‘Choreozone: Why Archive?’ with Eckhard Thiemann and Suzy Willson
Join Eckhard Thiemann and our Artistic Director Suzy Willson for an introductory workshop focussed on archives & collections practices.
‘Choreozone: Why Archive?’ is an ideal learning opportunity for independent artists, performing arts specialists and small-/medium-sized arts organisations. Attendees will develop practice skills and understanding around how to document and archive artistic practice.
The event will be of particular use for those working in the independent, artist-led music and dance sectors. It will include both discussion and some movement work.
Topics which will be covered include
- What is an archive and who is it for
- Organising your physical and digital materials
- Amplifying performers’ voices in the archive
- Archiving as a creative act
- Sharing learning with a new generation
- Using archives & collections to catalyse new work
The workshop activities will run from 16.00-18.00. The final hour of the event will be dedicated to socialising and networking. A drink is included in the price of the ticket.
‘Choreozone: Why Archive?’ is part of Clod Ensemble’s Choreozone project (supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund). We will be sharing our learning about the archiving process with other organisations and artists through a series of events over the coming months.
Eckhard Thiemann is a freelance curator, producer and consultant specialising in festivals internationalism, dance programming and the Middle East. He is the Dance Programming Associate for Salford’s The Lowry, presenting an annual programme of over 25 companies ranging from latest new talent to established companies and large-scale ballet.
Until October 2021 Thiemann was Artistic Director and CEO of Shubbak, London’s largest festival of contemporary Arab culture. Other previous positions include: Associate Artistic Curator for CODA – Oslo International Dance Festival; Creative Producer for Siobhan Davies Dance; producer for the London 2012 Festival; curator for Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, OUTSPOKEN – New Performance From Arab Artists, African Crossroads and the opening season of Pavilion Dance.
Thiemann was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Dance Programming Award 2019 by One Dance UK. Under his leadership, Shubbak won the UNESCO Sharjah Award for Arab Culture 2019.
(Lead image: James Keane conducting Clod Ensemble’s 1998 production of Arnold Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’.)
