Hailed as “one of Manchester’s most innovative nights” (Manchester Wire), Video Jam is an ongoing series of unique, experimental events which seek to explore and re-examine the relationship between moving image and live sound. Each programme feature a wide variety of contemporary short films of all genres, with a particular emphasis on experimental and independent moving image by emerging and professional artists alike. For each of these films commissioned, a different musical act or sound artist to compose an original soundtrack of their own interpretation to be performed as a live accompaniment, resulting in what we call a ‘blind collaboration’. As curators we act as the go-between, bringing together these two elements to create a new, third entity to be witnessed as a live experience.
Video Jam has swiftly become an indispensable part of the arts and experimental events culture in the North West of the UK and beyond, providing an accessible critical forum for dialogue surrounding live sound and moving image. We are committed to creating engaging, progressive and site specific events that seek to promote cultural exchange, support the development of pioneering artists, forge dynamic partnerships and challenge conventional ideologies within these two medium. The collective was borne out of a desire to identify and promote emerging and marginalised film and sound artists that lack representation, and continually seeks to showcase relevant work of excellence within non-commercial fields to ever expanding new audiences. Whilst our priority is to programme the most exciting and interesting work we can find, our emphasis is always on inclusion and variety.
Conceptualised and initiated from scratch by Sarah Hill and a very small team of emerging artists, curators and promoters, Video Jam continues to operate on a D.I.Y, not-forprofit basis, attracting consistently large audiences of up to 1,000.
Since its inception in January 2012, the collective have hosted 26 unique, site-specific events within the UK and beyond, including a live stream to Silent Barn in New York, cross country collaborations with Falmouth University, and a residency with CANVAS in Ibiza, Spain. We have organised both seated and promenade events in venues as diverse as a Cathedral, a glass atrium, underground vaults and a music hall in the round; in collaboration with numerous collectives and organisations including groundbreaking new media festival Abandon Normal Devices, experimental music festival Fat Out Fest, Salford’s much loved Sounds from the Other City, the wonderful Manchester Art Gallery and the newly expanded Whitworth Art Gallery.
Video Jam have forged an ever-growing unique network of over 300 artists and showcased many first works by emerging regional film talent, providing visibility within programmes featuring award winning international artists such as Jeremy Deller, Dieter Moebius, Soda Jerk, Phil Solomon and Ryan Gander. We have screened films between 1 minute and 40 minutes of all genres, scored by musical acts as diverse as opera, marching bands, guitar orchestras and iPhones, and continue to work with sound artists and musicians spanning all genres, from electronic to jazz to spoken word and everything in-between.