Manchester arts-venue, HOME, has released a new platform to showcase online culture.
Homescreen has been created by London agency Cog and will work across film, theatre and visual art.
“We strongly believe that presenting work digitally can help provide access to art for more people who would otherwise be excluded from venues, and in doing so reduce the inequality that affects these audiences. Alongside a strong engagement programme designed to bring down the barriers to people visiting venues, our new dedicated platform for digital work, Homescreen, will allow many more people to experience the work we present across all artforms – wherever and whenever they want,” explained Dave Moutrey, Director and CEO of HOME.
“As shown by our hugely successful Homemakers series, digital work also provides new ways for us to work with the many artists we commission, and I look forward to seeing the shows, films and exhibitions that are showcased on Homescreen in the coming years.”
The first livestreams to appear on the platform will be from the Ripples of Hope Festival and include Baroness Helena Kennedy in conversation with Hillary Clinton, the PEN HG Wells Lecture with Elif Shafak, and three Poetry Declaration events convened by Simon Armitage, the Poet Laureate.
There will be a host of free content, online exhibitions a weekly webcomic and in November a specially-created version of Human Measure, a piece of contemporary dance by Cassils, accompanying the exhibition and live performance of the same name.
“We are lucky to work with many wonderful arts organisations but is rare to work with an organisation as progressive and pioneering as HOME,” added Michael Smith, Founding Director, Cog.
“They’ve been truly collaborative partners as together we’ve created this user-focused digital platform.
“On the surface the site is an efficient, engaging and intuitive way to democratise the huge, varied portfolio of digital content, produced, commissioned or available through HOME.
“Behind the scenes, the platform is using integrations and innovations not seen anywhere else, utilising the ticketing platform Spektrix to provide the smoothest experience to both audiences and to the marketing, fundraising and artistic teams at HOME.”
