Derek Hales and the DRU

Derek Hales is the director of the Digital Research Unit at Huddersfield's school of art and design. The Digital Research Unit is somewhere between creative practice and technology, and more recently is connected with bio art practices.

Derek is an architect but he is really passionate about research in the creative and cultural industries. He has programmed several art research projects that led to workshops and symposiums included in Ultrasound, Cybersonica 05, Future Sonic 06, Lumen, Architecture Week and MakeArt in France.

The Digital Research Unit (DRU) is operating since 2001, after receiving some funding to run a residency program. Since then the DRU has been working in digital media, interactive work, network installations, transforming hardware and software into artworks.

The DRU is not only connected with the Huddersfield University, but with all universities in the north of England that make part of the York Science and Technology network. York presents itself as a science city.

The DRU is running a short residency program of three months at a time.
Andy Gracie, a resident at the DRU, introduced the group into bioart. He worked with Monica Bello in Biorama - a one-day event that illustrates new directions in art, science and technology by bringing together artists who explore notions of life, science and digital realities.

The Digital Research Unit commissions artworks, organises workshops and seminars and runs an MA program.