Season of sound and vision

‘It will be nice for the people who support us to see something tangible,’ says director of arts institute as diverse Spring programme is unveiled
The Falling Song 2012 (junk ensemble)The Falling Song 2012 (junk ensemble)
The Falling Song 2012 (junk ensemble)

A diverse and exciting spring season of theatre, dance and music is launched at Lancaster University this week.

Highlights include Junk Ensemble who will be accompanied by a 20-strong choir of pupils from Lancaster’s Dallas Road Community Primary School when they perform their dance piece on March 6; Violin duo Retorica playing a Live at LICA-commissioned piece by Sergei Prokofiev’s great-grandson and the return of popular dance company 12 Degrees North.

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The programme is the first under Live at LICA (Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts) new director Jamie Eastman who joined the organisation in November.

“I want to think about community outreach and participatory art: it’s the stories of our supported artists and their engagement with the public that we are interested in telling. Global as well as local.

“It’s about building on what’s already been done here.

“Sea Breeze at Morecambe’s Winter Gardens last year is an exemplary example of what we want to continue to do.

“We have a new Supporter Scheme and we are being clear with our supporters that if they give us x amount per year they are doing that to help us evolve our role as developers of talent or as collectors.

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“It will be nice for the people who support us to see something tangible,” he said.

Jamie, who previously worked at the Arnolfini in Bristol, is hoping to stage events and shows on campus and in Lancaster and Morecambe based on the ‘real world’.

For starters Jamie has plans to commission a piece inspired by the Arab Spring and also link in with the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations this year.

He also wants to support more artists and work closely with the Live at LICA Supporters who get an impressive array of discounts including free tea and coffee and invites to VIP receptions for just £20 this spring. For more details or to book tickets go to www.liveatlica.org

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*If you’d like to meet Jamie in person he is inviting people to pop along to the opening of a contemporary art exhibition by Taiwanese artist Wu Chi-Tsung at 6.30pm at the Storey Gallery in Lancaster on Friday, January 31.

Or attend the launch of the spring season at the Peter Scott Gallery on campus at 6.30pm on Thursday (January 30).

Entrance is free to both events.