Calling creatives of all stripes who have an inquisitive mind, an innovative approach and a desire to collaborate, to participate in the 2011 Splendid program!
Splendid is now seeking young and emerging artists (under 30 or in the first 5 years of practice) across visual arts, theatre, dance, design, installation, architecture, digital media, sound, text and other creative pursuits to dream up ideas and create work for festival audiences.
The 2011 program is opening the doors to more artists from across Australia than ever before (15 in total) a unique opportunity to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment that encourages critical thinking and experimentation.
Willoh S Weiland, Splendid Artist 2010 said, “Splendid is attractive because you are dreaming up ideas while having to apply them to a real life rampaging rock context.”
The Splendid program includes a residential Arts Lab in the lush surrounds of Northern Rivers NSW, mentorship and opportunities to make and tour artwork to major festivals around the world.
The 2011 Arts Lab will be facilitated by leading local and international artists including Fernando Llanos (Mexico – video art), David Clarkson (innovative physical theatre), Natalie Jeremijenko (USA – environmental art & design), Craig Walsh (site-specific projections), Paul Gazzola (Berlin -collaborative practice) Técha Noble, The Kingpins (art direction & performance) and more.
Splendid is unique in its focus on cross-artform collaboration and its connection with festival culture. Participating artists are invited to embrace this challenging and exhilarating context, and use it as a springboard to take their creative practices to a new level.
Selected artists who went through the 2010 Arts Lab program are currently turning their concepts and ideas into a reality, ready for presentation at this years Splendour in the Grass festival 29 – 31 July.
Jordana Maisie (installation artist from Sydney), Matthew Kneales (set-designer from Melbourne) and Jimmy McGilchrist (new media designer from Adelaide) are a shining example of the national scope this program has geographically as well as the reach it has across engaging different artforms.
In 2011, festival audiences can expect to be beamed up into an otherwordly experience at Jordana Maisie’s Close Encounters – 6.5m diameter interactive unidentified flying object (UFO) using wireless text messaging technology. Learn how to rescue a rock star crushed under a speaker, stuck up a lighting truss or caught amongst a tangle of mic leads in Mathew Kneale’s AFTERMATH! – a performance demonstrating emergency response procedures. And befriend Curious Creatures in Jimmy McGilchrist and Darryn Van Someren’s interactive and sensor driven projections of strange and beautiful creatures that exist beyond the festival fence-line in a hybrid parallel world.
Jessica Ducrou, Promoter and Director of Splendour in the Grass, said “We have been long time supporters of the arts and we are committed to growing this creative process at Splendour In The Grass. The Splendid initiative has been a fantastic collaboration that has and will produce some inspired presentations at the festival. 3 years down the road we look forward to showing the best possible installments at the festival yet.”
The program is driven by partner organisations of Lismore Regional Gallery and NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts), and supported by Splendour in the Grass. Splendid is also an Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists (OYEA) initiative assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Splendid 2011 applications are due by 5pm on Monday 2 May 2011 and forms are available at www.splendid.org.au.
