Submit a proposal for our opening season, 'HOOKED'

From gambling to gear and Facebook to fags, humans are vulnerable to addiction. The HOOKED season will question whether the things that get us hooked actually make life worth living? Why do we become addicted – to fill an inner void? And how do we build a society where we look for happiness in one another rather than in consumer goods? 

Our opening theme ‘HOOKED’ will delve into the complex world of addiction and recovery. The three-month season will be our first full exhibition and associated events programme, held within the new Gallery space when we open on King’s Guy’s Campus in London Bridge in 2018.

Addiction can be defined as a moral problem, a disease and even a crime. In HOOKED, we will consider the underlying factors driving our cravings and explore addiction in three ways:

  • as a pitfall of being human

  • a principle of pleasure

  • an avoidance of pain.

Illicit drugs, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and food are physically addictive, and activities like gambling, work, sex, shopping - even using smartphones – are known addiction drivers. With all there exists a blurred line between regular use and harmful addiction, which is difficult if not seemingly impossible to overcome. HOOKED will examine the tipping point into a harmful cycle and methods of extracting ourselves from it.

We are especially interested in innovative participatory projects that will engage our core 15-25 year-old audience. Suggested themes and topics include:

  • The addiction cycle – craving, harm, recovery, relapse

  • The addicted brain – adolescent brains and brain plasticity

  • The addiction experience – life as an addict, friends or family

  • Stigma – associated with being an addict, wider society

  • Individual and social ‘recovery’ – how do we recover from addiction?

  • Geography – what would an addiction map of London, the UK or the global picture look like? Does place influence addiction?

  • Policy – throughout history, evidence has often been made to fit policy, rather than the other way around. How do we build a society where people can form healthier bonds?

  • Causes of addiction –What makes people vulnerable to addiction?

We’re seeking up to 14 exhibits/installations and five events for this season. Proposals will be funded up to a maximum budget of £2,000 and one outstanding original work may be commissioned with a higher budget of up to £5,000. Costs should cover all artist fees, travel and materials. Please note that these are maximum amounts, not targets. HOOKED will be curated by Daniel Glaser, neuroscientist and Director, Science Gallery London, Jen Wong, Head of Programming, Science Gallery London and a team of curatorial advisors:

  • Katriona Beales, artist

  • Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, consultant psychiatrist, National Problem Gambling Clinic

  • Dr Kyle Dyer, senior lecturer in addiction science at King's College London

  • Dr Luke Mitcheson, clinical psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

The Science Gallery open call model means that anyone with a good idea can submit a proposal but the panel will be particularly looking for proposals that include creative collaborations between science and art.

The deadline for submissions is 16 October 2016 at 17:00 GMT. Find out more.

The HOOKED season will open to the public when the Gallery opens in Spring 2018.

August 17, 2016

 
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