Futuresonic

Art: Art Programme Revealed

Futuresonic's 2009 art programme is more ambitious and relevant than ever. It explores the perennial Futuresonic focus on society, technology and the city with an emphasis on the theme of Environment 2.0.

Some things to look out for in mid-May include hanging musical plants which sing when stroked, a forest in the gallery grown from Joseph Beuys' acorns, a public recital of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and murderball rugby played by wheelchair users in a simulation of Darwin's battle of the species.

There will also be music played by scanning 2D barcode graffiti across the city, a project with Met Office and Natural History Museum engaging the population of Manchester in monitoring the city's climate and biodiversity, and, following on from Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, John Lennon's Imagine ringing out on the loudest cathedral bells in the world in Liverpool.

Futuresonic is also pleased to announce that this year's Art Commission Award recipient is Jonathan Cohrs. His project will involve prospecting for oil across Manchester using an art device he has built using hydrocarbon sensors, old metal detectors and locative media.

Jonathan's combining of custom made DIY technology within highly accessible public engagement, putting a sharp focus on today's environmental debate on fossil fuels in the process, made Jonathan's work stand out to the Art Commission Award jury.

All Futuresonic artworks are participatory and will be sited in public spaces within a distinctly Mancunian urban context. A dedicated central gallery space will also be created at CUBE gallery. For full details of the arts programme click here.