A Day of Creativity and Curiosity

What do art and astronomy have in common?
What can artists and astronomers learn from each other?
Let’s find out together…

A Day of Creativity and Curiosity is a whole day of conversation, workshops and performances programmed by An Lanntair in partnership with Ione Parkin and Gillian McFarland (pictured above with Chris Lintott), lead artists on Creativity and Curiosity, an ongoing project bringing together artists and astronomers.

10am – Art and astronomy
An introduction to the themes of the day, and to our Creativity and Curiosity exhibition, with artists Gillian McFarland and Ione Parkin, and astronomer Dr Amaury Triaud

12pm – The Typographical Planet, with Kate Bernstein and Sian Prosser
A fascinating collaboration between contemporary book artist and printmaker Kate Bernstein and Royal Astronomical Society librarian and archivist, Dr Sian Prosser.

1.30pm – Creativity and Curiosity film programme
A series of short films bringing together the worlds of art and astronomy.

3pm – Karine Polwart in conversation
The singer-songwriter discusses the ideas behind her brand new theatre project, The Only Light Was Stars.

Additional afternoon event TBA

7pm – Chris Lintott and Steve Pretty’s Universe (of Music)
What’s the connection between astronomy and jazz? This evening of conversation, contemplation, science and music brings together two expert enthusiasts – Chris Lintott (BBC’s The Sky at Night) and musician Steve Pretty – to explore each others’ domains and hunt for the Venn diagram in the middle.

9pm – Opticks – a ‘visual moonbounce’ event with Daniela De Paulis
Want to send a photo to the moon and back? OPTICKS is a Cosmic Mail Art performance between the Earth and the Moon, by interdisciplinary artist Daniela De Paulis, in collaboration with radio operators from around the world.

PLUS – Dark Skies workshops
11am – An introduction to astrophotography
2pm – Exploring exoplanets
4pm – How to build a life-size sculpted astronaut