New commission will celebrate the sounds of Milton Keynes for MK50

The project is part of City Club and will be led by Bletchley Park working in partnership with Milton Keynes’ arts and heritage organisations, the Open University and MK Gallery.

The artwork will explore the heritage of Milton Keynes and the way in which sound relates to people, memory, time and place.

Describing her plans to develop the work, Devine said: “I am starting a sonic investigation of Milton Keynes that will include sounds, signals and voices from the city.

“I’ll be listening, researching archives, making field recordings and interviews and presenting this work both in the form of a multi-channel sound installation and online.”

The resulting piece is set to be installed in centre:mk in October 2017.

Iain Standen, Chief Executive Officer of the Bletchley Park Trust said: “Bletchley Park is an important element of the heritage of Milton Keynes and we are proud to be playing a part in the 50th birthday celebrations.

“As Bletchley Park is a birthplace of the digital age, it is very fitting for us to lead the digital strand of the City Club project.

“We look forward to Caroline Devine’s innovative work delivering a bridge between the past and the future, and an exciting experience for everyone to enjoy.”

Kevin Duffy, Centre Director at centre:mk added: “centre:mk has a long, proud history of supporting the arts in Milton Keynes and we are delighted to host this exciting soundscape by Caroline Devine.

“Our iconic building is the perfect venue for interesting and unusual art installations, and they never fail to surprise and delight our guests.” Devine’s site-specific sound installations provide playful and unexpected encounters with sound outside of a conventional gallery setting.”

For more information visit www.mkgallery.org