Inspirations considered the individual contributions, both curatorial and practice based, made toward contemporary artists film and video in the UK. Five individuals who have played a major role in the critical, artistic and curatorial development of artists’ film and video were invited to select one moving image work that has made significant impact on their own practice.

The diverse selections of work spanned 1923 to 1987 and included Angles of Incidence, William Raban (1973) selected by John Smith; Where I Am Is Here, Margaret Tait (1964) selected by Sarah Wood; 15/67: TV, Kurt Kren (1967) selected by Malcolm Le Grice; That’s What Friends Are For, Neil Bartlett (1987) selected by Catherine Elwes; and The Return to Reason, Man Ray (1923) selected by David Curtis.

A widely acknowledged influence on British film and video, artist Malcolm Le Grice was invited to present a selection of his own works. Le Grice I an exponent of experimental artists’ film and video practice and theory and has made a huge contribution to the artistic and critical profile of the UK’s art scene.