The Institute for Research in Art and Technology (IRAT, also known as New Arts Lab; Robert Street Arts Lab) was founded in London in 1969 by a group of artists and activists including painter/author Pamela Zoline, video Pioneer John Hopkins, painter Biddy Peppin, film enthusiast David Curtis, arts theorist

John Lifton John Lifton is an artist and theorist whose work explores the relationships between art, science, the environment and technology. He was a founder of both the London New Arts Lab (1968), which focused on film and video art, and the Institute for ...

composer Hugh Davies. Its early focus was on video, film, theatre and new media but this was subsequently expanded to include experimental literature, drama, sculpture and multimedia all based on art/technology crossovers. In October 1969 the New Arts Lab opened on Robert Street, Camden Town, in a former chemical factory, with a screening of David Larcher's Mare's Tail (1969). This new arts centre, in addition to housing theatre, gallery and cinema space, also provided a base for the LFMC distribution office, screening and a newly equipped film workshop with a step printer and neg/reversal processor. This building housed artists workshops which included electronics, screen printing, the video co-op, the London Filmmakers Co-op distribution office and workshop TVX's video theatre. I remember exhibitions by Stuart Brisley. Pam Zoline and J.G. Ballard's Crashed Cars. The book launch for William Burroughs "The Job" was held there. For its brief life, J G Ballard, Joe Tilson and

David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech William David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech (20 May 1918 – 26 January 1985), known as David Ormsby-Gore until June 1961 and as Sir David Ormsby-Gore from then until February 1964, was a British diplomat and Conservative politician. Early ...

, were among IRAT's formal patrons. When IRAT closed in March 1971, many of its organizers moved with the London Filmmakers Co-op to the Dairy, Prince of Wales Crescent. The Directors in August 1970 included David Curtis, Hugh Davies, John 'Hoppy' Hopkins,

Pamela Zoline Pamela Zoline (or Pamela Lifton-Zoline; born 1941) is an American writer and painter, born in Chicago, living in the United States in Telluride, Colorado. Background Among science fiction fans, she is known for her controversial short story "The ...

(USA) with Biddy Peppin as Secretary.J G Ballad's Crash exhibition
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References

External links

International Times 59 - 4 July 1969 - 'Bradley Martin (Hoppy) reporting' the formation of the Institute for Research into Art & Technology

David Cleall on the New Arts Lab at 'Unfinished Histories - Recording the history of Alternative Theatre'
Arts centres in London Culture in London Counterculture Science and technology in London {{culture-org-stub