When the recording studios shut and the music halls closed their curtains in March 2020, Soumik Datta was left twiddling his thumbs wondering…what now? And then an opening appeared as part of the BBC Arts commissioning round for Culture In Quarantine.
Soumik’s series ‘Sounds of Silence’ was one of just 25 ideas given the green light, as a five-part story exploring the impact of lockdown on musicians across the UK.
Sharing the lessons learnt during his first exploration into radio and podcasting, sarod player Soumik details how The Space offers artists more than just financial backing. His project was supported by Clare and BBC Radio 3 in its shaping and distribution.
For more about Soumik Datta: https://www.soumikdatta.com/
Listen to Soumik’s series ‘Sounds of Silence’ via the BBC Sounds app: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ls89/episodes/player
Resources referenced during this podcast:
How to start a podcast:
https://www.thespace.org/resource/how-start-podcast
Podcast case study: A Mile In My Shoes, The Empathy Museum.
https://www.thespace.org/resource/mile-my-shoes-%E2%80%93-case-study-making-arts-podcast
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
Created by and for a visually impaired audience, Extant’s latest stage adaption highlighted the stories of the blind Japanese female musicians, known as goze. Through a mix of animation, performance and digital video, the production team brought to life this lesson in cultural history using immersive multimedia and binaural sound.
Providing opportunities and a platform for disabled artists has been a personal and professional quest of Maria Oshodi, also CEO and artistic director of the company, for many years. During her conversation with Fiona and Clare, Maria details the challenges they overcame in creating accessible digital content, and the unexpected freedom that emerged from working off-stage, especially when it came to reaching a wider audience.
Experience Flight Paths for yourself: https://flightpaths.extant.org.uk/
Resources referenced during this podcast:
Cathy Mager - Sign Night http://www.cathymager.com/portfolio/sign-night/
Dante or Die - User Not Found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCvR4y2yk8
Filmed in Lockdown https://www.thespace.org/resource/filmed-lockdown
Artificial Intelligence and Next generation Storytelling
https://www.thespace.org/resource/artificial-intelligence-and-next-generation-storytelling
Finding a younger audience, interested not only in technology but immersive experiences:
https://www.thespace.org/resource/finding-audience
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
Once hidden art exhibitions showcased on the walls of hospitals, Hospital Rooms’ digital video series unveils the stories behind the artwork created in some of the UK’s most challenging mental health settings. Curator, Niamh White explains to Fiona and Clare the inspiration behind their film series and workshops, one of which features Turner Prize nominated artist, Mark Titchner.
And how a "little digital adventure" they went on with The Space has become the backbone to their business. Niamh admits with a small team of six, Hospital Rooms had to adapt and reinvent themselves to stay afloat during the global crisis.
Watch Hospital Rooms film series and read more here https://www.thespace.org/artwork/hospital-rooms-not-patient-person
Links to their Digital Arts School https://hospital-rooms.com/digital-art-school
Resources referred to during this podcast:
The Digital Rights Toolkit
https://www.thespace.org/resource/spaces-digital-rights-toolkit
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
‘Bubble’ is a play set on Facebook, written in texts and emojis. The audience watches the drama unfold as a cast of youngsters who never met the show’s directors act out their responses via social media.
Theatre Uncut co-artistic director Emma Callander explains the pros and cons of reaching a younger audience on a digital platform. Plus, wider reflections on what theatre's role is during a pandemic.
For more about Theatre Uncut: https://theatreuncut.com/
Read more on how ‘Bubble’ was filmed using smartphones:
https://www.thespace.org/resource/delivering-socially-distanced-theatre-lessons-lockdown
Resources referred to during this podcast:
Creating Global Audiences: Fiona Morris, shares her thoughts on the ways in which digital technologies can help arts organisations create global audiences.
https://www.thespace.org/resource/creating-global-audiences
A beginners guide to VR in art
https://www.thespace.org/resource/virtual-reality-beginners%E2%80%99-guide-arts
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
When the pope’s favourite artist was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl, the ensuing seven-month case was widely publicised. Award-winning theatre show ‘It’s True, It’s True, It’s True’ interweaves jaw-dropping court transcripts with history, myth, contemporary insight and moments of satire to ask: how much has really changed?
And when it comes to change - that’s a topic that Billy Barrett and his theatre company, Breach, have had to embrace in recent times. Their show was due to return on tour at the Barbican over spring 2020, when a national lockdown threw a spanner in the works.
But ever adaptable and ever ambitious, Billy and his team had already turned their three-woman-theatre-show into a digital film. Instead of taking the show on the road, the play aired on BBC Four, and was hosted on the National Gallery website to help Breach offer a new audience the best seats in the house.
Billy explains to Fiona and Clare what challenges the team faced stepping into a digital world and why they discovered partnerships were the key to successful distribution.
For more about Breach Theatre: BreachTheatre.com
Resources referred to during this podcast:
Creating Global Audiences: Fiona Morris, shares her thoughts on the ways in which digital technologies can help arts organisations create global audiences
https://www.thespace.org/resource/creating-global-audiences
Isolation, In Your Words - BBC Culture In Quarantine
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000p08z
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
Set to Tchaikovsky's famous swan theme, 27 elite ballet dancers from renowned companies across the world performed a modern-day Swan Lake from their own home filled baths.
The man behind the magic of this online video, Corey Baker, is a classical and contemporary choreographer, and former dancer from New Zealand. In our first episode of The Space Arts podcast, Corey explains to Fiona and Clare how an idea he had in the shower went on to be commissioned as part of BBC Arts 2020 Culture in Quarantine project and watched by millions around the world.
For more about Corey's work: https://coreybakerdance.com/
Watch Corey Baker’s Swan Lake Bath Ballet: www.thespace.org/resource/filmed-lockdown
Resources referenced during this podcast:
Download our audience toolkit to help you to develop your audiences online
https://www.thespace.org/resource/spaces-online-audiences-toolkit
Getting to green light: insights on turning great ideas into compelling propositions.
https://www.thespace.org/resource/getting-green-light
Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.
Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd
For more about The Space, visit thespace.org
Hey! The Space Arts Podcast is already in production, behind the scenes we're capturing some incredible stories from artists, filmmakers, dancers and directors who've had great success throughout 2020. It's coming soon, but for arts and cultural types looking to make your first steps in the digital world...here's a little taster of what to expect on the series to whet your appetite!