This City's Centre: Your Perspective

Exeter city centre residents are needed for an ambitious art project that will result in a video installation at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) this summer and provide inspiration for performances around the city later in the year.

In a project called This City’s Centre, the Devon-based art collective Blind Ditch, will explore some of the many different points of view offered by the homes, streets and vistas of central Exeter. The result will be a contemporary portrait of an English rural city that explores the tensions between public, private and privatised public spaces through the views of the windows from people’s homes, and the views of the residents who live in them.

Paula Crutchlow, Artistic Director of Blind Ditch said, "Busy with the hustle and bustle of our every day routines, we get used to seeing our city in a particular way. This project invites members of the public to experience their familiar city centre surroundings through new eyes. Perhaps leading us to think a bit more about how daily life in the City Centre affects us and our general feeling of community. We want to make something that represents a broad perspective, so we're looking to work with a really wide range of people and views."

Greg Sheldon, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for Environment and Leisure, said: “This is an imaginative forum for residents to express their views and help shape the way we feel about life in Exeter. A vibrant cultural scene helps make Exeter a great place to live, work and visit and we are delighted to be supporting this project. It promises to be entertaining and informative and will stimulate thought and debate about our city.”

Participants don’t need any experience at all, just a willingness to share their thoughts on the view from their window and what the city means to them. General contributions will remain anonymous, but Blind Ditch is also looking for a particular group of 20 people to work with in more depth.

Residents interested in taking part should send in a picture of the view from their window and approximately 50 words about what they see, think and daydream about whilst looking out of it using the This City’s Centre website: http://www.thiscityscentre.net/upload-your-view. The photographs and texts will be displayed on the website and 20 of these views will be explored further in the exhibition at RAMM and in subsequent mixed media installations around the city.
There will be an open public meeting on 21 March between 6 and 7pm at Exeter Phoenix Cafe Bar where residents can ask Blind Ditch more about the project and what it will involve. For more information email info@thiscityscentre.net.

Follow Blind Ditch @thiscityscentre for updates on windows, views and events happening as part of the project.

This City’s Centre is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Exeter City Council and delivered in partnership between Blind Ditch, Exeter Phoenix, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter City Council and Exeter College.