Bjork launches Kickstarter campaign to expand 'Biophilia' apps
Bjork has launched a Kickstarter campaign to aid the ‘Biophilia Educational Program’, which was launched in 2011 to coincide with the release of her eighth studio album of the same name. Aiming to present new methods focused around creativity in the teaching of music and science to kids, the project centred on the release of 10 educational apps, each corresponding to an individual track off the ‘Biophilia’ album. The apps were initially released on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices – and were named as group as one of Apple’s Best Apps of 2011.
The Icelandic artist is now hoping to make the apps available for Windows 8, Android and Mac Desktop, and has looked to Kickstarter to raise the necessary funds. The project is aiming to reach a £375,000 target by 27th February, with contributors offered rewards ranging from t-shirts, ‘Biophilia’ DVDs and VIP tickets to upcoming Bjork live shows if you pledge £800 to the initiative. Here’s what she had to say about the campaign:
“The Biophilia educational program is a new way to teach children about science and music . It has met with success in many cities, sparking interest from kids and educators all over the world, from South America to East Asia to Africa. The most interest has come from students from low-income households and schools with underfunded art budgets, and the only way to bring the project to those people is to have Biophilia reprogrammed for Android and Windows 8. The Biophilia Educational project is strictly non-profit and volunteer-based, and that’s why we need your help.”
It would seem there’s been a recent crop of interest from artists looking to boost science education, with Wu-Tang Clan rapper GZA recently taking part in a program incorporating hip hop in science education in inner city New York schools. The video below features Bjork talking through her aims for the initiative, and features footage of the apps in action in classrooms in Buenos Aires, New York, Reykjavik, and Oslo:
Visit Bjork’s Kickstarter campaign page to pledge your support now, and head to the recently launched Biophilia Educational website for more information on the project.
