Looking back at the week in Manchester
We would like thank all who made Showcase 2011 and the Creative Case Symposium such an inspiring and constructive event – the best yet! The thrilling performances and challenging discussions will soon be uploaded for Showcase Online. We will also share news of the collaborations, tours and new ventures that have been developed.
In the meantime here’s a media round-up of the week in Manchester:
Creative Case Symposium video - follow this link to watch interviews and keynote speeches
The Creative Case for Diversity - read articles, case studies and keynote speeches on this purpose built mini-site
Disability Arts Online – the team from DAO were in Manchester all week to cover the Creative Case and decibel Performing Arts Showcase. Follow this link to read extensive reviews, interviews and discussion summaries
The Stage – decibel Performing Arts Showcase review – reviews of performances by Pen-ultimate, Brian Lobel, Crying in the Wilderness Productions, Sunday Driver, Shock and Awe Tours and Performance Anxiety
Telegraph.co.uk - Culture - Hassan Mahamdallie states the Creative Case for Diversity
Arts Professional - Observations - Tony Panayiotou, Head of Diversity, sets out Arts Council England's vision for a diverse future of the arts
The Stage - Up the Volume - Jo Caird interviews Nike Jonah, decibel Performing Arts Showcase Project Manager, Sara Cocker of The Eggs Collective, Gareth Lloyd Roberts of Wales Millenium Centre, Hetain Patel and Bill Bragin of Lincoln Centre, NYC
Arts Hub - Nike Jonah, decibel Performing Arts Showcase Project Manager, and Magdalena Moreno CEO of Kultour, Australia, discuss embracing diversity in arts policy
The Stage - ACE launches revamped diversity strategy - read the news story
International Arts Manager - Diversity at heart of ACE planning - read the news story (subscribers only)
Speak to Strangers - read all of Gemma Seltzer’s wonderful 100-word Speak to Strangers stories written in Manchester during the week at Showcase
What people are saying about decibel…
Registration for the 5th decibel Performing Arts Showcase closes this Sunday, 4 September.
decibel is a chance to witness a snapshot of the vibrant and innovative hotbed of diverse talent that make the UK’s performing arts scene famous worldwide. But don’t just take our word for it, here’s why other people see Showcase as an unmissable event in their calendar:
“decibel delivered something unexpected: a genuinely intriguing and eclectic performing arts showcase with work attracting healthy international interest.”
Jon Pratty, Guardian.co.uk
“Showcase should be on the schedules of every festival producer wanting to engage with a broader range of artistic voices from the UK. It is a market place not only for talent but also for ideas, networks and potential future collaborations.”
Ismail Mahomed, Festival Director, National Arts Festival, South Africa
“I can't recommend this showcase more highly. It's been one of the pivotal points in my professional development. Brilliant for networking, witnessing some fabulous talent and checking out new work.”
Julie McNamara, artist
“decibel gave me a great opportunity to discover a broad variety of diverse British art, especially work coming from artists with disabilities. Being there expanded my thinking about how to include the work of artists with disabilities in our programming more generally.”
Bill Bragin, Director of Public Programming, Lincoln Centre, USA
“decibel is a rare chance to experience the creative diversity that the UK offers in one city. As the Artistic director of a producing and presenting venue it is a key festival to find exciting new shows and artistic collaborations.”
Baba Israel, Artistic Director, Contact Theatre
“I attended the last showcase to write reviews and realised it was the only place I would want to pitch new work at. It's a gem of an opportunity for artists and programmers.”
Sarah Pickthall, artist
A Thousand Cranes book 15 venue UK tour
Published 1 June 2010
Before coming to decibel Performing Art Showcase in 2009, A Thousand Cranes was still a relatively new theatre company receiving many of its bookings through word of mouth. With the help of artsdepot it has now booked a 15 venue UK tour for autumn 2010.
Here Co-Artistic Director Kumiko Mendl explains how the experience has put A Thousand Cranes on the map nationally:
“We applied for decibel because we hoped it would be an opportunity to raise our profile, create a tour or find venues willing to co produce The Paper Washi Wish. Up until then the company had very little infrastructure and we were receiving bookings by word of mouth. We had been working closely with Kerry Andrews from artsdepot and they were up for helping us produce the project.
“The Paper Washi Wish was a work in progress when we applied for decibel. We had received Grants for the Arts R & D money, so we reworked some of the work that was produced to take to the showcase. We only spent one night in Manchester, because of the costs involved, but our experience was very positive. We had a great response from the delegates after our showing and managed to catch a few other pieces.
“After the showcase we were contacted by venues that had heard about our work in progress at decibel and have booked us on recommendation. We now have an autumn tour going to 15 venues as a direct result of decibel, plus venues expressing interest for a further tour in spring 2011. The experience has put us on the map, so to speak, nationally.
“In October 2009 we were invited to be Artistic Associates of artsdepot. They are helping us to book the tour, produce publicity and marketing materials and are providing free rehearsal and technical space. The show will premiere there on September 17th 2010 for three days before going out on tour. We have also just received news that the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation will be supporting us with a grant for the materials for the paper-making part of the show.”
http://www.athousandcranes.org.uk/
Kazzum book outdoor festivals with ‘Paper People’
Published 31 May 2010
Kazzum, the children’s theatre company, have been booked for two new outdoor festivals this year, the National Theatre’s ’Watch this Space’ summer series and ‘On the Waterfront’ festival in Liverpool.
Administrative Director Akua Obeng-Frimpong believes that the opportunity to perform ‘Paper People’ outdoors at decibel has helped Kazzum to establish itself in this area.
“Kazzum was new to the outdoor performance circuit in 2009, so we wanted an opportunity to showcase our work, ‘Paper People’, and make new contacts for touring.
“The experience was quite a whirlwind. We were only there for the last day of decibel performing on two sites. Everything was focused on delivering our performances and making new contacts in a limited space of time. Mainly we found it useful to meet the contacts we had initiated prior to the showcase and to consolidate our relationship with them.
“Now we feel as though we’re more on the outdoor performance map and have a greater understanding of the opportunities available to us. This has been worthwhile for developing plans for a larger scale outdoor piece we have in mind for 2012.
“The bookings we have received so far for ‘Paper People’ are all new festivals / events for Kazzum, including the ‘Watch This Space’ Season at the National Theatre on Thursday 29 July and ‘On the Waterfront’ festival in Liverpool on Saturday 7 August. We are also undertaking a tour of children’s play spaces in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets during August (9 -20).”
