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Transforming Stagecraft Through Immersive Arts and Motion Capture

Please Note: This workshop took place on September 5th & 6th, 2024.

Workshop Date & Time: The workshop runs over two days – attendees should plan to attend both.

Thursday, September 5th, 2pm – 7pm
Friday, September 6th, 9.30am - 4pm

Venue: Centre for Creative Technologies, University of Galway.

Cost: €125. We have a number of bursaries available to waive this fee; please indicate if you wish to be considered for a bursary on the Expression of Interest form. Bursaries are available to participants with backgrounds in both academia and creative practice.

Expressions of Interest: If you are interested in attending the workshop, please complete the Expression of Interest form. Places are limited, and we will confirm attendance with applicants before the end of day on August 26th.

Closing Date for Applications: 6pm on Friday, August 23rd.

Questions: Please contact David Kelly – david.d.kelly@universityofgalway.ie

Workshop Details

An immersive two-day workshop aimed at academics and artistic practitioners in the realm of immersive and performing arts technology with a specific focus on Motion Capture. Led by Jo Mangan, Caoimhe Wandel-Brannigan, and Guillaume Auvray, this event combines presentations and hands-on opportunities to delve into the intersection of art and immersive tech. Jo Mangan, Director of The Performance Corporation, brings a wealth of expertise in integrating new technologies into her international performances as well as running the Arts/AI/Immersive Tech residency The SPACE Programme annually in Paris. Joining her is Choreographer Caoimhe Wandel-Brannigan, whose PhD research explores the symbiosis between body movement in dance and performance capture. Creative Technologist Guillaume Auvray, Director of Nuwa & XR Ireland - Innovation Technology Hub, completes the team and works closely with The Performance Corporation in the delivery of their projects.

Participants will be offered a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the latest in spatial computing technologies and performance capture. The workshop is meticulously designed to highlight the artistic potential and experimental possibilities inherent in these advanced tools. From exploring the immersive qualities of XR to understanding the nuanced mechanisms of performance capture, attendees will be equipped with both theoretical insights and practical skills. The facilitators, renowned for their pioneering work, will guide participants through a transformative journey that bridges traditional artistic practices with futuristic technological landscapes.

Beyond the technical exploration, the workshop will foster a deeper inquiry into the philosophical and motivational dimensions of technology within artistic practice. This reflective space aims to unravel the "why" behind technological integration, encouraging participants to contemplate the purpose and impact of their creations. As the boundaries between physical and digital realities continue to blur, this workshop stands as an essential conduit for artists and academics seeking to navigate and shape the future of immersive and performing arts.

Workshop Facilitators

Caoimhe Wandal-Brannigan is a dance maker, movement director and teacher from the west of Ireland, whose work sits at the intersection of dance, psychology and cutting-edge technology. With a keen interest in non-traditional theatre spaces, she has cultivated a diverse body of work that includes collaborations with both professional and community dance artists, spanning live performance to film. Currently engaged in PhD research at Trinity College Dublin, Caoimhe explores how virtual and augmented reality technologies are reshaping choreographic processes, physicality, and the dynamics of performance. In 2022, Caoimhe served as Dance Artist in Residence in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet and in 2023, she presented new works-in-progress at Prague Quadrennial and Dublin Theatre Festival. Her work has been supported by organisations including The Arts Council, Dance Ireland, Galway Dance Project, Mayo County Council, EU-Japan Fest and Irish Research Council.

Jo Mangan is a multi-disciplinary artist, director, and curator, leading The Performance Corporation, where she creates theatre, opera, and immersive tech/arts experiences. Her recent works include MoCap Experiments and "Emperor 101 (Dublin Theatre Festival, SXSW and LP360 Vancouver) and "Disappearing Islands," a site-specific dance/opera on a tidal pool. Jo founded Ireland’s longest-running international arts residency, the SPACE Programme, now based in Paris with a focus on AI, and led digital and VR initiatives as the Director of Carlow Arts Festival. Her independent directing work includes films for 20 Shots of Opera and the VR opera Out of the Ordinary for Irish National Opera’s. Jo's curation work includes the Prague Quadrennial Design Exhibition for Ireland and the Arts Council’s Brightening Air Digital projects. She is an international speaker and has been awarded the Clore Cultural Leadership Fellowship and the European Fedora Digital Prize for Opera.

Guillaume Auvray is a Creative Technologist and Innovation Product Manager. He is the founder of Nuwa Ltd and XR Ireland, where he directs groundbreaking international projects spanning Cloud, XR, and Interactive technologies. These initiatives predominantly serve the Heritage, Cultural, and Humanitarian sectors, reflecting his commitment to leveraging technology for profound social impact. Graduating from various European and US Universities, his career is marked by his dedication to nurturing curiosity and guiding organisations through the complexities of technological adoption. His work is characterised by a strategic blend of creative solutions and collaborative engagements, designed to bolster socio-cultural influence and open new avenues for exploration. His approach on projects underpins his purpose, to shape the future of technological innovation and its intersection with heritage, cultural and humanitarian endeavours.

Workshop Date & Time: The workshop is run over two days. Attendees should plan to attend both.