Creative Collaborators announced for 200 Creators, National Gallery’s Bicentenary digital programme
The National Gallery today (30 April 2024) announced the 20 Creative Collaborators given a commission as part of the flagship digital content programme celebrating the Gallery’s Bicentenary, 200 Creators.
Following an open call in autumn 2023 and an Ideas Lab held one evening in the Gallery, and honing of briefs for content, the names and accounts of the successful Creative Collaborators can be revealed. Taking inspiration from every element of the Gallery, from paintings in the collection, to work behind the scenes and the history of the Gallery, the creators have made content that will be released through their own social media channels from July 2024.
The Creative Collaborators are:
@HRHGeorgiana, a lifestyle influencer focussing on things to do around London
@Paperboyo, Rich McCor, a photographer who creates forced perspective illusions with crafted paper cut-outs
@Adeche.Atelier, Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi, a creative couple specialising in African mythology and culture
@HistoryWithMegs, who will be emphasising the integral part women have played in art history
@BrightyBuoy, Christian Brighty, who creates scripted comedy set in the Regency era
@AdamCeramic, a potter interested in turning something from a 2D painting back into an interactive 3D object
@TheRoyalWardrobe, Rosie Harte, a fashion historian inspired by some of the amazing outfits in Gallery paintings
@¬¬_IsabelChan¬_, a period fashion influencer inspired by the 1940s
@Historical_Han_, who will be highlighting works in the collection that focus on mythologies
@SophiaSmithGaler, journalist and self-professed ‘languages nerd’
@HowardLee, an artist who specialises in how-to videos for all levels of aspiring artists
@SteppingThroughFilm, Thomas Duke, who will be celebrating how the Gallery has been used on screen
@CharityKase, a drag artist and former competitor on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
@History_Alice, an author and historian going behind the scenes at the Gallery
@Lizzie.A.Bakes, former Great British Bake Off contestant and neurodiversity advocate
@BooksOnTheBedside, Hana and Hali, two creators highlighting connections between literature and art
@ArtisticSideOfLife_, Maya Land, a surreal collage artist who creates captivating and whimsical worlds
@BrettsThoughts, a quizzer who has been engaging National Gallery staff with trivia around their specialist subjects
@Petite.Blondine, travel creator Emma Cooke who is making content for successful series she produces and curates
@Pinsent_Tailoring, Zack Pinsent, a men's fashion historian and tailor
Each Creative Collaborator has been given a commission worth £4,000 to make their content inspired by the Gallery and was asked to submit an expression of interest, followed by a brief. The Gallery also sought to work with creators with international followings to help the content reach new global audiences.
Making up the rest of the programme is the Creators Network, the members of which will each receive a year’s Membership at the Gallery. The project is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the National Gallery’s digital partner for the Bicentenary.
Ellie Wyant, Social Media and Community Manager, said, ‘Working with our Creative Collaborators has been endlessly exciting – the feeling that fresh ideas and approaches have been coming into the Gallery has been ever present. The creators have certainly flexed their creative muscles, asking to do things in the Gallery that I don’t think have ever been done before. We’re really excited for a summer of creativity, collaborating with our whole creator network.’
Rich McCor, otherwise known as Paperboyo, said, ‘I've been visiting the National Gallery ever since I was young, so to be involved with their Bicentenary celebrations is a genuine honour. It's also an opportunity to have some fun with their vast collection of works and to show some of them off in a new way.’
Lizzie Acker, baker and neurodiversity advocate, said, ‘I had never dreamed of working with the National Gallery as I had so many worries with going to a gallery, but I have found it’s not at all the stuffy place that was in my head. Plus it's not often you get to celebrate a 200th birthday!’
200 Creators is one of a series of Bicentenary digital engagement projects supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The NG200 digital programme will bring the Gallery's collection to new, diverse audiences around the world; provide the foundation for creative interpretations of world-famous art; and share more about the people, history and processes behind the Gallery.
Notes to editors
Supported by
NG200 Digital Partner
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
As part of its longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts, the Bloomberg Connects app offers free digital guides to cultural organisations around the world. With dynamic content exclusive to each partner organisation, the app provides a range of features including video, audio, and text; expert commentary; and way-finding maps.
The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Founded by Parliament in 1824, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by Bellini, Cezanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. The Gallery’s key objectives are to enhance the collection, care for the collection and provide the best possible access to visitors. Admission free. More at www.nationalgallery.org.uk
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