PLAY is an EMMY-award winning, collaborative project from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design and Michigan Public Media, bringing art & artists to the airwaves.

What’s the art?…. We feature time-based creative work happening in and around the School of Art & Design on our online gallery and on TV, in between regular programming on Michigan Television (PBS, WFUM) and Michigan Channel.
(Channels 24 and 22, respectively, on Ann Arbor Comcast. Check your local listings.)

You might call it experimental television: where, in between Frontline and The Newshour, you may encounter a short film featuring animation, performance art and other unexpected creative acts.

PLAY shorts air on their own, without the “expert” analysis. As far as we know, this is a one-of-kind collaboration, where television is momentarily transformed into a gallery space.

It’s not just video…. We also work with Michigan Radio to bring sound work to the airwaves in the form of the Sonic Haiku project, short audio vignettes featuring the sounds of Michigan.

Who does all the PLAY graphics?…. All of the animated graphics and design elements for PLAY, including our logo, are created by A&D students. The PLAY Project on TV gives advanced students a real world outlet for their animated work and it provides Michigan Public Media with a fresh new graphic style for its airwaves. In 2007, senior Jeff Christy won a regional EMMY for a promo spot he created for PLAY!

For more about the PLAY logo and its designs, visit the Logo page.

CONTACT US

Question? Comments? We’d love to hear from you!

Want to be added to the PLAY Weekly Newsletter?

Send us an email at: playgallery@umich.edu

Join the PLAY TEAM: If you’re interested in being involved on PLAY projects: graphics, web design, production assistance, PR, etc. please contact us.