daily presentation and discussion periods, workshops, skillshares, and skills development opportunities. Weekly BBQ and performance events provided opportunities to network with local Brisbane artists and curators; evening events provided opportunities for lead tutors to present their work in public forums, and a performance evening at the conclusion of the masterclass provided participants with the opportunity to present work in progress to the greater Brisbane community. Technical Management: Martin Thompson; Project Management: Charity Bramwell; Project and Technical assistant: Tim Plaistead.
http://Alchemy.anat.org.au
http://alchemyinfo.anat.org.au
Please note these are historical sites – some links may no longer work
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