EXPTV:Organising multi-media events: Mani.Fest III

From Medien Wiki

Werkmodul
Lecturers: Ben Sassen. Kyd Campbell
Assessment: 6 ECTS, 4 SWS
Date: Tuesday, 9:30 - 12:30 Uhr
Place: Bauhausstraße 15, Projektraum 002
First meeting: Tuesday 2010-04-13

MANI.FEST III is a class! Boost your art practice with a real professional process. Get practice, make a festival.

Course description

Manifest sm web.jpg

Led by Prof. Ben Sassen & Kyd Campbell

class will be held in English

In this Werkmodul students will learn about planning and promoting multi-media events. Working together as part of a team, they will plan the 2010 edition of the Mani.Fest. The Mani.Fest is an annual event offering artists from Weimar who work with media and performing arts a platform to present their work. The event takes place over one evening during the Bauhaus' Summary, and in previous years has featured dance, theatre and live electronic music performances. Building on the success of last year’s Mani.Fest media performance showcase, this year we will aim to continue developing the Mani.Fest brand whilst once again creating a top quality audio/visual live event with an exciting program of Weimar acts. (See MANI.FEST for more details of last year’s event)

Students joining this Werkmodul will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in:

- Creating and managing promotional campaigns - Working as part of an event production team - Managing an event budget - Installing equipment and technically producing live multi-media events - Using video to document live events - Booking and liaising with artists - Organising and working with venues - Managing relationships with sponsors

To make Mani.Fest 2010 happen we are looking for a range of students who are able to work in different roles, including: graphic design, PR and press work, artist liaison, managing sponsors, VJing, web design and team leading. If one of these sounds like the job you would like to do then come join us!

Deutsche Kurzbeschreibung
Das Mani.Fest bot während des Medienganges 2009 zahlreichen Künstlern aus Weimar eine Plattform für audio/visuelle Live Performances. Auch in diesem Jahr soll das Mani.Fest wieder stattfinden und sich weiterentwickeln.

Dieses Projekt befasst sich mit den grundlegenden Anwendungen und Prozessen, die bei dem Organisieren und der Produktion von Live Performances und Medien Events notwendig sind. Das umfasst sämtliche Schritte von der Programmentwicklung über die Akquise von Künstlern und Sponsoren, die technische Vorbereitung und der Aufbau, die Ablaufplanung, das Marketing und bis hin zur Aufführung selbst.

MANI.FEST III team members:
- Robert Dietrich
- Sophia Gräfe
- Cindy Leuther
- Patrick Richter
- Stephen Nolan
- Dagmar Fella

Admission procedure

Send me or me by e-mail after the first meeting the following information:

  • Full name
  • Fachrichtung and Fachsemester
  • Matrikel #
  • Angabe der geltenden Prüfungsordnung
  • Valid e-mail address

Leistungsnachweis

Students will take part in the multiple facets of producing the 3rd edition of MANI.FEST.

Each will be responsible for documenting a part of the process and submitting a written report describing the work they have done during the project and dritical reflections on the project, at the end. This report must be submitted within 2 weeks following the festival date.

Eligible participants

Enrolled BFA, MFA and diploma students of the faculties of media, Gestaltung and participants of the media-architecture program.

