The Doris Duke Foundation has officially announced the launch of the Performing Arts Technologies Lab, with the objective of promoting and supporting the incorporation of technology in the performing arts and providing innovative methods for audiences to engage with artistic experiences.
The foundation is reaching out to artists, designers, producers, universities, and other relevant artistic entities to participate in the initiative by submitting groundbreaking ideas and proposals. Successful candidates will receive financial backing, access to a production advisor, and networking opportunities.
The lab’s aims are to cultivate and expand innovation in the performing arts by backing the use of emerging technologies and production techniques. By identifying projects that utilize technology for new approaches to conception, presentation, and engagement in the performing arts, the lab aims to widen the boundaries of artistic expression.
According to Sam Gill, President and CEO of the Doris Duke Foundation, “Artists are inventors and innovators. However, the current performing arts ecosystem does not effectively support artists in taking creative risks with work that involves emerging digital technologies. The Performing Arts Technologies Lab represents an unprecedented effort to meet pioneering artists at their level.”
The lab has established priority areas, including ventures that go beyond traditional presentation formats, demonstrate how emerging technologies can benefit performers and audiences, and illustrate what effective support for technology in the performing arts will entail.
Participants selected to join the lab will undergo a five-month exploratory period focusing on the ideation of innovative projects that involve digital technology. The foundation will provide resources to aid in feasibility and development, enable fabrication and material testing, and help participants identify collaborators to execute their projects. Subsequent funding will also be considered to facilitate the transition of some lab projects from proof-of-concept to initial implementation.
Arts Program Director Ashley Ferro-Murray added, “As the foundation introduces this new technology platform, we are eager to receive input from the field and explore the ambitious and innovative ways that this support could advance the creative process for artists and enhance the creative experiences for audiences. Financial considerations in the performing arts rarely allow for experimentation. With these grants, we invite artists, arts workers, and invested collaborators to explore options they have been unable to access, invest the necessary time to develop their ideas, and begin to bring them to fruition.”
The application deadline for the Performing Arts Technologies Lab is May 6, 2024. Interested parties can access the application here.
The Doris Duke Foundation prioritizes contemporary dance, jazz, and theatre artists, as well as the organizations that nurture, present, and produce them, to build a more creative, equitable, and sustainable future. Their support aims to create a more inclusive and diverse landscape in the performing arts, allowing artists and organisations to explore and integrate cutting-edge technologies into their work.
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