The offer for Artists and Makers
Refractive aims to unite digital makers, film makers, photographers and creative thinkers across Renfrewshire through promotion, exhibition of work, peer meet up events, advanced skills workshops, masterclasses, career support and advocacy.
Refractive at the Witherspoon Hub offers the following facilities and support methodologies to Makers:
- Free production space, 6 production desks are available to the Refractive network members to use in the Witherspoon Building. Spaces long term and short term should be booked in advance.
- Access to workshop space, whether you want to meet partners, run auditions or script readings our workshop room can accommodate 25 people. Space should be booked in advance.
- Access to Equipment including printers, iMac editing softwear, Dell Graphic programmes and other Industry softwear, Sound and projection equipment indoor and outdoor, cameras and 360immersion kit, various cameras, stills and cinematic (Refractive are a new organization and we will be building our equipment resources over the next 12 months, by the time we move to the Hugh Smiley Building in Nov 2024 we will have developed a tools and equipment resource).
- Peer Showcasing and networking events, these are meet up events were we showcase the work of artists in the sectors.
Advance Skills Workshops – this is a series of workshops designed to advance skills of makers in the Region. Initial Workshops include:
- Taking your first steps in Screenwriting with Gary Hewitt (monthly)
- 4 Track Nights, A series of experimental music and noise culture workshops (Spring 2024)
- Digital Illustration and Design with Indie McCue (Weekly)
- Working with RED Digital Cinema Cameras with Steve Johnstone (2 day class, Spring 2024)
- Performing Puppets to Camera (Spring 2024)
- Photography workshops – advance your skills. (Spring 2024)
- Analogue and older cameras revisited (Spring 2024)
- Industry lectures with Sector partners, PACT, Bectu, Equity, Skills Scotland, Screen Scotland and Film Hub Scotland.
- Promoting and screening / exhibiting the work of Regional makers including film (features and short), photography, digital art, immersion, lumia, gaming. Makers are invited to contribute work for exhibition at all career stages.
- National and international makers Masterclasses connected to our Independent film screenings, Digital Arts exhibitions and Advanced Skills workshop programmes.
- Access to participate in national and international artist exchange programmes and Go and See events developed by Refractive.
- Online promotions: Makers blogs with live news and research for the sector from the Refractive Website and social channels.
- Project development support, collaboration and network connection for makers at all career stages, Green arts practice support to develop environmental sustainability across all film and digital sectors.
The offer for audiences and communities (in advance of The Paisley Film and Media Space opening)
Film screenings and Digital Exhibitions in Renfrewshire venues
(Full programme to be announced shortly)
The Refractive Hub at Witherspoon will reach out to communities connected to Rural venues and present Independent film screenings of the work of both Renfrewshire film makers and current National independent cinema.
Film Screenings will take place in the following locations:
- Paisley Town Hall and other town centre locations
- Erskine Arts Centre
- Elderslie Village Hall
- Lochwinnoch
- Johnstone
This is to help showcase the work of the Renfrewshire film makers and build an audience for contemporary cinema in advance of our small cinema opening.
The Paisley Film & Media space in Central Paisley
Refractive are currently in negotiation with The University of the West of Scotland to potentially present the Paisley Film and Media Space at the Hugh Smiley Building on Storie Street. This development is dependent on sufficient restoration funding being raised for the building.
This partnership provides an inspired example of presenting tangible career routes for students where they can see the work of Film makers and Digital Artists and understand more about the complexities of the film and media sectors they are training for.
The overriding focus of the Paisley Film and Media Space will be to present innovation in the professional sectors through partnerships and exhibitions of diverse national and international digital artists and film makers.
The Building will contain:
- exhibition rooms
- A small 30 seat cinema / interchangeable production space
- Production spaces
- A Renfrewshire film and digital Archive project room
- A darkroom for artists use
- Equipment store
Refractive aims to reveal and exhibit the incredible work our artists are creating using digital technology and film. So you can expect to see the following artwork curated from this building:
- Contemporary Independent Film Screenings including documentary, drama, Short films, film essays all around diverse themes and genre from local, national and international makers.
- Digital Art exhibitions including Projection Mapping, Lumia, Mixed formats, 360 immersion and cave experiences, including UWS student Showcases
- Game Jams (including 48 hr experiences)
- Film maker retrospectives
- Photography Exhibitions
- National and international makers Q&As and lectures connected to our Independent film screenings, Digital Arts exhibitions and Advanced Skills workshop programmes.
- Access to the new Renfrewshire Film/Digital Art Archive for Researchers and members of the public
- A reimagined Paisley Film Festival and other artist led Digital Arts Festivals.