Syllabus

  • 13.04.10 first meeting, kick off lecture
    • REPORT: At this first class we introduced the concept of MANI.FEST and the current Weimar context for AV performance presentation. We looked at a number of artist examples, talked about some different festivals, including the Tiny Noise, and previous MANI.FEST events. We discussed the possibility of creating a context for artists to improvise together during the frame of the festivals, different venues, good time lengths for an AV event, and audience comfort vs. endurance.(k.c.)
  • 16.04.10 18h15 - public presentation on noise and sound art and passed MANI.FESTS
  • 20.04.10 imagining our process
    • REPORT: After a second overall introduction to the idea of MANI.FEST and the background of our team members, we agreed on using the media faculty's WIKI for our documentation and on the subscription in selected media art related mailing lists. We presented some of our favourite performances/performers like Candice Breitz, Gabriel Shalom, a Radiohead’s music video "House of Cards", a performance by Einstürtzende Neubauten called “Das Auge des Taifun” and some video and audio from Suicide and Pan Sonic. After this we described and looked towards all the steps of the project realization, listed resources and upcoming deadlines. According to this we discussed about our project’s funding/fund raising. In the middle of these considerations stood a precise discussion and attept to define terms related to the art genre we will present within the context of MANI.FEST. [view](s.g.)
  • 27.04.10 Funding and Press Release
    • REPORT. During this weeks session we looked at media art (pre1979) and discussed our opinions on various works presented. We examined the creative fund guidelines and detailed points of focus for funding applications in general. We read our press release texts. For next week (an exercise in curatorial selection) we shall find a contemporary media performance work with detailed technical specifications. We will also explore Weimar for possible venues and work further on our press release.
    • Works Discussed:
  • 04.05.10
    • REPORT: By searching for artists taking part in current festivals we found three interesting ones and studied their Tech-Riders. It's important to know exactly what we need and when we need it. We started to make a plan about every fact that's necessary to arrange a well working festival in time. Before every step the festivals identity must be clear to get in contact with artists, sponsors, press and audience. By open call we'll try to find artists. A central e-mail address is needed for Mani.fests authenticity.
    • Works Discussed:
  • 11.05.10
  • 18.05.10
    • REPORT : we talked about what aspects we needed to include in a call for projects. We wrote the call. We looked at the current status of the graphic design. We prepared for a public workshop/launch of the call for projects.
  • 19.05.10 : public workshop / launch of call for projectsFile:ManiFestIIIcall.pdf ManiFestIIIcall.pdf
    • during the public open Freie Klasse in Weimar, our group presented our call for performances and taught a workshop for artists about preparing portfolios and applications to festivals, exhibitions and residencies.
  • 25.05.10
  • 01.06.10
  • 08.06.10
  • 15.06.10
  • 22.06.10
  • 29.06.10
  • 06.07.10
  • 13.07.10
  • EVENT DATE (t.b.a.)

Upcoming / Related

  • 2nd of June 7 pm, Gabriel Shalom talks in rm.204, M7
  • Nuits sonores - Nuits sonores - Nuits sonores 8e édition / 12 - 16 mai 2010 / Lyon, France
  • Transfera - TV show about experimental video art and AV works (on Canal Autor channel - Orange & Euskatel, Friday nights from Madrid, Spain)
  • Kasseler Doku Fest - film and video art festival, 9>14 Nov. 2010
  • Cells Buttons - Yogyakarta International Media Art Festival, Indonesia - 27 July > 7 August 2010
    • call for projects, deadline: May 25, 2010
  • Mapping Festival - 6 > 16 May, Geneva, Switzerland, VJ festival
  • Elektra Festival - 5 > 9 May, Montreal, Cananda, international digital art festival, BIG technology.
  • NK project, Berlin - sound space, upcoming: May 8th, Art Kill Art Label Night

Resources

Artists presented in class

Tn prez strip.jpg

Links


Work Space

Intro Texts

Sophia Gräfe MANI.FEST 2010 Das Multi-Media-Event MANI.FEST erfährt zur Summaery 2010 seine dritte Ausgabe. Als großformatige Abendveranstaltung präsentiert MANI.FEST aktuelle herausragende Medien- und Performancekunst im Umfeld der Bauhaus Universität Weimar mit internationalen Rang. Organisiert von einem studentischen Team der Fakultäten Architektur, Medien und Gestaltung unter der Leitung des Juniorprofessors für Experimentelle Television Ben Sassen und der freien Kuratorin und Künstlerin Kyd Campbell, wird MANI.FEST Vorzeigeprojekte aus dem Bereich der experimentellen Video- und Klangkunst dem Weimarer Publikum zugänglich machen. Basierend auf den Erfolg unserer Veranstaltung aus den letzten zwei Jahren möchte MANI.FEST 2010 zudem in gleichbleibend hoher Qualität junge Vertreter unkonventioneller und neuer Kunstformen eine Plattform zur Aufführung ihrer Arbeiten bieten und die Stadt Weimar als Produktions- und Spielort medialer Gegenwartskunst etablieren.

