aaamusic | On 15, Jun 2010

Latitude Festival is extremely proud to announce the launch of the Latitude Contemporary Art Exhibition (LCA) and the LCA Award at this year’s sold out 5^th Edition of the festival.

The LCA Exhibition will continue Latitude Festival’s enormous devotion to the arts with a myriad of new and existing contemporary art works on display In The Woods, a stunning woodland setting and one of the most intriguing areas of the magnificent Latitude site.  For the inaugural LCA Exhibition, six key artists have been specially commissioned by the LCA to craft new works for the 2010 launch: Tim Etchells, Susan Collis, Graham Hudson, Chosil Kil, Graeme Miller and David Blandy.

The LCA comprises the Creator of Latitude and Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn, Independent arts writer Louise Gray, Tate Modern curator Ben Borthwick, curator/deputy editor of ‘The Wire’ Anne Hilde Neset and Managing Director of Lavish Ami Jade Cadillac.

The LCA Award of £10,000 will be presented to one of the artists providing new work for the exhibition, chosen by the LCA panel of judges. The prize will cover research, development, production costs and artist fees for a new piece to be debuted for the LCA Exhibition at Latitude 2011.

Selecting the 2010 LCA Award winner will be a prestigious panel of LCA judges – Creator of Latitude and Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn, broadcaster, journalist and presenter on Radio 4’s World At One and BBC2’s The Review Show Martha Kearney and Young British Artist Gavin Turk. The panel will select the winner on Saturday 17th July following a tour of the new works, with an official announcement and presentation of the LCA Award in the Lavish Lounge on the Latitude site.

Melvin Benn has always intended contemporary art to be an integral part of Latitude Festival. He says:

“It was always my intention that contemporary art would be a key element of the programme at Latitude.  We have always had some spectacular works displayed throughout the site and In The Woods.  This year, in Latitude’s fifth edition, I am thrilled to expand this side of the programme by introducing the Latitude Contemporary Art Exhibition and the LCA Award, which will bring some exceptional talent to Latitude this year and help create something very special for next year as well.”

Martha Kearney says:

“I have always enjoyed Latitude for its unique setting and breadth as a festival, encompassing so much more than music. The new arts prize is an exciting development and I am looking forward to seeing the new work in the beautiful woodland setting.”

Running in parallel with the LCA selected artists, additional artists that have appeared at Latitude previously are creating  new works to be exhibited as part of the LCA; Mode 2, Johnny Cole and James Rueben.

Also exhibiting as part of LCA will be:

A large group of artists showing existing works; David Blandy, Caroline Wright, Jake Clarke, Luke Losey, Tim Simmons, Paul Burgess, Louise Colbourne, Dryden Goodwin, Jenny Baines, Zoë Brown, Jim Hobbs, Matt Hulse, Kate Street, Semiconductor and Vicki Thornton.

A sound gallery playing existing works by artists including Stephen O’Malley, Carsten Nicolai and Pauline Oliveros as well as a film gallery showing films by artists including Johanna Billing, Vlatka Horvat and Superflex.

A film gallery showing the existing works of: Paul Rooney, Graham Dolphin, Jaki Irvine, Lars Laumann, Saskia Homkvist, Calros Casas + Nico Vascellari, Klara Liden, Marthe Torshaug, Superflex, Maja Borg, Luke Fowler, Johanna Billing, Bernard Behr, Tris Vonna Michell, Simon Dybbroe Moller, Cyprien Galliard, Sutapa Biswas, Libia Castro and Olafur Olafursson, Tube Choir, Joachim Koester, Tarantula, Andrea Buettner, David Ray Conroy, Patrick Ward, Ruth Proctor, Martin Soto Climent, Graeme Miller and Vlatka Horvat.

Latitude is dedicated to giving its audience only the best and most eclectic ensemble of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret for three spectacular days and as ever, this focus has delivered a line-up like no other.

Musical highlights over the weekend include Obelisk Arena headliners Florence + the Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend as well as The National, The xx, Empire Of The Sun, Laura Marling, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jonsi, Midlake and Spoon to name just a few.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy the comedy stylings of Emo Philips, Phill Jupitus & Friends Improv Show, Richard Herring; literary musings from the ever-popular Robin Ince’s Book Club with Kevin Eldon, Jo Neary, Robyn Hitchcock, Josie Long & Gavin Osborn; leftfield poetry from Eddie Argos; and dramatic performances courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse in association with Paines Plough.