Saturday. Midday. The people of Coventry are going about their business. The music on the tannoy stops. On the balcony opposite Virgin, 3 turntablists and 6 giant speakers peer down at the shoppers. A scratch. A beat. A spin back. The DJs burst into a hip-hop bass mixing in Latin rhythms, Bollywood sounds and Bhangra beats. Suddenly a troupe of traceurs are seen climbing buildings, jumping off rooftops and swinging off posts like Spidermen. Off Top Shop, onto BHS, onto Woolworths. The people of Coventry will witness the excitement of human beings throwing themselves off buildings and onto new spaces. For many this will be the first time they will have seen the city above eye level.
who:
The original concept of Multi Arts Nation was to bring together what was happening in the club and rave scene into a performance arts space and vice versa, leading on DJ, Dance, Drama and Mixed Media projects. At the core of what Multi Arts Nation practises, there is a belief in making its work accessible to all communities, recognising that art is a very powerful communication tool in educating different cultures about the society and spaces in which we live.
why:
Coventry is one of the oldest cities in England and its buildings have played a crucial role in the evolution of the city's character, national status, and through political and social changes. But medieval buildings have now been submerged under the grey buildings of the 1950s and the more recent glass structures. If one looks above eye level, there is another world. Statues and images reflecting the city's character and history. These are dynamic spaces in which to present the power of movement and sound that is usually left to the safety of the ground.
where:
Coventry City Centre: Lower and Upper Precinct; Smithford Way; Shelton Square. This performance is part of a busy Saturday afternoon, when people of all cultures and creeds will be shopping, chatting and going about their business. It will blend in and then erupt from nowhere, taking all these people with it. This is the kind of performance that is all about access to all, leaving no one behind.
when:
Saturday at midday (2 hours)
Venue Access Audit (carried out by the artist/producer).
This is intended as a guide for other artists and producers considering staging an event in the venue. However please note that the guidance given here is a subjective assessment of the venue as of May 2004.
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For key to symbols, see Access page
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Access Summary
The great thing about this performance is that it is a part of a busy Saturday afternoon, when people of all cultures and creeds will be shopping, chatting and going about their business. This performance will blend in and then erupt from nowhere taking all these people with it. This is the kind of performance that is all about access to all, leaving no one behind.
The performance will be in the open spaces of Coventry city centre, where there is already a culturally diverse unsuspecting audience.
links: Multi Arts Nation | the precinct
The Virtual Fringe is © Talking Birds, each virtual project is © the artist.
