The Space Arts Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Space
27 ballet dancers in the bath, not one but two Billy Barretts, a play set on Facebook...another using 17th century court transcripts, and a bunch of musicians doing nothing but listening to silence... A rather crude sum up of the works featured in the first series of The Space Arts Podcast. If you're a theatre organisation, a musician, artist, director or producer working in the arts and cultural world, then THIS is the podcast series that will offer a true reflection of what it really takes to make your digital content shine. For more information on commissioning, visit thespace.org
Fancy applying for up to £15,000 of funding? This bonus episode of The Space arts podcast whizzes you through what the application process involves.
In short: Arts or creative industries organisations, or individual artists/creative practitioners based in England are invited to apply for one of ten digital R&D commissions.
Apply here: www.thespace.org Deadline is 5pm Thursday 13th June 2024.
Email commissioning@thespace.org or call 0121 663 1488 if you need support to access or complete the application form.
Time codes (Listen in full, or break up into chapters! Just like a book!):
03:20 Chapter 1: Fiona Morris - Chief Executive and Creative Director
Who and what The Space is
What the commissioners are looking for
15:28 Chapter 2: Harmeet Chagger Khan - Exec Producer, Digital and Innovation
What do we mean by digital innovation, immersive and interactive? Including examples of previously commissioned works.
What is the story you want to tell? What is the experience you want to create? What value will it have? And why will audiences care?
26:31 Chapter 3: Sarah Butcher - Exec Producer, Capture and Film content
What is ‘capture’?
Reimagining your audience when adapting works for screen
A few words on digital rights clearance
36:11 Chapter 4: Rob Lindsay - Head of Programmes
How The Space supports the arts sector; webinars, commissioning, mentoring
Trends and how the type of work being commissioned has evolved since the pandemic
If you don’t have all the answers, that’s OK! Flag them during the application.
What your budget can and can’t include
51:57 Chapter 5: Rosanna Chianta - Head of Content Distribution and Audience Metrics
Think about your audience right from the beginning of idea development
You decide how success will be measured
Defining a digital project or digital audience
The benefit of distribution partnerships.
Good luck!
What’s the value of creating a distribution plan? How can you find potential partners to extend your reach? And how can you make the best of your own social media channels?
This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Sarah Fortescue, Head of Distribution, The Space; Dom Kennedy, Digital Arts Consultant; Linda Cockburn, Programme Manager, The Space.
Whether you’re interested in sharing new content, or presenting the best of your work to an online audience, our speakers share current thinking, and ideas on how to maximise the impact of your content online.
This recording is taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online (including Dom’s presentation about distribution plans): Distributing your work online
For access to The Space’s online audiences toolkit, visit: thespace.org/resource/spaces-online-audiences-toolkit
The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.
At the heart of everything Creative Black Country does are people. And place.
Sajida Carr is one of the directors of CBC - an organisation which enjoys making the most of this unique part of the West Midlands region through arts and creativity.
This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space
and Sajida Carr, Director of Operations and Development at Creative Black Country.
Together they tackle the topic of community collaboration, discussing the role of the enabler and facilitator, as well as how to build trust and keep the work relevant.
This recording is taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities
For information on Creative Black Country’s short film series ‘100 Masters’ read:
thespace.org/resource/creative-black-country’s-100-masters
To find out more about Creative Black Country, visit creativeblackcountry.co.uk
The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.
The vision for Robert and his team at Lancashire-based Culturapedia is to be the go-to company for engaging audiences in fabulous cultural offerings online, outdoors, or on their doorstep.
During lockdown, they began to explore sharing content digitally. It's a trend they’ve decided to continue with as the global pandemic has eased. But the team have noticed the way they programme digital content needs a different approach to their rural touring projects. A process that is evolving and growing as they go.
This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space and Robert Howell, Director at Culturapedia.
It’s taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities
Some of the highlights include how to measure success during a digital project, understanding what ‘digital poverty’ really means and how to spot the positives of Zoom calls.
For information on Culturapedia’s Spot On Stories short film series and partnership with The Space and Lancashire Libraries, read thespace.org/resource/finding-new-audiences-spot-stories
To find out more about Culturapedia, visit culturapedia.co/
The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.
“What we do is all about connection. Connecting people, things and subject matter. With the gimmick of having a caravan, people can’t resist asking what is it? What’s in there?!”
Jan Williams shares her insights into how her and partner Chris Teasdale celebrate people and places with their photography and artwork - with, by and for local communities.
This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space
And Jan Williams, Director and Artist, The Caravan Gallery.
It’s taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities
To find out more about the Tile Hill Pride of Place Project (Coventry Libraries/Digital Spaces present), visit Jan and Chris’s website: thecaravangallery.photography or listen to the Digital Spaces present podcast series!
The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.
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/ (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 (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 (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 (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 http://thespace.org/ (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/ (https://flightpaths.extant.org.uk/)
Resources referenced during this podcast:
Cathy Mager - Sign Night http://www.cathymager.com/portfolio/sign-night/ (http://www.cathymager.com/portfolio/sign-night/)
Dante or Die - User Not Found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCvR4y2yk8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCvR4y2yk8)
Filmed in Lockdown https://www.thespace.org/resource/filmed-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 (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 (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 http://thespace.org/ (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 (https://www.thespace.org/artwork/hospital-rooms-not-patient-person)
Links to their Digital Arts School https://hospital-rooms.com/digital-art-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 (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 http://thespace.org/ (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/ (https://theatreuncut.com/)
Read more on how ‘Bubble’ was filmed using smartphones:
https://www.thespace.org/resource/delivering-socially-distanced-theatre-lessons-lockdown (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 (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 (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 http://thespace.org/ (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: https://www.breachtheatre.com/ (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 (https://www.thespace.org/resource/creating-global-audiences)
Isolation, In Your Words - BBC Culture In Quarantine
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000p08z (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 http://thespace.org/ (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/ (https://coreybakerdance.com/)
Watch Corey Baker’s Swan Lake Bath Ballet: http://www.thespace.org/resource/filmed-lockdown (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 (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 (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 http://thespace.org/ (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!