Project Lead: Paula Fitzsimons

Number of participants: 15

Duration: 5 days

Project Outline:

A performance art workshop that encourages active participation in performance based activities and across subject dialogues. Bringing together all with an interest in making performance a part of their practice, from those with experience of performance as part of their practice who wish to extend their knowledge, to first time triers who would like to try out performance and its possibilities.

The workshops will include an introduction to the history and background of performance art as it has developed. Also there will be performance based activity workshops where participants get to work with and try ideas based on an expanded notion of the Body and Materials/ the Body in Action. The expected outcome of this workshop a performance event, at which time each student has the opportunity to make a live work. There will also be a chance for round table critique and response to each persons work and practice.

Timetable:

Day 1: Monday 4th November 
Before the session each participant will be asked to bring a material that they would like to
work with.
10.00 – 12.00 am – Introductions.
General introduction to the weeks workshop. Each participant will be asked to introduce themselves and their interest/ connection to performance. (all levels of interest are welcome)
12.00- 1.00 pm – Introduction of materials workshop
Presentation on the use of materials in performance practice – an historic perspective.
1.00- 2.00 pm – Lunch Break
2.00- 4.00 pm – Materials Workshop!
The group will work together to consider ways to work in a performance/ live context using the materials they have pre-chosen.

Day 2: Tuesday  5th November
10.00- 1.00 pm – Action Workshop
Introductory presentation/ historic context for Action in the context of Performance Art practice, looking at artists that have used actions as a part of their performance work. Participants will be asked to consider actions they will use in a live performance context.
1.00 – 2.00 pm – Lunch Break
2.00 – 4.00 pm – Action Workshop continued.
Participants will actively engage in an action workshop. Beginning to make live works of art that use the body in action as an agent of meaning.

Day 3: Wednesday 6th November
11.00 -1.00 pm – Each participant will be asked to prepare a performance work.
1.00 – 2.00 pm – Lunch Break
2.00 – 4.00 pm – Project Lead will work individually with each participant as they prepare their work for live performance evening
6.00 – 8.00 pm – Live Performance Event
Participants will present a showcase of performance works.  Each participant will present a live work for an invited audience of their peers.

Day 4: Thursday 7th November
10.00 – 1.00 pm – Round table crits.
The group as a whole will go through each work presented and discuss.
1.00 – 2.00 pm – Lunch Break
2.00 – 4.00 pm – Second part of the round table crits.

Day 5: Friday 8th November
10.00 am – 4.00 pm
On the final day of the workshop the Project Lead will work with the participant group to consider
learning from practice and outcomes. Looking at and distributing all image documentation
of works made during the workshop and live performance event. The Project Lead will be available
to provide individual feedback to each participant.