DIY: 2017 – Ellie Griffiths & Greg Sinclair: Neuroaesthetics

Reimagining the neurodiverse performance space

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Project summary

Neuroaesthetics explores the synergy between the needs and interests of neurodiverse audiences, with the fascinations and performance modes utilised by live artists. Working in collaboration with young people who are largely non-verbal, with severe needs, the artists will be challenged to find meaningful points of collaboration, and together radically re-imagine the neurodiverse performance space. Each artist will explore and reconfigure their distinct practice in this highly unpredictable, 'extra live' context with the support and guidance of the two lead artists. It is anticipated that seeing their work through this new lens and receiving unmediated audience responses will provoke rich new creative lines of enquiry. Neuroaesthetics looks to challenge ideas of risk in a highly safeguarded area of work, and dismantle the idea of a fixed a 'disabled theatre' aesthetic to make way for new possibilities of making performance for and with this often sidelined group of individuals.  

How to apply

Applications are invited via the link below. Included are questions on you and your practice, your experience with neurodivergency, what excites you and what you might find challenging about the process. Examples of recent work and a CV are also required.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Dates, times and location

Dates: 9-12 Oct 2017
Times: 10am-5pm
Location: Coventry (The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, and a local SEN school)

The artists

This DIY is a conversation between the practices of two artists:

Ellie Griffiths is a performance artist who specialises in making multi disciplinary, collaborative work for and with neurodiverse audiences. She is a Winston Churchill Research fellow exploring neurodiversity and performance. She is the Lead Artist of Upfront Performance Network, which connects and supports independent artists making work in the neurodiversity and performance sector, and worked as a performer, associate artist and director for Oily Cart Theatre for six years. She is currently developing a sound-based Live Art performance for young audiences on the autistic spectrum, which  has been awarded a Jerwood Cove Park residency and Creative Scotland research and development funding.  www.upfrontperformancenetwork.wordpress.com

Greg Sinclair is an award-winning performance maker, cellist and composer and recent recipient of a Children’s Theatre Fellowship from The Arts Foundation. His previous work includes ‘Ditto’, ‘’Sonata for a Man and a Boy’, and ‘I Do, Do I’. He has undertaken artist residencies with the Unicorn Theatre, Citizens Theatre, Imaginate, and SCO and was selected for the Auteurs project by The Arches and National Theatre of Scotland. http://www.gregsinclair.net/

If you have questions about this project, please contact Ellie.

This DIY is supported by The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.