possible venues

capacity > 200 people

  • Mon Ami - large theatre (Cindy will check out the theatre)
    • bar services, lights, good location, central
  • Reithaus (Cindy will check out the theatre)
  • Zeug Hof (behind Bauhaus Museum, might be too small, pre-event? Patrick will call the organizer Dan Thompson)
  • Belvedere (check out the Musik Gymnasium + actual Belvedere buildings - maybe too far) (Sophia checks it?)

- - -

  • Deutches National Theatre, Theatre Platz (check)
  • Audimax, in Library building (would need to find a space design - maybe too steep)
  • Weimarhalle (tiefgarage? salle2 - maybe too steep)
  • HfM hall - Ottmar Gerster hall (check, no stage, historic space, no hanging) - was the location from the first year
  • Viehauktionshalle (contact Konsum Weimar for info, maybe too large, right profile?)
  • Bauhaus Museum (too small)

possible sponsors

possible publicity venues

local events we can promote at:

ab 12.-25. Mai Glaxbox, Gaswerk Weimar u. A. (glasconstructions will be placed in various locations round weimar. there will be projections on the windows) Glaxbox 2010 und dessen Vorbereitung gliedert sich in fünf Aktionsschwerpunkte.? Themenbezogene Aktionen / Workshops 12.-25.Mai 2010? Aktionen in der Stadt Weimar 28.-30.Mai 2010? Ausstellung / Performance 31.Mai-13.Juni 2010? Konzert / Openstage 11.-13.Juni 2010? Dokumentation Buch / Internet

29 May, Lange Nacht der Museen

03. Juni, Uni-Campus Bauhaus Energie.Experiment.Erlebnis - Programm zum Tag im Land der Ideen (Bauhaus-Idea_development-exhibition-day; concerts and presentation of media-art pieces)

Salon Pink 18. Juni, 16. Juli? (Artevent on every 3rd friday of the month in the gaswerk weimar) Jeden 3. Freitag im Monat findet eine Salon-Veranstaltung/ Vernissage statt, welche die dazugehörige 7-tägige Ausstellung eröffnet.


25.-27. Juni, Reuth, Vogtland Stelezenfestspiele bei Reuth (a best-quality experimental music festival in the middle of nowhere)

12.-19. Juli Diplomausstellung FK /Examensausstellung LAK, Kulturbahnhof Jena (studentexhibition in Jena)

SYNAE - licht:klang:raum:bild (Mediaart-Festival in the Gaswerk Weimar) http://www.schwansee92.de/blog/?page_id=252

15.-18. Juli, Rundgang BUW (!)

local press partners:
internal University Press offices
online publicity venues:
international publicity venues:
contacting artists Make a workshop on artist self-promotion in the Freieklasse Weimar, 16-23 May

working partners

WORKING TIMETABLE (in progress)

  • BASICS

- define and describe the event's identity (its goals, audience, content) - write a 'mission statement' text - decide whether the event will have a specific thematic or not

- fix the date - research open local dates, do not coincide with another local event - connect with the Summer Rundgang, Summaery - Sunday night? - define the time of night (start time) - possibility for shared planning with other local events and shared promo (ie with Summaery)

Create overview of all tasks that need to be done to make the event happen ( a 'road map')

- divide different tasks between different group members (make teams)


  • PR

-- In General: - visit relevant events in town and promote the Mani.Fest (e.g. long night of the museums - may 29th)

--- week 0

make a press plan/time schedule (Done: you're reading it!)

