Performance meets Video

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Following my last post about the early stage of the Broadcast Arts programme I proposed for one of my employers, I was invited to join a live panel chat on the Guardian newspaper’s new Culture Professional’s Network last Friday. This time, thanks to the sparky PR officer, representing the London venue who employ me for the second half of my working week keeping an eye on what’s going on through Twitter.

I joined a number of other people, also involved in one way or another in delivering culture and performance to audiences via the net. Strangely absent were the heavy hitters who have led the way for the Arts industry (National Theatre, Royal Opera House or even The Roundhouse) so far, but nevertheless the conversation was very stimulating.

Interesting and fruitful,  though it was, I did find a drive towards exploring the potential of live web delivery for something beyond pointing a camera at the stage missing.  Probably due to the immediacy of relating to a traditional theatre or concert setting – we have to start with what we’ve got I suppose, but good to hear what Tate Modern are doing with visual and performance artists in their BMW supported Tate Live series too.

The original live chat is archived here:
Video meets performance: Guardian Culture Pro’s live chat

A handy summary of some of the points has been published here:
Where performance meets video: 11 tips for arts organisations

 

 

Beyond The Stage

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During last Summer, I had a few brainwaves and drafted a proposal for a venue-based digital broadcasting scheme. At the heart of it is a research question to investigate whether medium scale producers of arts and cultural work can move beyond the tradition of the theatrical stage and reinvent themselves as part of an emerging content economy.

After a few twists and turns along the way, Arts Council England South East have accepted the project and offered to financially support it’s development with a grant of £141,000 over three years. In these times of austerity, when arts and culture organisations are being put under a great deal of stress with radical cuts to their public subsidy, this is a great sign that good progressive ideas can still gain some traction, and that ACE Still have the flexibility to recognise and support a development project that tackles emerging and somewhat untested  approaches to audiences and technology.

With the background of my Gene Pool:Digital Culture podcast productions and several other unsuccessful applications to ACE for development support, my thinking on this topic has been bubbling away for some time – the title of a recent episode featuring artists that are exploring live steams, social media and viral marketing is the same as the one used for this blog post. Continue reading →

Year of Conversation

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We’ve just reached the Easter end-of-season break for producers at SoundArt Radio 102.5FM, and I don’t mind saying it’s been a bit of a marathon for me in between my existing 2 day jobs and freelancing. I’m taking the summer out and time for a break until the Autumn now.

However, I’m really pleased with this season of Gene Pool: Digital Culture shows, which in 2012 have included sound artist, Stephen Cornford and the AudioGraft 2012 Festival (which included an interview with Max Eastley among others).

I became interested and active in developing new approaches to audiences for artists and culture organisations, and as part of that pulled together “Beyond The Stage” a Skype discussion with Joumana Mourad of iJAD Dance Co. and John Darvell of Nocturn Dance – both live performance companies who are exploring and utilising digital means to create new experiences for viewers.

Shows on 3D Printing and Gamification covered new and emerging techniques and technologies, while my final two shows brought Arts & Business‘ Digital Overlord and Guardian contributor, Patrick Hussey, plus Rewired State director, Emma Mulqueeny and developer, Jim Anning in to talk about future trends and educational initiatives. All busy people who totally know their eggs, and yet are willing to spare time and go out of their way to have a conversation for broadcast. Something I’ve never asked my guests is: why bother?

Continue reading →