Live Art explores New Territories

New Territories, Scotland’s international festival of Live Art takes place in Glasgow throughout February and March. The festival is an annual barometer of artistic endeavour, experimentation and imagination and encompasses the five day, National Review of Live Art, now in its 29th year.

Live Art has origins in the Dada and Surrealist movements of the early 20th century and in Performance Art from the ‘fifties through to the ‘seventies.  It is a dynamic area of artistic practice that ranges across the visual arts, dance, theatre and music.

‘Live art, for me, is about the spaces in-between; practice that doesn’t neatly fit into established definitions or work that is stimulated through the cracks in existing designations. Artists who define their practice within the context of live art push boundaries and invite us to join with them in these enquiries.’
Anita Clark, Head of Dance, Scottish Arts Council

A highlight of this year’s NRLA programme includes 2boys.tv from Quebec who use themes of fear and arousal in ‘Phobofilia’. Burlesque humour, film noir and gothic influences combine to convey their  unique perspective on living in a society characterised by fear

Quebec’s presence at the NRLA is continued within the New Territories programme at Tramway featuring three outstanding companies; UBU, Cas Public and the European première of a trilogy of work from Sylvian Emard Danse, in celebration of the festivals’ longstanding relationship with this fine artist.

The programme also includes the premiere of Figure This, a solo piece from Glasgow based choreographer and performer, Anna Krzystek. Anna is the recipient of a Scottish Arts Council choreographic fellowship which enabled her to develop this work.

Anita continues:

’New Territories has a history of introducing many of the world’s most innovative artists to audiences in Scotland. It works at the heart of live arts development internationally and brings Scottish artists into dialogue with some of the most stimulating contemporary artists. This year’s festival continues in this with a programme which promises to question, challenge and delight.’

The artistic dialogue continues with a programme of winter schools for artists and for the first time in 2009 a collaboration with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama on Into the New.  This four day event comprises a showcase of performances from student and graduate artists alongside workshops, discussions and talks from a broad community of performers.

Recognition has also recently been poured on Nikki Milican, the artistic director of New Moves International Ltd, producers of New Territories and the National Review of Live Art. Nikki has been awarded an OBE in the recent New Year’s Honours for her services to performance art. Many in the live art arena feel that without Nikki Milican’s unstinting commitment, passion and acumen these festivals would not be as influential and progressive as they are.