--- week 1 - share a workshop: how to apply to a festival (cv, documentation, proposal writing)

       - coinciding with our event's submissions deadline 

- make contact with press partners (Medien Faculty press agent Antje Kahn, central University press office (UK) in Rektor's office, Summaery press team, mediengang team) - design visual branding plan - make a call for projects flyer

       - set up a project email account so people can get in touch with us (done: gmail account)
       - have info ready online specifying the submission procedure 
       - explain why we collect so much info, bio, tech setup, concept, image links etc. 
       - let people know that our platform (the festival) is available 

--- week 2 - activate our online social networks (myspace, facebook etc.) - new website online, good URL - appropriate design - brand design drafted - write press text

--- week 3 - press text finished defining our target audience what media reaches this audience tv, radio, radio lotte, NDR, antenna thuringen, sputnik, local newspapers, student magazines NDR tv unicato

--- week 4 - artist chosen - design event flyers & poster - start press pack design - Print press List + Contact, Deadlines - international + locally based ones - (erfurt based Copymag, intro magazine) - find/contact online magazines and blogs + Contact, Deadlines - first video trailer

--- week 5 - make a press pack

--- week 6 - press conference (maybe combined with pre-event) well related to the atmosphere of our event

--- week 7 - arrange interview with artists + press (in collaboration with Artist Management team) - June 25th - (2nd video trailer) - pre-event fotos

--- week 8

--- week 9 - MANI.FEST !!-


  • Event Direction/Organisation (Management/Accounting/Legal/Human Resources/Sponsoring)

Set tasks for all groups involved in the festival based on 'road map' document

Lead weekly meeting of all event participants and keep overview of tasks progress in relation to 'road map' schedule

- connect asap with our partners in HfM - get the technical list (what is available) form the HfM and the venues - make the link with the Summaery & mediengang groups, become part of their program

deciding how long the event should be - 100 min?, break? how much can the audience handle - do we want - selecting the event atmosphere (bar/party setting, formal music concert…)

- think about how much budget have/need for each part of the event's production (and overall)

- define our insurance needs - shop for insurance

- GEMA music licensing fees (negotiate with artists & venue)

- define our additional staffing requirements technical team (to work with us at the event) general helpers (to work with us at the event)


*Sponsoring - ???


  • Managing Artists

decide how we will our artists: open call local research/knowledge of artists direct invitations to known artists

- Decide how many artists we will need (how long the event is, how long each performance should be)

- Write description of the sort of artists/work we are looking for (developed from 'mission statement') - do we choose pre-made performances or ask artists to make new ones for our topic? both?

- brainstorm inspiring info on the topic to be used for inspiring artists and conveying our overall concept

- research and make connections with related courses, for finding artists (and technical +other helpers)

- provide some idea material for inspiring artists to apply to the open call - make some presentations in courses, or directly to some possible artists

- be prepared to convey the scale and quality level of the event to the artists

- explain the decision process

- ask professors for recommendations of students

- Set deadline for all artist submissions (if using open call)

- Set deadline for selection of artists

- Choose main artists for event program and one or two back-up options in case they are needed - consider the artists in relation to the venue (will the artists fit practically into our venue) - consider how the artists will fit together in a program

- Contact chosen artists

- get bio/profile info on the artists

- arrange interview with artists + press (in collaboration with PR team)

- set up soundchecks (in collaboration with Event Production team)


  • Finding A Venue

defining the criteria for the venue (how big must it be, what facilities must it have, what is our budget for venue hire, on what dates would we like to use the venue, how does the location fit with our brand and target audience)

research venue options in local area

visiting venue options

select one or two venue options and begin negotiating a deal

make a final contract/arrangement with the venue

think about pre-event venue


  • Main Event Production

- get technical riders from artists (in collaboration with Artists Management team)

- define list of equipment required for the event

- find resources for obtaining the equipment (hire, buy, borrow etc - is there a technical budget)

- designing the technical setup (how will the equipment be connected together and where will it be in the venue)

- designing the space (decoration) - having seating in the venue (at least 200 seats) - do we need tables (cabaret style?) - where does everything need to go in the venue

- consider practical aspects (tables for selling tickets, staffing and supplying the bar, licensing, toilet paper...

- transport of equipment

- set up soundchecks (in collaboration with Artists Management team)


  • pre-event planning

to promote to present additional works how connected should it be to the main venue


*Documentation of our event -???