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
Hetain Patel takes TEN to Australia following UK 2010 tour
Published 23 August 2010
Already well known as a visual artist in 2008, Hetain Patel was unsure whether to apply for the decibel Performing Arts Showcase 2009, so he attended an artists' information session. Since presenting TEN as a work in progress at decibel, Hetain has found production partners to complete the show, which is now booked for a national tour and dates in Australia.
“I am a visual artist who has been exhibiting photography and video in galleries for the past 6 years. In the visual arts I am already starting to establish myself with frequent exhibitions nationally and internationally, but decibel was my first outing into the performing arts, where I am largely unknown.
“I wanted to present and introduce my first piece of work for theatre at Showcase, but I was not sure about my eligibility to apply. I attended one of the artists' information sessions in Leicester and fortunately I was put to ease and encouraged to apply. This opportunity allowed me to showcase my work to important people in this new context for me.
“The performance piece that I took to showcase was a work-in-progress called TEN. We had about 30 minutes, of which we showed the first 20. I was incredibly nervous as this was my first toe in the water of performing arts and I was very aware that the delegates see a lot of work. As an unknown in this context I had to make my mark.
“In the end I was overwhelmed by the fantastic response we got from the audience and the feedback we got from delegates, venues and promoters after the show. It was a massive confidence boost for something very new to me and an essential profile builder for me and the piece.
“After showcase a number of venues got in touch that were interested in booking or promoting a final version of the show. Later in the year I began a relationship with Dance4 in Nottingham as producers, who used the momentum to help me apply for an Arts Council grant to finish the work and tour it nationally. The decibel presentation certainly helped my ACE application with Dance4, as I was able to demonstrate the demand for my work from a number of programmers and promoters who had seen the work there. We got this bid and completed the piece into a full evenings work.
“So far, we have performed two previews of TEN this summer in Milton Keynes and Nottingham, with the describing it as, “a completely absorbing and original hour”. Then we embark on an 11 date national tour this autumn. Also, as momentum has grown with the project, TEN has been selected as part of Royal Opera House Firsts this coming November and as a result of performing at nottdance09, Nottingham’s international festival of experimental dance, we have been invited to perform the work in Australia.”
TEN Tour Dates – Autumn 2010:
2010
01 July - Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham
18 July - Milton Keynes International Festival, Milton Keynes
25 September - Rich Mix, London
26 September - Greenwich Theatre, London
30 September - Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
13 October - Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury
14 October - Arnolfini, Bristol
15 October - Brewhouse, Taunton
19 October - Drill Hall, Lincoln
20 October - Embrace Arts at The Richard Attenborough Centre, Leicester
21 October - MAC, Birmingham
22 October - Greenroom, Manchester
04 November - Nuffield, Lancaster
2011
January – Details forthcoming
Visit Hetain’s website: http://www.hetainpatel.com
See Hetain perform TEN as a work in progress at decibel 2009: http://vimeo.com/8861758
