17 March 2016

Timespan is holding its annual True North Conference on the subject of re-writing history. We invite you to reflect on the cultural values we inscribe on the past, the processes and methodologies of writing history and the question of context and selection.

Over the last few years our programme has been concerned with the concept of North. We have been investigating our identity, what remoteness means to us and how we are connected in the past, present and future. We want to pause for a moment to discuss and share the means and ends of how stories can be told.

The True North conference is for everyone: it is for artists, historians, academics, curators, or researchers; for those with an interest in thinking about the past or dreaming about the future.

On Thursday evening, 17th March, we will welcome you to Timespan and Helmsdale with an informal reception and buffet, and a chance to meet with all those who have joined us for the conference. Highlight Arts, whose programme for 2016 shines a light on the Arctic, will present a screening programme which makes visible narratives from the High North, expanding our understanding of this region in transition through the voices of those who call it home.

On Friday and Saturday we have two full days of presentations, conversations, explorations and more.

On the conference agenda for Friday the 18th of March

Intangible Cultural Heritage, a keynote by Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland.
Place Making, a round table discussion on shaping the future through an understanding of place, with presentations by Timespan’s Heritage Officer Jacquie Aitken, curator and art historian Karin de Wild, writer Mike Saunders, and environmental artists Collins & Goto, chaired by Lisa Collinson.
A series of 5 Minute Presentations chaired by Lisa Collinson offering a broad and varied look at re-writing history across disciplines.
Water Thief: Stealing Time a performance piece by Scottish artist Alison Scott with collaborator Alice Tarbuck. Using a water clock – a clepsydra or water thief – to shape a scripted conversation questioning the methodologies we use to measure history.
Time for networking and exploring Helmsdale and the surrounding area.

On the conference agenda for Saturday the 19th of March

A second round table discussion, Shaping Practice, is looking at examples of writing and re-writing as professional practice. Contributors include Lucy Harland, director of Lucidity Media, curator Deirdre MacKenna, historian Elizabeth Ritchie, chaired by Anthony Schrag.
Exploration Sessions, which offer an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the ideas around re-writing histories, along with projects at Timespan. These include a Digital Workshop on Virtual Worlds with our partners from St Andrew’s University, the Monument Card Game with artist Laura Donkers, Visual Narratives with Jo Clements and Mapping the Past, a writing workshop with Laura Tansley and more.
Experiencing North from a phenomenologically and geo-politically view with presentations by Francis Halsall from National College of Art and Design Dublin and others.
Time for networking and exploring Helmsdale and the surrounding area.
Closing our conference will be a session hosted by What Next? Strategic Lead Lizzie Crump. An opportunity to take action from the discussions, and think about how we can take our ideas forward.
 

Further details and  booking information from the Timespan website.