Join LUX Scotland at Collective for a special event with artist Rachel McBrinn, sharing new research which constellates around ‘LIVINGSTON – A PLAN FOR LIVING’, a 1976 propaganda film made to promote McBrinn’s hometown of Livingston, one of Scotland’s postwar new towns.
One of many new town propaganda films made around this time, the film features actors playing a family who start a new life in Livingston, and aims to showcase the town’s industrial potential to prospective international investors. Through archival research and conversations with the cast and crew of this film, as well as her own family members, Rachel considers what the production and distribution of this film can tell us about the distortions of the screen encounter.
‘*NOT AS RECORDED’ has been devised to share research Rachel is developing towards a work in progress. This research period has been supported by LUX Scotland and has included paid research and development time; materials and travel; mentorship; and concludes with this public sharing event.
Rachel McBrinn (she/her) is an Edinburgh-based artist and filmmaker. Her practice is often collaborative and informed by long term site-responsive or archival research. Recent projects include an 18-month residency at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, and she is currently working on a moving image commission that responds to Edinburgh’s North Bridge, in collaboration with Jonathan Webb. Her work has shown recently at Travelling Gallery, Fruitmarket, Market Gallery, CCA Glasgow, Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, and Cove Park.
Thanks to The National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive for their support and to LUX Scotland for programming the event.