| Since the late 1980's a number of Nottingham, UK based organisations, primarily Broadway Cinema, Intermedia Film and Video and CODA (Community Data) have been steadily working towards the idea of an integrated 'Media Centre' - a place where key companies working in convergent creative media and computer technologies could be found under the same roof. It was conceived as a place where top-class equipment, technical resources and expertise would be found, where commissions could be obtained, productions made and exhibited, and where training was available as a first step towards working in the media industry. All this within a building housing one of the best independent Regional Film Theatres in the UK. |
Thus in the summer of 1998, when CODA relocated into the Broadway building, did the Nottingham Media Centre dream take another big step nearer to reality. The building now houses not only the cinema, computer, film and video organisations, but the East Midlands Screen Commission, the East Midlands Media Initiative and fledgling media companies working in such diverse areas as web design, internet arts, film and video production, digital graphics, animation and live new media events (see 'our partners' page). In a short space of time the Media Centre has become the focus of production excellence in independent media and digital creativity - not just in Nottingham, but in the East Midlands as a whole - and is a lively and exciting place for cinema audiences to mix with artists, musicians, writers, film-makers, designers and the technical experts that support them. The Nottingham Media Centre is not only a focus for creative media activity in the Lace Market 'Cultural Quarter' of Nottingham. It heralds a new era in collaborative 'cluster' working - where micro businesses with specialist expertise work closely together on collaborative, co-operative projects. CODA is commited to playing the fullest role, working alongside the other consortium members, in building the Nottingham Media Centre into the East Midlands' centre of excellence for independent cinema exhibition and education, film and video production and training, new media and digital arts commissioning and production, and as an artists support agency and media venue. We aim to make the Media Centre a significant national and international focus - not only for the production of excellent, top quality innovative work, but also for the public enjoyment of and participation in the exciting world of technology creativity.
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