1.2 History //
bloc was founded in 1998 by current Chair Emma Posey, with the support of Janek
Alexander and Karen MacKinnon of Chapter, Cardiff. The organisation received a six-month
Arts Council of Wales (ACW) grant that year, and a year later was incorporated as a
company limited by guarantee. Key events in bloc's development include:
- 1999 Launch of bloc website (over 82,300 hits to date), and online bulletin which is
currently emailed out every two weeks to almost 950 subscribers across Wales and
internationally
- 2001 Organised Remote conference, Lampeter and published book of essays
- 2002 Commissioned a Review and Survey of New Media and Visual Arts in Wales by Dr
Justin Marshall and Eddie Berg
- 2005 southern bloc initiated to carry out a pilot project in Blaenau Gwent; northern bloc,
now in its fourth year, also set up with support from Conwy County Borough
Council and ACW
- 2007 Consultancy for Welsh Assembly Government (WAG): Mapping the Creative
Industries in North Wales
- 2008 Consultation and Report for Centre funded by Fine Art Research (CFAR), University
of Institute, Cardiff (UWIC).
For a detailed list of bloc's activities over the last ten years, please browse the Activities section.
Recent Developments
- northern bloc is now in its fourth year, in partnership with Glyndwr University
(NEWI), and is currently recruiting a creative practitioner (artist/creative
technologist) to coordinate the programme of clinics, workshops and
commissions.
- Our Building bloc project supported by ACW and bloc, aims to invite two creative
practitioners, Carolina Vasquez and Stefhan Caddick, to advocate and strengthen
engagement with the creative uses of technology across all artforms in Wales. This
will be underpinned through a series of proposed commissions prepared for open
selection.
- The second May You Live in Interesting Times (MYLIIT), Festival of Creative
Technology took place in Oct 2009 in partnership with Chapter and in collaboration
with the British Council, Ffotogallery, Safle and Wales Arts International. The
festival theme was 'do-it-yourself' with a programme that celebrated the latest
intriguing uses of everyday technology and social innovation, enabled through
shared ideas. See www.mayyouliveininterestingtimes.org.uk.
