Alex Murphy, Creative Projects Co-ordinator
To what extent are
the Creative Project’s projects you create for the participants; and by
contrast perhaps, to what extent are they for the SDD ‘audience’ or those on
the outside?
Our objective is to work with artists to create projects
that really involve people in the artistic process. So we spend a lot of time
thinking about the people who we will work with, and how to make the project a
rich, engaging and accessible experience for them, that will lead to an
artistic outcome. So the participants are really key. We exist to give people an experience, through the arts and through
the projects that we deliver. That’s really what makes our work different to
the company’s projects, or the artists who come in to exhibit in the building.
Our focus is on the people who get involved, as well as the artists who are
leading the creative process.
So Creative Projects are
for the participants, however we also want to create work which is interesting
to a wider audience. Something that is not just for the family and friends of
those involved. And I think it is, because of the artists we work with. We are
creating work that is rich and deep and interesting to a wider audience.
In terms of SDD’s ‘other audience’ or ‘those on the
outside’, we’re currently looking into ways in which we can present this work
to give it that platform, and expose it to a wider audience. I think we can
struggle, because people see the work as non-professional – it’s not trained
dancers doing the performance, it’s young people, or the public. Whereas we,
and the artists we are working with, see it as a piece of art. How do we
present this work so that it can be enjoyed by more people in audience terms?
That’s a really interesting challenge. I think this is a really interesting question. Our projects are very much process-led. We use the making processes of the artists we work with as a starting point. It’s very important to us that people have a good experience when they come and take part in projects, so that’s definitely the focus of the work we’re doing. However, having an outcome can be a really important part of that process.
Performance is a really powerful thing to do as participant
in a project. Also, if we’re saying we are creating art through these projects,
art is something that by its nature should be shared. It’s really the essence
of it – you’re creating something, sharing it and drawing other people into it.
Is performance necessary? It really depends on what the
project is. A project could be an exploratory process which aims to enrich the
people involved, in which case the outcomes may happen later individually, or
in a follow-on project, and I think that’s valid. But if we create something,
then not sharing it is a missed opportunity for the participants and for the
wider audience who would then get to experience that.
So, we’re not outcome-led, we’re process led. Sometimes a
presentation of the work is a really valid part of that process, but it’s not
the only way to end a project. We’re quite happy to judge that on each project.
Because I like art! It’s my enjoyment and the thing I’m interested in. I think it is as simple as that actually! I get a lot from being involved in art, so if I can come to work and get involved with it there too, I’m going to be happier. I want work that enriches and challenges me in ways that I enjoy. I think because I’ve had good experiences with the arts, and specifically working with the arts in this way, I want to share that, and open it out to people.
Anything else to add?
There’s a question I’ve been musing on for a while. I tell
people about my work and they say ‘Oh
contemporary dance… I’ve really tried to enjoy that.’ They go along, they watch it…But somehow
there’s a disconnect when they’re watching dance, in a way that they don’t have
when they read, or see art or watch theatre even. It’s quite fascinating - I can
kind of relate to it, I think a lot of people have felt that disconnect. I’m
really interested in what that is about. Because, of all the art forms, it’s
the one which you should have more of a connection with. Not everyone can paint
or sculpt, but everyone has a body that moves. So why people have that disconnection from dance is something I’m
really interested in.
A lot of what I think about when we are approaching people
who may not have done dance before is that there is that barrier. People have a
barrier to dance and choreography and being creative with their bodies that is
very real. It can be a fear thing, or
a physical self-consciousness. But also, there is something about dance
performance which isn’t connecting with people. I don’t have an answer for what
that is. It seems a bit illogical, because it’s a human body moving. We should
all be able to relate to that. One of the things we aim to achieve through our
projects is to address that barrier.
