Oton Project
Title of project:
Oton Project
Brief overview of initiative or, if relevant, organisational strategy in regards to bringing new music to new audiences:
Country/region:
Did the initiative focus on a particular music type/genre? If so, please give details:
Chamber
If relevant, location/venue type:
Athens School of Fine Arts
Average age range of audience or any other binding factor (for example location or other demographic). Please provide details below.
Students of the School of Fine Arts
If relevant, what instrumentation was used as part of the project:
“ARTéfacts ensemble: violin, viola, clarinet, saxophone, piano, percussion (2)
Ventus Ensemble: woodwind quartet, brass quintet, piano, electric guitar, bass, synthesizer ”
Duration/Regularity:
There was one weekly meeting between musicians, students of the School of Fine Arts, together with one person from the School’s staff and the project manager for a period of four months. Two study visits by the composer took place in order to work with the ensembles and fellow composers and to decide together on the play-order of the pieces. Two concerts took place.
Aims/objectives:
“Aims:
-Connect a cultural institution with its neighbourhood
-Creation of new repertoire
-Attract new audiences to the concert hall
-Create interactions between visual arts and music
Objectives:
-Composers use the city of Athens as a source of inspiration
-Create a new music event within a Fine Arts School
-Give an incentive to Fine Arts students to think about interactions between video/installations and new music and create the setting for a concert in collaboration with the musicians and a director
-Give an incentive to Fine Arts students to attend a new music concert
-Two new music ensembles join forces and create a common repertoire”
What activities are included in the project?
“-Two Greek composers, members of the music groups who played in the concert, composed music inspired by the sounds and the city of Athens
-Guest composer visited Athens, and, in collaboration with the Athenian composers wrote music for the project.
– The guest composer was present during the final rehearsals and the concerts.
– Musicians, students of the School of Fine Arts (a group formed on a voluntary basis) and the project manager, met on a weekly basis for four months in order for the students to create the appropriate setting for the concert in one of the School’s workshop areas.
-Installations and videos were created specifically for the occasion and the location
-Two concerts took place ”
If appropriate, who are the targeted groups?
General audience, students of the School of Fine Arts
Has the project been evaluated? If so, please explain how:
Only during debrief sessions between participants
Outcomes of the project:
- A collaboration between the cultural centre and fine arts school.
- Audience development.
- Intercultural exchange.
- Contribution from students of the fine arts school to the organisation of the event.
- Gaining experience of organising cultural events.
Quotations from participants and artists:
“- It was a great experience to participate”
– “I have the best impressions from the project and the collaborations”
– “Thank you for the wonderful Oton”
(quotes from the School of Fine Arts’ students)
Do you have any data on the longer-term impact of the project/event on participants?
No.
Please give details about what steps have been taken to make projects or events accessible to people with disabilities or learning difficulties:
Wheelchair accessible building
Please provide 5 key recommendations for determining good practice in projects that aim to engage new audiences with new music?
“-Target local groups
-Create conditions for new social/artistic bonds through new music
-Create a supportive environment to new listening experiences
-Give opportunities for an inside look into the work of the musicians
-Allow enough time between the different phases of a project for the new experiences to settle ”
Future plans
Continuation of various types of collaborations between cultural centres and fine arts schools
Contact info
TAGS/KEY WORDS for whole website
Connection /fine arts school /students / setting / learning by doing / composers / collaboration / inspiration / new music / concert / composition
