Students to help with TED art installation

A group of students will help French artist JR set up his installation in the streets of Edinburgh ahead of this year’s TED international conference.

TED is a non-profit organisation that brings together experts in the fields of technology, entertainment and design to spread new and important ideas on all aspects of human life.

Its bi-annual conference, TED Global, has been held in California each spring and in Oxford each summer. This year, however, Edinburgh is set to host to the conference for the first time. The organisers have said that Edinburgh was chosen for its academic heritage, historic architecture and cultural vibrancy.

Speakers at the event have not yet been confirmed but last year’s conference included lectures from Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton and Jamie Oliver. The conference is only open to TED members, who pay an annual $6,000 fee and must demonstrate that they are a world leader in their field. It is broadcast online for free.

The TED Prize is a $100,000 fund awarded annually to an outstanding individual, intended to pool the exceptional resources of the TED community. The 2011 winner is JR, a French street artist whose full identity is unknown. He simulates graffiti by flyposting large black and white photographs in public locations.

In the run up to TED Global, he will be creating an art installation in the streets of Edinburgh that will remain on display indefinitely. He has advertised for a workforce of 20 students from the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art to help with the project via the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) volunteering office.

EUSA President Liz Rawlings, who has been liaising with JR’s team, told The Journal that the volunteers will be working in direct contact with JR as he sets up the installation during June.

Ms Rawlings said: “I’m delighted that Edinburgh students will be involved in JR’s new installation. This is an exciting opportunity for students to work with one of the world’s most innovative new street artists on a project which will be unique to the city.”

A spokesperson for JR told The Journal that the project is still being developed and the details are due to be finalised next month. TED Global will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre between 11 July and 15 July 2011.

More information about the volunteering opportunity can be found at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/volunteering or by emailing volunteering@eusa.ed.ac.uk