The MediaShed - Southend on Sea

The MediaShed Initiative began with the “Grow Your Own Media Lab” workshop which took place one weekend in December, 2005. It was started with the philosophy and in the studio of the artist group Mongrel. It now has a extremely varied and active user base around Southend on Sea.

The MediaShed have taken the idea of open-source far beyond using Linux operating systems and open-source software to incorporate projects involving bicycles, redundant library books, surveillance cameras and kites.

‘Free-media is best thought of as a means of doing art, making things or just saying what you want for little or no financial cost by using public domain software and recycled equipment. It is also about saying what you want “freely”, using accessible media that can be taken apart and reused without unnecessary restrictions and controls - “free as in free speech”.’ 1

Graham suggested that it was unlikely that people would want to immediately engage in learning about open source software so The MediaShed spent time finding out what people are up to creatively and using this as a starting point.

On the subject of art, Graham suggested that Mongrels philosophy has always been to apply art methodologies to non art groups, and to apply the art ideas that the community have to projects as opposed to trying to apply art ideas onto the community.

This approach of promoting peoples ideas is closely linked to Mongrels art practice;

‘We usually work with marginalised peoples who are on low incomes, socially excluded and cultural minorities. We do this buy helping people to do things for themselves, creating community software and digital arts based projects that we then promote to a state of high visibility through our international network of arts connections.’ 2

Mongrel – the host organisation (Graham Harwood, Richard Wright, Matsuko Yokokoji)

MediaShed mebership

The MediaShed now has over 100 members and has run workshops, several screenings and exhibition events and has just completed its first public project “Video Sniffin” for the “Being Here” event.

Check the website http://www.mediashed.org

Check the website http://www.mediashed.org

Unit 38, Grainger Road Industrial Estate, Southend on Sea, SS2 5DD

In many ways the MediaShed is a little off the map its behind a B&Q in an industrial estate. According to Graham this works really well as they get a large amount of people turning up to particular events, rather than a large amount of drop in visitors. Because of the restrictions of this location many of their events happen in other sites across Southend on Sea, and the world.

The MediaShed will be a community Interest Company funded from ACE, Regeneration grants, and from it’s non-formal learning activities.

http://mediashed.org

1.Taken from http://mediashed.org

2.Taken from http://www.mongrel.org.uk/