Immersive Opera Lab
IN COLLABORATION WITH GUAP
Date: 2019Core collaborators: GUAP: Jide Adetunji, Ibrahim Kamara | LAB PARTICIPANTS: Elayce
Ismail, Rikki Henry, ESKA Mtungwazi, Anthony Almeida, Isabelle Kettle, Isha Shah, Tendai Moyo, Jordan Willocks, David Adesanya, HAM the Illustrator | LAB PRODUCER: Shehani Fernando | VISITING MENTORS: May Abdalla, Alex Ampofo, Greg Furber | JURY: Rachel Lerman (Royal Opera) Bill Thompson (BBC), Ben Lane (ACE), Ibrahim Kamara (GUAP), Annette Mees (Audience Labs).Location: London, ukArtForm: operaWhat if creatives working in radically different spaces explored technology together?
From the very beginning of Audience Labs we wanted to bring in collaborators from radically different artforms. GUAP is a revolutionary youth platform at the forefront of creative culture – a hub of young, emerging, diverse creatives. When we talked with Jide Adetunji at GUAP,
our shared interest in lyrical and poetic artforms meant it was obvious we should do something together. We created a space for cross-pollination between hip- hop and opera, where hip-hop producers, film-makers, opera makers, composers, designers, photographers and illustrators could work together to develop new crossover ideas.
In the Immersive Opera Lab five creatives from GUAP and five opera makers received a fee to explore the role technology could play in their practice. We started with
a two day Lab; working collaboratively, generating ideas, exploring tech and experimenting. We
introduced participants to a range of immersive technologies, including augmented and mixed reality, and allowed anyone in the group to form a team.
Over a six week period, participants were supported to develop a pitch for a new project. The process enabled freelance artists and creatives to access technology, while giving them the time and support they need to develop personal artistic responses to its potential. They were also given permission to fail. Everyone was free to explore, with no pressure to develop an idea. We wanted participants to be exposed to new possibilities and collaborators and to feel inspired. If an interesting concept emerged, then we could take it further within the ‘development and pitch’ track.
Supported by weekly mentoring sessions at the Royal Opera House, teams ultimately pitched their ideas to a panel of industry experts, including representatives from the world of GUAP, opera, the BBC research and development team and Arts Council England. The winning proposal received a £5000 development grant.
Our relationship with the Immersive Opera Lab group continued beyond
the programme itself. Though the size and resources of our small department meant we couldn’t support all the artists and projects we loved, we invested our time to create pathways for artists
to further develop their ideas. This included hosting an end-of-programme ceremony, where all projects were presented to an invited audience from opera, the wider arts industry, funders and technology companies.
The Immersive Opera Development Award and the development grant, were awarded to Munkination: A Second Chance, which went on to play a larger role in the Audience Lab story.
