British Art in Motion

We define British art and architecture in the broadest possible terms. The Paul Mellon Centre (PMC) promotes activities that enhance and expand the knowledge of British art and architecture. We see this as a category from which and about which you can start asking questions without fixing its boundaries.

If you are unsure if the work of art or architecture that you would like your film to explore falls into the category of British art then please get in touch with our Networks Administrator, Anthony Tino, at [email protected]

Practice-based research is understood to be research that involves elements of making, doing or experimenting, which leads to non-textual outputs. In this case, we would like the output to be film. Practice-based research should provide insights or create new understandings that standard research methodologies might not achieve. Practice-based research using the medium of film should include the following:

• research that is underpinned by a clearly stated question, or questions
• new, distinctive and original insights
• a structured and clearly articulated process of inquiry that includes documented moments of critical reflection and new/original insights
• research that is situated in a lineage of similar practices and contextualised within relevant literature and contemporary debate

The competition is aimed at undergraduate students whose studies engage closely and critically with visual art materials, including art history, architecture, art and film students. We welcome applications from UK-based undergraduate students in other disciplines where there is a demonstrable engagement with art history and methodologies. An education in art history is not an essential criterion. We are interested in hearing ideas from students from a range of backgrounds and perspectives, studying any subject, at any UK-based university, in any year of their course.

No. We don’t expect you to have filmmaking experience or to be studying on a filmmaking undergraduate course when you apply. If you are successful in passing through to Round Two, you will attend a week-long training programme which will include sessions on how to film and edit moving images. You will then be given support by experts in filmmaking and research over the summer months to produce a high-quality film.

We are committed to ensuring this opportunity is open and accessible to all, and there is a budget in place for access needs. This can fund anything from childcare to additional night’s accommodation to help participants ensure they have enough rest. We assess requests on a case-by-case basis. If you are unsure whether our provision will cover your needs, we would be very happy to talk this through with you. Please contact our Networks Administrator, Anthony Tino, [email protected] if you would like to discuss this further.

You will be required to attend the entire course in London, whether you already have filmmaking experience or not. The course will include sessions on copyright clearance and how to use archival footage as well as providing valuable social time with other students. We see this course as essential training that each participant needs in order to produce a high-quality film as well as an opportunity for us to get to know each other.

Yes. There is no remote offer and so your attendance in London is essential. We fully fund travel within the UK, accommodation and subsistence and have a budget to pay for any access requirements you may have that might otherwise make a trip to London prohibitive.

You must be enrolled at a UK-based university on the date of applying for British Art in Motion. You may be in your final year, and therefore will graduate before the final stages of the competition.

While we recognise that filmmaking is often a collaborative process, submissions will be accepted only from individual applicants. You may choose to include others in small elements of making your film, such as contributing music, but you must be the researcher, writer and producer of your entry.

As well as specialist filmmaking training, you will be:

• assigned a mentor who will offer you guidance about research and filmmaking
• given two sessions with a researcher to help you develop the research content of your film
• given support to ensure copyright and image licensing is arranged properly
• offered logistical and administrative support from the team at the PMC for filming

The PMC will give each student a budget of £500. This can be spent on clearing copyright and image licensing, equipment, interview fees, public liability insurance, props, permissions to film on location and travel, as well as other production costs. This money is held and administered by the PMC and, where it is possible, we will make payments on your behalf. Occasionally this is not achievable, so we will endeavour to reimburse you as soon as possible.

We expect all participants to limit their expenditure to £500. We do not allow participants to borrow money or spend their own money on the production of their films.

If the filmmaking course clashes with your university exams, please get in touch with us. We will try to accommodate you as best we can.

You do not need to be a British citizen to apply for British Art in Motion, but you do need to be enrolled at a UK-based university. It is important to note that we are only able to fund travel within the UK for the programme in London in June and so you need to ensure you are in the country that week.

Your film will not be included in the competition and you will not be eligible for any of the prizes. Depending on the circumstances of your late submission, your film may still be shown at the film screening and may still be uploaded to the PMC’s website.

If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Networks Administrator, Anthony Tino, at [email protected]