media arts network [ma-net] exists to raise the profile of media* arts practice through discussion, presentation, dissemination and collaborative creative opportunities.

(*By the term 'media', this is understood to include the use of lens-based work, sound, installation, multi-media communications and emergent technologies).

ma-net is a consortium of members who work in organisations, companies and educational institutes with a geographic spread across Cumbria, Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester, enabling both rural and urban agencies to communicate and work together.

MAD: Media Activation Day, 2007

ma-net’s objectives are:

*To enhance and instigate media arts activities across the North West, England.

*To inform and consult with agencies, regionally, nationally and internationally on their media arts strategies.

*To act as an advocate for media arts in the North West and beyond.

*To encourage debate and public discourse around media arts.

*To increase access to and understanding of media arts in the North West to audiences, agencies and media art practitioners, regionally, nationally and internationally.

*To develop partnerships and consortia to address regional gaps in media arts provision by sharing specialist expertise and resources.

ma-net reinforces the North West as a locale for media arts excellence and acknowledges the importance and benefits of being affiliated with a network. There are many recent and ongoing initiatives capitalising on media arts and is a strong collaborative ethos in the North West in order to improve, invest and sustain the future of media arts. In a climate where numerous media art boards and agencies have been terminated across the world (i.e. Worldwide Video Festival and CICV: Centre Internationale de Videa Creation), it is crucial that ma-net continues to work together, to identify and act upon both strengths and weaknesses within media arts, regionally, nationally and internationally.

ma-net is financially supported by Arts Council England North West