VANLAND is a participatory mobile media project that explores issues of place and identity through the making and exhibiting of creative digital media work. Initially conceived as a three year programme for young people in rural Teignbridge, VANLAND now encompasses work with a range of communities and organizations across South West England.
VANLAND projects use the participants’ local (often rural) landscape as a source of inspiration; drawing on issues raised by each particular site to develop the concepts and content for the work, and collaborating with wider community to make it happen. The workshop process is focused as much on facilitating the creative vision of the participants as training in practical and production skills. This encourages both media literacy and the ability to express opinions through exciting and relevant means.
VANLAND emphasises the importance of the screening and sharing of the finished work as part of the process. This has previously happened through cross-generational village based multi-media events such as Time Trip in Christow, Village Screen – a series of outdoor screenings curated and managed by young people, and between 2004-07 through an annual tour of digital shorts and installation work to Devon fetes, fairs and events in the extraordinary VANLAND caravan (now retired to a life of organic farming…). You can watch the van in action HERE.
In 2007 VANLAND was recommended as a Brussels Observatory Best Practice project as partners on the transnational exchange VISIONSWITCH. Learn more on the WEBSITE.
VANLAND collaborators are: Paula Crutchlow, Daniel Harris, Volkhardt Mueller and Cat Radford. Associate artist Tim Dollimore.
VANLAND 2004-07 young people’s media project was produced by Blind Ditch and was run with partnership support from Teignbridge District Council and Coombeshead College. It was funded and supported by the EAGGF of the EU, DEFRA, Arts Council England – South West, Teignbridge Rural Regeneration Partnership, Teignbridge District Council.
Partners and funders since 2007 have included Mediabox, TRRP, CCANW, Bovey Youth Action, The House – St Austell, Groundwork South West, The Children’s Society and Take Part – Torbay, Zest Arts for Health and Pembroke St Youth Project in Devonport.
