Barrow AFC Digital Residency

2008/09

“Glenn Boulter worked in and around Barrow AFC Football Club over the course of 2008 to deliver a piece of work for installation at the start of the 2008-9 season. The project was led by artist and Barrow supporter John Hall with the support of Arts Council England, Cumbria Arts In Education, Aim Higher, Barrow Borough Council and partner schools from across Cumbria.”

Project summary by John Hall from the match programme, September 2009:

“Glenn has been working with the Barrow AFC Orchestra, comprised of children from Barrow Island Community Primary School, to devise a 15 minute performance in which the musicians play in response to a live football match, using a battery of conventional and unusual instrumentation alongside crowd sounds from recent Barrow triumphs.

In the souvenir shop, alongside Glenn's two limited edition lino prints, you can find copies of a new screen print designed by Glenn and printed in an edition of 150 to accompany the project. These beautiful prints are priced at £5 each and, as with the lino prints, all proceeds will go to Barrow AFC.   

Supporters entering the stand from the Ironworks end will have a chance to see Unbridled, a video piece produced by Glenn's colleague Francis O' Donnell Smith. The film is based around an interview at Holker Street with Geoff Payne, a lifetime BAFC supporter of 55 years and looks at the themes of football and memory and the role digital technology increasingly plays in this. It also captures scenes of Barrow's unique local landscape through images of Holker Street, Barrow Island and Walney Island Caravan Park. Unbridled will be simultaneously projected onto three large-scale screens in the space directly beneath the stand throughout today's match. A transcript of the interview between Francis and Geoff can be found online at: barrowafcdigital.blogspot.com

This piece and others will also be presented alongside the full range of Glenn's work at Barrow AFC in the club's hospitality suite on Friday the 17th of October. This will include live performances from Glenn's group Aurelie and Barrow fan / actor / musician Damian Rose.