May Creative Conversation with The Nuffield Theatre
The next PANDA Creative Conversation takes place on Tuesday 5th May 2009 at greenroom, our partners in the Creative Conversations series.
PANDA members with at least two years professional experience are invited to apply to join the pool of participants for Creative Conversations. Once selected pool participants are then eligible to attend the monthly events, including our May event:
Innovative Programming
With special guest speaker Matt Fenton from Nuffield Theatre.
Matt Fenton is a theatre director, curator and academic. From 2003-2009 he was Director of Nuffield Theatre Lancaster, developing the venue into a nationally important commissioning and support venue. He now heads up a new arts organisation that will combine the Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster International Concert Series and the Peter Scott Gallery, all of which are supported by Lancaster University.
Matt is also currently Director of an MA programme in Professional Contemporary Arts Practice, a vocational postgraduate course for and taught by artists. Matt’s own theatre practice originally centred on the SW-based company dirty theatre, a collaboration with filmmaker Kathy Hinde, animator Owen Bryant and sound artist Nick Gill.
The Nuffield Theatre is a 250-seat public performance venue located on the campus of Lancaster University. It presents, supports and commissions artists experimenting in theatre, dance and live art. It enables artists to take creative risks, where possible alongside members of the public, and present work at all stages of its development. The theatre also provides unique opportunities for artists and local people to meet in innovative participatory projects, and to engage creatively with academic teaching and research.
Matt says, "I suppose I’m interested in having a conversation between artists and myself as a programmer, and maybe people that are interested in the fields of curating, programming, running festivals, animating spaces and so on. I’m interested in exploring what gives someone the right to decide what to commission or present in a publically funded venue, and how institutional models might be challenged. I’m interested in exploring issues of the public realm, arts subsidy, identity, access and diversity in a critical way. Above all I’m interested in how artists are their own first and most important curators. I promise I won't give a presentation on how to be a programmer or how to get into the industry."
For more background reading on this month's Creative Conversation
This fascinating interview between Matt Fenton and Peter Petralia (Proto-type Theater) reflects on a Nuffield project resulting from Matt's decision in 2007 not to programme anything for one year.
More About Creative Conversations
Creative Conversations are intimate forums for debate, discussion and informal networking for more established performing arts practitioners.
Creative Conversations take place on the first Tuesday of every month at greenroom.
See what's scheduled for the Creative Conversations programme over the coming months. Programme subject to change.
If you've been to a Creative Conversation and want to carry on the discussion, or you just want to find out more about what goes on at the events.
PANDA Director Liz O'Neill posts her thoughts
after each event and invites you to feedback and keep the conversation
flowing. Go and join in with the discussion about the April Creative Conversation now.
Want to Join In?
PANDA members with relevant experience are invited to apply to join the pool of participants. Not a PANDA member yet? Join now. Membership expired? Subscribe now.
Selected practitioners accepted into the pool
are be invited to attend each Creative Conversations event. There is a fee of £8 per session which contributes to
the cost of refreshments and bringing in the VIP speakers.
We look forward to receiving your application!
PANDA Member Discount Available at greenroom
greenroom is one of our PANDA partners, providing Special Offers and Discounts to PANDA members.
PANDA members can check out full details of these great money-saving deals now.
Start saving immediately by downloading your PANDA Membership Card and using it to take advantage of this and other offers.