YORK arts company SLAP is seeking pioneering artists to collaborate on a performance programme at York Mediale, the new media arts festival taking place from September 27 to October 6.

SLAP’s Sophie Unwin and Lydia Cottrell will curate an evening involving four diverse artists after a week-long workshop at York St John University in the summer.

The collaborative project will involve the quartet of artists and Unwin and Cotterill spending an intensive week developing ideas and concepts in rehearsal at the university in August as they create a piece of work combining media and performance. The finished piece will be presented to an audience in an immersive evening at the York Medical Society, in Stonegate, during the ten-day autumn festival.

"This is such an exciting project, and we’re hoping that it will attract performance artists from many different disciplines and approaches: experimental dance, live art, installation, theatre and film," says Lydia.

Artists wishing to apply should visit slapyork.co.uk/opportunities. "We’re accepting applications from any professional artists, but one of the most interesting parts will be selecting which four we invite to participate, as the diverse skills and backgrounds will no doubt influence the direction of the final performance," says Lydia. "At the moment, we have a blank sheet of paper; the most stimulating starting point for any artist as the scope of the performance is unlimited."

Tom Higham, creative director of York Mediale 2018, adds: "As part of our programming, we’ve been looking for emerging creative talent to sit alongside some of the artists who have already secured international reputations in the media arts field. We love the way that SLAP combines York talent with artists who could come from any corner of the globe to create unexpected, sometimes raw, grassroots performance encompassing arts and media."

SLAP – the name is an acronym for Salacious Live Alternative Performance – has staged unusual works for unsuspecting audiences over the past five years, with performance spaces ranging from traditional theatres to a bus stop. One such project, SLAPmoves, comes to fruition on April 27 at 7.45pm at the York Theatre Royal Studio.

"SLAPmoves supports emerging performance from the next generation of pioneering talent, with recent graduates and final-year students of theatre and dance invited to present new work that uses movement," says Lydia. "Each company will be competing to win a prize package that includes cash, rehearsal space and performance opportunities. The winner will be chosen by the audience and a panel of industry professional judges."

Tickets cost £5 on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Charles Hutchinson