A-LURE is the creation and play of a pilot locative media game within urban and rural environments. The artworks and interactive elements of A-LURE are the result of a long-term creative collaboration between youth communities and artists. The game's conceptual development and play examine: What are the modern cultural lures that tempt us away from confidence, self-respect and cultural acceptance? How do these lures affect us as a culturally diverse society? How do we resist them? How can we create alternative lures that encourage empathy, understanding and respect? A-LURE builds on recent developments in "locative media": an interactive, cross-disciplinary art form that explores the media of communication bound to a location or site. Digital media is installed, located or connected to geographical environments, triggering real social interactions and actions between people and places.

In A-LURE, mobile phones and other communication technologies will be utilised to 'lure' and communicate with players to locate artwork in public spaces throughout Melbourne and two regional locations in April 2008. Artwork formats will include mobile devices, billboards, print media, light-based and interactive installations and large-scale digital projection technology. During A-LURE game play, the wider community will have the opportunity to actively participate as creative content providers, rather than having content delivered to them in passive formats. This active participation will include: an interactive SMS question-answer dialogue; a video-collage dance piece in which the viewer leaves a visual recording of their movements; and an interactive sound installation involving short-wave FM transmitters and aural stories. A-LURE aims to challenge and turn around the dominant protocols of mass media and gaming culture, such as social isolation, competition, and even violence. The A-LURE project is a model for direct public participation amongst the wider community, with multiple opportunities for real-life social interaction. A-LURE has the capacity for future delivery frameworks which will be built into the game format, taking the project to other rural/remote communities, into other Australian cities and internationally.

Visionary Images
VISIONARY IMAGES (VI) = VISUAL CULTURE + SOCIAL CHANGE

Visionary Images utilises contemporary communication media, art, design and technology as tools for artistic intervention, exchange, accessibility and cultural determination with disadvantaged or disengaged youth.VI is at the forefront of artists collaborating with marginalised youth and industry in the use of traditional advertising, media, technology and public space to offer a powerful alternative expression for under-represented youth. Through active partnership development with a range of government, community, arts, and business partners, VI provides its young members with the resources, support and access to professional expertise, innovative technology and exhibition opportunities that are otherwise out of their reach.

Over its nine year history VI has refined its working methodology, using an inclusive, democratic approach, a rigorous conceptual development process and willingness to embrace new technologies and non-traditional artistic concepts, formats and exhibition spaces. This has resulted in the creation of art works that fuse strong community cultural development practices with high artistic innovation and broad audience accessibility. VI artworks have been displayed as massive inflatables on Sandridge Bridge and a 50m pontoon on the Yarra River, in MX-Herald Weekly newspapers, on billboards, as posters in Melbourne laneways, as posters and postcards for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in France and as moving image work on the Federation Square Big Screen and various film festivals.

Contact:
Maria Filippow
PO Box 154
Richmond VIC 3121
Tel +61 3 9427 1351
Fax +61 3 9427 1351
Mob 0407 297 130
info@visionaryimages.org
www.visionaryimages.org