LARKIN25 OPEN COMMISSIONS

Larkin25, in conjunction with Hull City Arts and Hull Film, invites Hull based artists working in any artform to respond to the themes of this celebration of the life and work of Britain's Best Loved Poet, and propose creative projects which will result in the creation of new artworks or performances.

Larkin25 is a 25 week commemoration of the life and work of Philip Larkin, and the city in which he spent most of his professional and creative life. Proposals are sought from individual artists, organisations or collectives who would like to create new work responding to the themes of the programme. Applications for up to £1000 are invited to support the creation of new artistic works or projects. These may be in any artform - examples of projects and products include events, performances, recordings and publications, creative writing and literary projects, workshops, short films, text based artwork, visual arts or multimedia works.

We are looking for innovative and exciting approaches to encouraging people to take another look at Larkin, and another look at Hull.

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Clear artistic vision and quality
• Quality of public engagement- how audiences and/or participants will benefit from the activity
• Engagement with the life and work of Philip Larkin. Further information on Larkin and the Larkin25 programme can be found at the website.

The deadline for applications is Friday 17th September. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by Friday 24 September.

Larkin25 officially closes on 2nd December and projects should be completed by this date, to ensure the artistic outcomes can be promoted and celebrated as part of the programme. Proposals should be typed, on no more than 3 sides of A4, and include:

* Your name, address, email address and telephone number
* Name of the project
* Brief details of the artistic idea (not more than ½ page of A4)
* How will you make the project happen? Please tell us about the key dates, venues and the main people involved
* Brief details of the intended audience or participants and how you will reach them. Please comment on how they will benefit from the activity.
* If your activity involves education, training or skills development for participants please also provide information about learning or other outcomes you will aim to achieve
* A full budget, including all fees, materials, hires etc, and the amount you are applying for.
* A CV and examples of previous relevant work or projects (in electronic format where possible)

Applications should be sent to emily.penn@vhey.co.uk or by post to Emily Penn, Larkin 25, VHEY, Wykeland House, 47 Queen Street, Hull HU1 1UU

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GLIMMER 2010 Award Winners

The Anthony Minghella Award for Best International Short
(With a prize of £1000 sponsored by the University of Hull)

Plastic Bag
Dir. Ramin Bahrani, USA, 2009, 18 mins
This elegiac story about the life of a plastic bag asks many fundamental questions about life: What is the purpose of living when you have no purpose? Why are our creations permanent yet purposefully obsolete? And if we were immortally useless, would our maker love us enough to create us so that we could die? You'll never look at a carrier in the same way again.

With a special mention going to:

Aprilis Suskhi (April Chill)
Dir. Tornike Bziava, 2010, 15 mins

The Anthony Minghella Award for Best UK Short
(With a prize of £500 sponsored by the University of Hull)

Peter in Radioland
Dir. Johanna Wagner, UK, 2009, 10 mins
A carefully observed study of the director's father Peter, who stubbornly remains in an analogue world.

With special mentions to:

Heartstrings
Dir. Rhiannon Evans, UK, 2009, 3mins

Collide-O-Scope
Dir. Naren Wilks, UK, 2009, 3 mins

The GLIMMER Award for Best Yorkshire Short
(Sponsored by the Hull School of Art and Design with a prize of £250)

Uncle David
Dir. Shyla Lee, UK, 2009, 15 mins
A fascinating documentary about how one man is single handedly using his retirement years to try and improve his neighbourhood. For the last 5 years David has been walking around his local streets with his dog Meg picking litter and removing graffiti from walls and trees. He finds it difficult to pass neglected public spaces and feels the need to try and improve the physical and social landscape around him.

With a special mention to

Scent
Dir. Darren Bolton, UK, 2009, 17 min

The GLIMMER Award for Best Hull Short
(Sposnored by Hull City Council with a prize of £500)

Four Thieves & The Not-So-Swet Shop
Dir. Ryan Braund, UK, 2009, 13 mins
A gang of sweet-toothed thieves attempt to steal the world's largest gobstopper from a cunning old man. A sparkling fantasy with a decidedly sinister edge

The GLIMMER Audience Award
(Sponsored by the Portland Hotel)

Flesheating Feminists Eat the Pig
Dirs. Dan Van Heeswyck & Ed Hunter, UK, 2009, 10 mins
Zero budget undead mashup exploring elements of the male psyche, gender issues and toothbrushes. Not for the faint hearted, easily grossed out or men.