Peer Zumbansen – Academic Director

Mars Horodyski – Acting Artistic Director 2009-2010

Gregory Smith – On leave 2010

Overview

Curl is a state-of-the-art multimedia and research facility committed to collaboration among social scientists, lawyers, urban studies scholars and geographers with documentary filmmakers, digital media artists and photographers with the intention of contributing to a more complex understanding and layered representation of global cities.

Academic Mandate

Though CURL began as a platform to promote collaboration between academics, lawyers and artists on urban-related multimedia projects, it originated as a series of academic initiatives. Before the establishment of CURL’s permanent space and the procurement of digital media equipment, a core group of members established a yearly reading lab.

The lab’s interdisciplinary scope – readings range from literature through law to more traditional takes on urban theory – allowed participants to begin developing an informed mandate for the institute. Moreover, it provided concrete evidence as to the fruitfulness of involving both artists and academics in discussions about the state of contemporary cities.

In addition to running an annual reading lab, CURL was also instrumental in organizing and hosting a conference on Toronto in March of last year. Like the reading lab, the conference sought to involve participants from a variety of backgrounds. Focused on different areas of governance in Toronto, such as municipal governance reform, immigration and employment, the conference provided a platform for city employees, activists, lawyers and academics to share common concerns and ideas about Toronto.

While CURL will be hosting both a reading lab and organizing a conference this year as well, it also provides other avenues for interdisciplinary academic engagement with city-related topics. In addition to the conference, we are planning on hosting a series of more informal discussions on contemporary urban governance issues, particularly those related to changes in legislation which affect local concerns. With regard to written work, we are looking forward to posting book reviews, articles and other writing on our website, a forum which will include both long, formal pieces about cities and shorter, more informal daily blog-like updates. Finally, we hope to establish an edited paper series on urban governance to be commenced in the coming year.

Multimedia Mandate

One of the primary driving factors behind CURL is the shared belief that cities require visual depiction to be properly understood, and are uniquely suited to joint visual and academic collaboration. CURL’s main expenditure to date has been the purchase of a state-of-the-art HD media facility, including a full HD production equipment package, full HD post-production facilities, a sound production recording studio and digital photography equipment.

Use of the equipment is open to those who propose viable, engaging projects related to city life, urban growth, governance and development and other related areas, and is generally very low-cost. In addition to addressing appropriate subject matter those taking advantage of CURL’s equipment will be required to collaborate on their project (even in just a consultative sense) with other members of the lab. It is our hope that this will provide for the valuable cross-fertilization of ideas and techniques between filmmakers and academics.

In addition to facilitating the production of documentary and narrative film, CURL will also organize and host other multimedia initiatives. In January, a screening series will commence, showcasing various films both about and iconically depicting, various cities. We will also organize tutorials intended to familiarize people with our equipment.

Facility

Located on York University’s campus, CURL has wide-range of equipment available for use by students and collaborators. In addition to the full HD media production equipment, CURL houses computer stations accessible though York login passwords and printers and has begun compiling a library on urban theory. Use of the lab is open to those that participate in the reading groups, film screenings and by-weekly meetings. Currently, it is open from 10am to 5pm on Tuesday through Thursday, though extensions in opening hours will be announced on the website and through email.

Get Involved

There are many ways in which you can become involved with CURL. Dates regarding various seminars and screenings will be posted on our website and emailed on a regular basis. Besides mere attendance, we are currently looking for contributors to our website. Please email either Gregory or Mars (contact info below) if you are interested in providing essays, book reviews, urban musings, blogging or photography for online publication. Finally, if you are interested in proposing a more major film, photography or research project, we have a set of application criteria which we will be glad to provide you with.

Contact:

Mars Horodyski

Artistic Director, CURL

mars@criticalresearchlab.org

Gregory Smith

On Leave 2010