2015-05-06

New technology for more interaction in the performing arts

On April 25, I led the final discussion at the Nordic seminar Sharegarden in Mariehamn, Åland Islands. Over 100 participants – professional technicians and other administrative and artistic staff from all over Sweden and Finland – got to learn more about the possibilities with fiber optics for increased interaction within the performing arts field. The technique involves non-latency, broadcasting without delay, making it possible to play and act together remotely, eg between different scenes for interesting artistic audience experiences, or in a teaching situation where music professionals in different places can hold joint clinics. So when the students graduate they already have a large network of colleagues in many parts of the world that they have already made music with.

As a public test in Mariehamn the pianists Magnus Svensson in Stockholm and Patrik Komoromsky in Åland performed together “on stage”. I myself was the compere and the audience were guests invited by the Nordic Institute (celebrating 30 years of activities), which with this act wanted to show their commitment to the development of “the digital nordic region” – one of the priority points of the Nordic Council of Ministers cultural strategy. Watch the act and hear the Åland Music Institute Rector Björn Blomquist share his ideas.
The seminar was organized by the Swedish Touring National Theatre in collaboration with the University of Tampere and others, with support from the Nordic Mobility Program for Culture. Learn more about network Theatre & New Technology.