We are looking for a Creative Technologist to programme wearable technology that allows VI wearers to map and record their own narrative and bio-data as they travel through the city then process the data captured during the journeys, in consultation with the wider contributors, for public presentation.
The accessibility and function of the technology used will be developed in consultation and collaboration with Arnolfini City fellow artist’s Rachel Aspinwall and Holly Thomas, co-creators from the VI community and University of Bristol’s Dr Ute Leonards.
It is vital that all tech first and foremost be designed for use by VI users, including the means of accessing the collated narratives and data once collected.
In light of this we particularly welcome applicants who have lived experience of VI.
Please see full brief below and contact letty.clarke@arnolfini.org.uk for more information or to apply and if you need the information in an alternative format.
City Fellows
Creative Technologist Brief
Project Outline:
City Fellows exists to create projects born from Bristol, to collectively build a city that better reflects the people who live here. The project is initiated and run by Arnolfini as part of our ongoing commitment to the people of Bristol. Our two ambitious and experimental projects for 2019 are being co-created by the people of Bristol to address overlooked histories, pick up current conversations and dream for what the city needs next.
The Creative Technologist will work alongside PECo Theatre’s Rachel Aspinwall and Holly Thomas (collaborating as sighted and visually impaired (VI) artists). ‘Could this be the place…?’ will be made with co-creators from the VI community and will bring VI people together with sighted partners to travel together, recording their experiences as they navigate their way through the city. The group will share and reveal their perspectives on city life and together explore possibilities for the future, giving voice to the incredible value their contributions can and do bring to society.
Aspinwall, Thomas and their community will work with Dr Ute Leonards, University of Bristol, who is internationally renowned for her research on how the visual environment impacts our health and wellbeing. This collaboration will allow the project to reach a more holistic understanding of the impacts of city life on body and mind.
Role Specification:
The Creative Technologist will programme wearable technology that allows VI wearers to map and record their own narrative and bio-data as they travel through the city. The accessibility and function of the technology used will be developed in consultation and collaboration with Aspinwall, Thomas, the co-creators from the VI community and University of Bristol’s Dr Ute Leonards.
After the journeys into the city have taken place, the Creative Technologist will process the data captured during the journeys, in consultation with the wider contributors, for public presentation.
It is vital that all tech first and foremost be designed for use by VI users, including the means of accessing the collated narratives and data once collected. All data collected must be processed in accordance with Arnolfini’s Data Protection Policy and the projects Data Sharing and Processing Agreement between Arnolfini, PECo Theatre and University of Bristol.
Copyright ownership of any and all programmes and technology developed as part of this brief and corresponding commission will not be retained by the Creative Technologist. All technology and programmes developed must be made accessible to Arnolfini, PECo Theatre and University of Bristol on an ongoing basis.
The technology used must be wearable, easily operated by and accessible to a visually impaired user, combining a number of currently available technologies into one system that can:
- Geo track the wearers journey,
- Geo mark the wearer’s narrative recordings and bio-data at specific points on that journey,
- Collect and collate the results of these multiple journeys into one smoothly working system.
Equipment that needs to be synched includes; LGG6 code LG-H870 smart phones, Ionic fit bits and potentially CCTV go pro cameras.
Key milestones:
- To programme: developing and testing tech in consultation with artists, co-creators and Ute Leonards.
- Supporting and assisting on use of tech during journeys into the city (there will be 6 journey workshops taking approximately 4 hours each).
- Supporting Dr Ute Leonards on data analysis and collation.
- Supporting journey workshop participants to access materials and where appropriate, supporting on the production of public outcomes that realise the projects ideas to make the co-creators ideas heard.
Timescale:
- Immediate availability is needed for this role with the bulk of development taking place in August and September, including workshops to test out the technology with the co-creators.
- Journeys into the city will happen in early October and consist of up to 6 half day sessions.
- Data processing in collaboration with Dr Ute Leonards will take place in late October and November.
Fee:
The fee for this work is £1500. This opportunity is offered on a freelance basis and it is the Creative Technologist’s responsibility to manage their time and workload.
As a general guideline, we estimate this to be a commitment of approximately 10 days.
The Creative Technologist will be responsible for invoicing Arnolfini for their time and they must supply Arnolfini with their Unique Taxpayer Reference Number and Bank Details.
The fee will be paid across three separate invoices in relation to key milestones in the projects.
How to apply:
We are particularly interested in applicants who have lived experience of VI.
To receive a pdf of this brief, if you need this information in an alternative format, for more information or to apply
please contact letty.clarke@arnolfini.org.uk
To apply please send through a CV and two professional references for us to contact.
