Opportunities

MusicFest Aberystwyth are thrilled to announce a call for creatives to collaborate on a special digital installation, in partnership with Welsh Music Guild and Aberystwyth University.

What is it?

This is a specially-commissioned collaboration in which two creatives either based in or from Wales will have the opportunity to collaborate with one another and create a digital installation inspired by the rich landscape and culture of Aberystwyth, and premiered as part of our International Music Festival and Summer School in summer 2021.

We are seeking one digital and/or visual artist either based in or from Ceredigion and one music creator/composer/sound artist either based in or from Wales to collaborate with one another to create a digital installation responding to a theme of their choosing inspired by the rich landscape and culture of Aberystwyth (the sea, land, and ecology of the area, the beautiful Ceredigion coastline, to Cantre’r Gwaelod, for example), after a short application and selection process.

Each selected creative will receive £300.00 for their participation in this collaboration. Financial support for the music creative is kindly provided by Welsh Music Guild. Financial support for the visual artist is kindly provided through private donation.

This opportunity is the result of a special collaboration between MusicFest Aberystwyth and its newly-appointed Associate Artistic Director Nathan James Dearden, the Welsh Music Guild, and the School of Art at Aberystwyth University. The selection process will include one individual from each of these project partners.

Collaboration outline

We are looking for one digital and/or visual artist either based in or from Ceredigion and one music creator/composer/sound artist either based in or from Wales, from across a range of genres, to collaborate and create a single digital installation experience for audiences to enjoy both in-person (through live screenings) and at home (though our dedicated installation webpage). This collaborative process could, although not exclusively, encourage the collaboration between recorded and DAW-produced music or found sound, and visual, digital art or moving image.

The selected creatives will be tasked to create a blended audio-visual installation (variable duration; to be negotiated). The collaboration will be overseen by our Associate Artistic Director, composer and music creator, Nathan James Dearden, where he will be on-hand to guide conversations, give advice, and assist the collaboration in any way the creatives see fit.

The digital installation will be premiered as part of our 2021 International Music Festival and Summer School, and will be given several performance opportunities including a live, premiere streaming at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, on our dedicated installation webpage, and as part of our fringe events in the local area through MusicFest XTRA. The broader work of the selected creatives will also be promoted through MusicFest Aberystwyth, as the creatives see fit, plus the production of an ‘In conversation’ digital event where the selected creatives will be able to share their practice and collaboration with audiences.

There is no age limit to those who can apply, although we see this opportunity suiting young and/or emerging creatives who might benefit from such a collaboration and platform.

Successful applicants will have a one-month creation period (14 June 2022 to 19 July 2022) to share ideas, record, produce, mix/master their collaboration (which will be submitted as a combined digital file in .mp4 or .mov format).

Collaboration timeline

Applications open: Monday, 17 May 2022
Applications close: Monday, 7 June 2022
Applicants notified: Friday, 11 June 2022

Collaboration period: begins Monday, 14 June 2022
Submission of completed digital installation: Monday 19, July 2022
Initial premiere: 12.00pm on Tuesday, 27 July 2022

During Covid-19

In response to the current global situation, the first tranche of the project will take place online: Nathan James Dearden will lead initial conversations and begin the collaboration by video conferencing, and sketches, draft visual and sound ideas will be shared digitally.

In line with Government guidance, it is anticipated that the selected visual/digital artist will be permitted to safely film/record/photograph in the local area of Aberystwyth (dependent on the vision for the collaboration). Open conversations will be continued with selected creatives as to their needs for the project, in line with developing social distancing and broader COVID-19 guidance. Owing to the uncertainty brought by COVID-19, we and the participating creatives will be required to take a flexible, innovative approach to process and delivery.