Questions & Answers!

What makes a paper maker?

There will be five pairs of early career artist and scientists working together interpreting one scientific paper. These guys will be the paper makers. The title 'Paper makers' refers to the idea of the project: taking one scientific paper and producing something creative, relating to the content of the paper. We are hoping to do that though workshops, meetings and discussions between artists and scientists.

At the end I hope that five unique art works will have been created, all of which refer to our chosen scientific paper - looking a human impacts on marine biodiversity.

Who can be a paper maker?

We are hoping to engage with artists and scientists at an early stage for their professional careers. Anyone, who has been active in the art scene, has done art at a college or university, or is in the process of doing so. 

The scientific paper is about baseline shifts in the marine environment, and although we are open to any application, we think biologists (such as zoologists, marine and freshwater biologists and ecologists) may fit the bill best as our early career scientists. Again, if you are in the process of finishing your undergraduate degree, or are doing a postgraduate, please get in here.

What are you looking for in a paper maker?

We are looking for people who are open to discuss and engage with these conservation issues in different ways. The ways artists and scientists communicate may be very different, so are hoping artist scientist pairs really engage in dialogue to learn from one another.

The other important part of this project is public engagement, we are hoping that our artist and scientists will share their experience with a wider audience and to raise awareness of wider issues touched on by the paper.
Overall, we are hoping that the artist will create a piece of work, relating to the paper, while the scientist is going to be crucial in documenting this process.

So what is the paper?

We will give the paper to artist and scientists just before the first workshop when everyone meets. This way everyone starts at the same time, making it also much more exciting. The paper deals with baseline shifts in the marine environment, so will be of particular interest to anyone interested in the marine life, sea, conservation, shorelines and tides.

Is there a fee for the early career artist or scientists to participate?

There are no fees - I have set aside a budget of £100-150 for the artist for materials to create an artwork relating to the paper. Funding for travel to work shop venues will be made available for all participants.

Who is involved?

Lydia: I am the project leader, but am receiving support and guidance from the eco-artist Kate Foster – find out more about us here. We also have other eco artists on board, who will be able to give us advice along the way.

The project is funded by a British Ecological Society Outreach Grant and supported by the Natural Environment Research Council.

What is the time line of the project?

We have now started looking for our early artist and scientists and will be waiting for feedback and applications until September. The first workshop will take place in autumn. Then the pairs will have six month to work together, which brings us to a final workshop/ exhibition in early 2015. Find more information about the different stages here. The time frame artists and scientist will have to give up on each stage depends on how they work together and what they ultimately create.

Are you looking for artists affiliated with a research institution?

Lydia: Not necessarily. We are looking for early career artists and scientists from anywhere in the UK.  The project would benefit most a broad range of skills and 'thinkers'. It’s all about variety. We are trying to engage in dialogue with people with different viewpoints, and are hoping to create five individual art works relating to human impacts on biodiversity.