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Urban Digital is an
SRB6 funded Digital Arts project providing training, career opportunities
and creative arts experience for local people in the SRB6 area. It offers
equipment and services from the newly modernised library including the
performance space, the exhibition space, plasma screens and projection
wall enabling the library to become a creative hub for the people of
Handsworth.
Urban Digital works with local individuals and
groups but focuses particularly on ethnic minority communities and
provides opportunities to work in film, graphic design, digital
photography and web design.
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Urban Digital provides free access to digital media including:
•
video film making equipment
• digital cameras
• Adobe editing
software
• graphic design software
• animation software
• photography software
• web design software
• advice and
expertise in how to use the kit in a creative and professional way
The software includes Adobe Creative Suite Premium combining full versions
of
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe
InDesign
• Adobe GoLive
• Dreamweaver
• Flash
Professional 8
Adobe Production Studio Premium includes full
versions of
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Premiere
•
Adobe Audition
• Adobe Encore
• Adobe Dynamic Link
Urban Digital provides training in the use of the resources, both the
technical side of video, photography and graphic design and, more
importantly, the creative side in order for participants of the Urban
Digital project to produce professional quality work. It enables them
to produce digital art works in photography and film and to develop their
talent in print media such as magazine layout, newsletter production,
logos and layouts, poster design and the development of web sites.
The project engages with individuals and organisations to develop and
produce short films representing the culture and heritage of the
area.
The project works with local musicians to produce pop
videos to promote the bands more widely and leading to wider audiences and
employment opportunities for the musicians involved.
The project
provides creative opportunities for people to engage in the arts, and
develop transferable skills around IT, organisation, marketing and work
discipline that would be potentially attractive to employers.
The
project also aims to develop new audiences for artistic and
cultural events.
Experts were commissioned to develop the project -
artists, Andy Spencer to deliver the film programme,
Vanley Burke to deliver the digital photography programme and web and
graphic design specialists.
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Urban Digital has purchased high quality cameras, sound equipment,
lights, computers and Adobe software to enable library users to have free
access to professional quality kit. Computers and other equipment are
available for booking by participants whenever the library is open, but
access to the community room is limited by the other activities which take
place there.
Customers wishing to loan equipment such as cameras
will need to provide 3 valid proofs of identity such as passport or
driving licence plus 2 from the following: utility bills, credit card
statements or bank statements.
Library staff have received
practical training on the use of resources, so that they can share their
skills with the public.
The project culminated with the Urban
Digital Festival to celebrate and share the work completed and as a
way to encourage the continued life of the project after funding ceases.
This was a high profile event featuring film, web design, photography and
graphic design.
Urban Digital has ensure a core group of
people from the community are trained in the use of the equipment to
ensure that the kit would get used creatively in future years.
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