Open call: Audio and visual Interplay Workshop

Tuesday 24th - Monday 30th July, Spessa, Pavia, Italy.

 

An opportunity for sound art, audio and video artists to come together for an explorative 5-day residential workshop in Spessa, Pavia, Italy working collaboratively with new technology to create a new form of participatory interplay for live performance.

 

We welcome artists from Italy, Portugal and across the globe to apply for this unique workshop opportunity to create new technologies with the aim to encourage and increase meeting points, exchange and interaction between people. Through this workshop, we want to implement a system with digital technologies that can be accessible and sustainable for artistic productions both large and small scale, in a wide range of settings and with independence.

 

The workshop will be facilitated by artist Mauro Buttafava of Artemista and produced in partnership with Claire Sivier, Raizvanguarda & Elisa Pifferi, Artemista.

 

Mauro has worked across theatre and music since 1993 as an author, composer and director. His work often involves experimenting with a combination of technologies to create interactions between audience and performers.

 

Concept and Background:

There are a wide range of new digital technologies surrounding us; computers, tablets, smartphones are just the beginning - all using controllers and sensors, an interaction with multimedia content (audio and video), streaming, automation in electronic, mechanical and lighting.

 

These tools are now even more common in live shows, especially for strengthening control, technical possibility and increasing the impact and accessibility of live shows. Equally, these types of tools, once just linked only to big artistic productions, are now accessible to large numbers of people. Through these tools there is now the possibility to develop unique live experiences offering new forms of interaction with artists, increasing the dimensions and meeting points between of the audience, but also between people structured inside the events themselves.

 

The opportunity of experimentation we propose has the potential to be a very exciting experience for the audience. They are a core part of the theatre event/experience designed with game dynamics which encourage audiences to be actively involved and interact with content, performers and other participants in the audience.

 

With the above in mind, we would like to explore through this workshop programme. Together, create new technologies with the aim of encourage and increase meeting, exchange and interaction between people. We want to implement a system with digital technologies that can be accessible and sustainable even for artistic productions working on both large and small scale , and without the need for too much equipments and in independence.

 

Workshop Dates: Wednesday 25 - Sunday 29 July 2018. Italy, Spessa (PV)

Arrival Day: Tuesday 24th July | Departure Day: Monday 30th July

 

Accommodation & Subsistence:

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided during each workshop day. Dinner is provided on the arrival day, and breakfast provided on the day of departure. Accommodation will be in shared living quarters within the Artemista Hostel.

 

Travel Cost Contributions:

International applicants: Up to 200 euros is offered to contribute towards travel costs

 

Applicants resident in Italy: Up to 75 euro are offered to contribute towards costs of travel to the workshop

 

Note: Travel costs will be paid by bank transfer on receipt of boarding passes, booking confirmation and original receipts

 

Workshop Outline:

Workshop purpose: sharing artistic practice and experience, skills, knowledge, and challenges. Developing pilot project to use new technologies for audience interaction inside live show; planning, design and implementation of a prototype of technological interplay.

 

Day 1/2 Exchange of skills, knowledge experience

Day 3 Begin the process of designing the new tech and model  

Day 4/5        Testing and experimenting with new design and refining

 

Who can apply?

We are looking for 6 artists with expertise in one or more of the following technologies:

 

- audio/midi

- video

- use of sensors

- streaming

- lighting or programming

 

Note: Up to 4 places will be reserved for Portuguese and Italian artists

 

Desirable skills in using at least one software for automation and interaction in live shows:

 

Qlab, Ableton Live, MaxMSP, OSC, Arduino, or other. Experience of developing work for participatory projects using music and theatre are desirable and an openness to collaborate are essential.

 

Applicants must be at least 18 years old – there is no upper age limit for the program. A sufficient level of English is required.

 

Application Process:

Please send you application: associazioneartemista@gmail.com

Applicants must complete the attached application form which should be accompanied by a portfolio and resume.

 

Deadline for applications: 5 pm (CET), Monday 4th June. It is possible we may request Skype Interviews with shortlisted applicants for more information about their work and practice.

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Application Outcome:
Applicants will be informed if they have been successful during the second week in June. Successful applicants will be sent an Information Pack about preparations for the workshop and prepared source material.

 

Location:

The workshop will be located in Artemista Hostel and Arts Centre

via Castello 4/I  27010 Spessa (PV) - ITALY

 

Spessa is inserted in a territorial context strongly characterized by the rural ambient of the typical Lombard land and from the beauty of the natural area of Po’s river, very close to Oltrepo Pavese’s hills.

 

What equipment will be provided at the workshop?

 

Artemista Hostel and Arts Centre has a recording studio and two rehearsal rooms.

 

Technical equipments available for the workshop are:

 

• sound system

• lights console, dimmer and lights

• video projector

• midi controller

• trigger interface

• microphones

• musical instruments

 

All participants will need to bring any other equipment they would like to use during the workshop (laptop etc)

 

This workshop forms part of, Local, Meet International, a partnership project by Artemista (Italy) and Raizvanguarda (Portugal) with support from Tandem Europe, MitOst, and the European Cultural Foundation - More information can be found here

 

Artemista is a cultural Association born in 2004, based in Spessa, Pavia, in north Italy, that deals with artistic, cultural, environmental and social educational projects. It was created by the meeting of artists of different disciplines: Music, Theater, Comics, Photo, Video. Artemista is established within an ancient agricultural building renovated as hostel and cultural center of artistic production.

 

RAIZVANGUARDA (RV)  is a cultural association, based in Bordeiro, Góis, in central Portugal. The organization hosts a program of artistic residencies that receives, annually, dozens of international artists, taking advantage of the tranquility of space and the connection to nature and the community in the development of its activity. RV promotes art and culture in rural settings.

 

How to get to Spessa?
The closest airports are Milano Linate, Milano Malpensa, Milano Orio al Serio.
From Malpensa Airport you can rent a car or take the train to Pavia or Stradella.
From Linate Airport or Orio al Serio, you can also rent a car or you can take the bus to Pavia Train Station (15€) or Milano Centrale train station by bus, (5/7€) and then take the train.

Using the train, you have 2 choices:
By train to Pavia, and then by bus to Spessa (Better!)
You can take the train from Milano Centrale train station to Pavia, it takes less than 30minutes to arrive in Pavia (direct). When you arrive at Pavia get the bus from the bus station in front of the railway station (on the left) at this time: 12.30, 16.30 or (the last!!!) 18.50. Check bus on: http://www.pmtsrl.it/mappe/  The line direction is t096 Pavia- Zerbo. Then stop in the square of Spessa town, at 50 metres to us.
By train to Stradella, and then we pick you up by car and bring you to Spessa.
If you arrive in Stradella we need to know it BEFORE you leave, because we have to arrange your pick-up.
You can check Train schedule on: Trenitalia.it or Trenitalia mobile App or Google Maps.
Pavia/Spessa Bus schedule: http://www.pmtsrl.it/pdf/t096scolastico.pdf (PMT, “Pavia / Zerbo” line, from “Pavia Autostazione” (Pavia Bus Station, close to train station) to Spessa Po)

Of course you can contact us if you need help with finding transportation.