Biography
Somewhere is a multi-disciplinary, non-profit creative organisation run by artist / film-makers Nina Pope (b. 1967) and Karen Guthrie (b. 1970) who produce ambitious projects spanning film, the web, installation, live events and public art. They met at Edinburgh College of Art, before they completed MA's in London and began working together in 1995. Their early career was marked by technological innovation combined with a socially-engaged, playful and inclusive sensibility. Their live online travelogue A Hypertext Journal(1996) was an influential precursor to blogging. In 2001 they formalised as the non-profit Somewhere, recognising their increasingly collaborative working methodology and their ambition to scale up their self-initiated curatorial projects such as TV Swansong (2002).
Nina lectured for 20 years at the Royal College of Art in the influential Design Interactions department and later at Goldsmiths, whilst Karen held various academic posts in Fine Art depts at University of Central England and St. Martin's College (Lancaster). Both now freelance as visiting tutors, in arts advisory roles and in professional development for artists. Karen also works on many projects and initiatives with Grizedale Arts, especially on audience development and their land / garden development at their HQ Lawson Park. Her House of Ferment was exhibited at Hauser & Wirth Somerset and in the recent V & A Museum show, Food: Bigger Than The Plate, and she was a National Trust artist-in-residence in 2017.
In 2008 Somewhere won the first Northern Art Prize and a retrospective of their practice, Past, Present, Somewhere was shown at Kettle's Yard Cambridge (2014) Their recent output spans public art and film-making, and their focus remains on making authentic work that is specific to its site or context, whatever medium it occupies. In 2015 their fourth feature film, The Closer We Get, was broadcast on the BBC, going on to screen in 15 countries worldwide and winning several major awards. Based on the film, Somewhere also delivered extensive impact & engagement work to health and social care workers, supported by an award from the Bertha BRITDOC Connect Fund.
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