Intro
Frequency Festival is an international festival of digital creativity, hosted biennially in the historic city of Lincoln. Visitors of all ages discover digital, electronic and hybrid art in unexpected locations including the city’s heritage spaces, cafés, churches, shopping centres and outdoor spaces as well as key city venues and gallery spaces. The no-barriers festival, curated and produced by Threshold Studios, animates non-traditional spaces across the city with exhibitions, live performances, interactive experiences, family workshops and world-premieres. The University of Lincoln, through the Centre for Culture and Creativity, are principle partners in the festival which is supported by Arts Council England, alongside other city stakeholders and trusts and foundations.
The 5th edition of Frequency Festival of Digital Culture will explode onto the streets and screens of Lincoln on 24th October 2019, exploring how rapid technological change is disrupting our cities and transforming our everyday lives.
“Through the steep cobbled streets and the castle, inside churches and forgotten shops, something extraordinary is happening in Lincoln. This festival is an extraordinary discussion on how digital technology awakens us to the world we live in, how we see and what we believe in and how it’s changed the way we interact with it forever.”
Rachel Snider, Run Riot
C4CC’s Role
Through the Centre, the University of Lincoln supports Frequency Festival. It is produced by Threshold Studios in the role of Festival Directors, and is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, along with other foundations, trusts and stakeholders. Frequency Festival provides fertile ground for academic research as well as enriching teaching and learning. The Centre connects the Festival in with the population of the University who can benefit from the varied opportunities for volunteering, cross-institutional working and creative research that it offers.
In collaboration with the Centre, Threshold Studios offer paid internships and mentorships to creative graduates through the RADAR Graduate Accelerator Scheme. Previous internship roles included Festival Assistant, Production Assistant, Technician, Curatorial Assistant, Media Production, Marketing Assistant and Web Developer.
About
Since its inception in 2011, Frequency has become a key highlight on the international circuit of digital culture and arts festivals. Hosting over 450 local, national and international artists, exhibiting their work to over 60,000 visitors across four festival editions. Frequency draws Lincoln’s residents and its visitors to discover digital, electronic and hybrid art in unexpected locations across the city. Previous festival venues have included the 13th century Chapterhouse of Lincoln Cathedral, Cobb Hall at the Castle, the shop floor of Lincoln’s oldest family business, Ruddocks, and a Roman Posterngate below RBS bank.
Frequency was established in 2011 by University of Lincoln, The Collection, The Usher Gallery and Lincoln Drill Hall, with Threshold Studios in the role of Festival Directors. Threshold have been producing new media art for over 20 years, with specialisms in moving image, digital and emerging technologies.
2011 – 2017
The inaugural Frequency Festival of Digital Culture marked the beginning of an exciting journey for Lincoln. Frequency 2011 transformed Lincoln into an interactive sensory playground with works by over 100 local, national and international artists. A key highlight was Metro-Boulot-Dodo’s Four Seasons, an interactive, four-part multimedia installation, being shown in the same
city simultaneously for the first time.
Frequency 2013 brought innovative and diverse digital work to Lincoln, including the UK/ European premiere of LA group WIFE, and 11 other world premiere events.
In 2015 Frequency celebrated the 800th year of the signing of Magna Carta and the 25th birthday of the World Wide Web. A key festival highlight was the monumental outdoor projection show
The One, The Few and The Many by Seeper in the heart of the Castle’s medieval grounds, with a spectacular light, laser and audio display of a reimagined Magna Carta in a unique interactive digital playground.
The theme for Frequency 2017, DisPLACEment, was inspired by the 800th anniversary of The Charter of the Forest. A major highlight was Log Book by Turner Prize winning collective Assemble, who brought a live performance featuring local woodworkers to Lincoln’s Cathedral.
2019 onwards
Frequency 2019 will take place from 24-27 October, when the city of Lincoln will host an extraordinary showcase of digital creativity and energetic debate on digital culture.
Follow #Freq19 on social media or visit www.frequency.org.uk for announcements.
Vision
- showcase and nurture emerging and established creative talent
- harness the collective voices of the creative industries to help shape the future of digital culture
- engage audiences and inspire the digital creative in us all
Frequency is committed to nurturing the next generation of creative talent to develop skills and connect to industry in a way that is meaningful and mutually beneficial for students, graduates, volunteers and local businesses.
Championed by the Vice-Chancellor, Frequency Festival is a key creative partnership for the University:
“Frequency Festival has evolved into a genuinely unique and innovative offering that connects artists and audiences in exciting new ways. We look forward to seeing how Frequency 2019 will spark debate about one of the fundamental questions of our time: how is the digital revolution changing the way we live, and how should we respond to that as individuals and institutions?”
– Professor Mary Stuart CBE, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln
Key stats:
- In 2017, 96% of visitors felt that the content of Frequency Festival was excellent/ good.
- Since 2011, Frequency has hosted 450 artists from the UK and across the globe, 171 exhibitions, installations, performances, and events.
- Since 2011, Frequency has welcomed over 60,000 visitors, with visitor numbers growing each year.
- Since 2013, Frequency has created a net injection of £852,000 into the Lincoln economy, with a net economic impact of £1.4million.
Project Team
Samantha Lindley
Sam is Director of Programmes at Threshold Studios and is responsible for making sure creative projects happen on time and on budget. An experienced arts production manager, Sam leads the production of festivals within the East Midlands and beyond. She also leads the delivery of talent and development schemes and internship opportunities for the next generation of creatives.
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Uzma Johal MBE
Uzma is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Threshold Studios, as well as Co-director of Frequency Festival. A passionate advocate for social change, her work prioritises participation, innovation and development of creativity in media, technology and the arts. In 2016, Uzma was recognised on the New Years Honours List and received an MBE for her contribution to the Digital Economy.
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