91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬ today launches the Blast Studio – an interactive art installation on London's South Bank that will allow young people to create a piece of collaborative work in real-time over the internet.

The project aims to help teenagers explore their own creativity by experimenting with different artistic styles in an interactive environment.

The Blast Studio has been produced by the 91Èȱ¬ as an experimental introduction to 91Èȱ¬ Blast, the social learning initiative that supports the development of creative skills in 13 to 19 year olds.

Blast online is at the heart of the initiative, allowing participants to upload their own content and gain feedback from both peers and media industry professionals.

This year's Blast tour is visiting 29 cities across the UK offering free media industry workshops, and the highly successful Blast work-placement scheme has so far put 350 young people a year into placements in the creative industries.

Content created by users on the website and the tour will be collected throughout the year and a showcase will be screened on 91Èȱ¬ Two in November 2009.

With the Blast Studio installation housed in The Topolski Studio at London's Southbank Centre, young people will get an opportunity to take part in creating a real exhibit.

The new Blast Studio lets participants contribute to the installation by controlling machines remotely via a 91Èȱ¬ Blast mini-site. The machines then create the installation in real time: by firing paint against the walls, adding to a sculpture, creating a custom audio-visual sequence using hanging strip lights, or using automatic typewriters, the installation will be created organically over a four-week period.

Members of the public will be able to view the display at all times, by visiting the Blast Studio at London's Southbank as well as online 24-hours a day.

Liz Cleaver, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ Learning, said: "The idea of being creative can be pretty daunting, if you don't consider yourself to be particularly artistic. But in fact there's some creativity in all of us and sometimes all you need is a bit of inspiration. 91Èȱ¬ Blast is all about inspiring young people to explore their own creativity, through technology and interactivity, and thanks to the Southbank we've been able to do something completely different to kick-start off this summer's tour."

91Èȱ¬ 1Xtra DJ Gemma Cairney and 91Èȱ¬ Blast supporter said: "The creative industries are very competitive and gaining credible experience can really make the difference when applying for jobs. 91Èȱ¬ Blast gives young people the opportunity to develop their skills in fashion, music, film or dance which will really help them when they're deciding on their future careers."

Participants can test and flex their creativity, contributing to the Blast Studio by visiting www.blastgetcreative.co.uk.

The Studio will be live from 12 May until 9 June 2009. The Blast Tour comes to the London Southbank Centre from 11 to 13 June.

Further information about 91Èȱ¬ Blast and the Blast Tour, including how to pre-register for the creative workshops, can be found at bbc.co.uk/blast.

Notes to Editors

The 91Èȱ¬ is committed to education and 91Èȱ¬ Blast is just one of the many unique and varied offerings from 91Èȱ¬ Learning. For more information on all other learning programmes offered for adults, teachers, parents and students, visit bbc.co.uk/learning.

The Blast Studio was conceived, designed and built by London creative agency, Fallon.

Further details of the machines that users can control remotely:

Paint machines will fire paint pellets at a blank wall. Users can control the shape, colour, stroke and location. The shape can be drawn by a computer mouse – or the participant's finger movements could be picked up mid-air by their own webcam.

Sculptures can be created collaboratively, with users able to direct a flow of coloured glue onto a turntable, controlling the thickness or the speed and direction of the turntable itself. Each person's contribution will be added on top of the previous – creating a huge stacking structure.

Light & Music – 30 strip lights will be hung in five different areas of the space. Each set will have individual sounds or a musical scale linked to each bulb. The user will control the lights and sounds temporarily by moving along the different hanging strips of bulbs creating their own musical sequences.

Writing – printing machines fixed to the side of the space will print out text, symbols and figures generated by users.

91Èȱ¬ Blast

91Èȱ¬ Blast is the 91Èȱ¬'s network of creative teenagers. It provides access to industry professionals both online and in free events and workshops across the UK. With opportunities to showcase talent, enter competitions and get exclusive experiences such as work experience, it's the place for teenagers to get creative.

Its aim is to encourage those who are curious about their own creativity, feel uninspired by formal learning and are looking for support and advice about how they might get started in music, dance, fashion, writing, film, art or design. 91Èȱ¬ Blast offers various ways to get involved – online, participation on a Blast tour, work placements or through various competitions and events.

This year sees a revamp of the 91Èȱ¬ Blast online services, with fantastic new video resources that inspire, teach and help develop young people's creative skills. Films online feature expert interviews from rappers, designers, TV presenters, all designed to help build users creative confidence.

91Èȱ¬ Blast also offers competitions and events throughout the year. One of this year's schemes gives ten participants the opportunity to create and launch their own fashion label at London Fashion week. A full list of competitions and events can be found online at bbc.co.uk/blast.

Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre is the UK's largest arts centre, occupying a 21-acre site that sits in the midst of London's most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames.

The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain.

Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and The Hayward as well as The Saison Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection.

The Royal Festival Hall reopened in June 2007 following the major refurbishment of the hall and redevelopment of the surrounding area and facilities.

Topolski

Topolski Century is the artist Feliks Topolski's visual record of the personalities and the social and political upheavals of the 20th century. The painting was given to the nation in 1984 and opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

It is still housed in the railway arches next to the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank, and is open to the public, whilst the artist's studio is currently being used to house the new 91Èȱ¬ Blast Studio.

DM