15 September, 2004

Thursday 23 September 2004 Natural History Museum\’s Darwin Centre, 7.30pm 15 September 2003 PR No. 11/2004 A new electro-acoustic composition is premi?d at the Natural History Museum\’s Darwin Centre on 23 September. ANTARCTICA – musical images from the frozen continent is a unique piece of music created using field recordings from composer Craig Vear\’s visit to Antarctica with British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Thanks to a new fellowship created from a partnership between BAS and Arts Council England, Craig Vear spent three months living and working with scientists and support staff at four of the BAS research stations and on its Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross in 2003/4. He says: \”This piece reflects my experiences in one of the world\’s last great wildernesses. I was greatly influenced by my interactions with scientists researching into ways in which the Antarctic directly affects our environment. It has changed my life and the way in which I view our planet\” Tickets for the premi? are free, but are on a first come first served basis. Telephone the Darwin Centre booking line on 0207 942 5555 for details.

Issued by British Antarctic Survey Press Office. Press enquiries to Athena Dinar on tel. (01223) 221414, a.dinar@bas.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

This new programme is one of a series of activities being organised by BAS to link the arts and sciences, which included the successful commission of a new Antarctic Symphony by acclaimed composer, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. This was premi?d at the Royal Festival Hall in May 2001. Sir Peter spent a month living with scientists and support staff in Antarctica in 1997/8 gaining a valuable insight into the world\’s greatest natural laboratory. Further details on the fellowships are available on the BAS website at www.antarctica.ac.uk. General information about the British Antarctic Survey British Antarctic Survey is responsible for most of the UK\’s research in Antarctica. It is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council. More information about the work of the Survey can be found on our website: www.antarctica.ac.uk

General information about the Arts Council of England The Arts Council is the national body for the arts in England. It distributes public money from Government and the National Lottery to artists and arts organisations, and is responsible for developing, sustaining and promoting the arts in England. The Arts Council is an independent, non-political body working at arm\’s length from the Government. On 1 April 2002, the Arts Council of England and the 10 Regional Arts Boards joined together to form a single development organisation for the arts.