- Past, present and future collide in
a new creative collaboration between four of Scotland’s leading education and
arts institutions.
- The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Glasgow School of
Art, the University of Glasgow and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra have
joined forces to stage an ambitious large-scale performance event and
exhibition at Tramway, Glasgow in March 2018.
- Tickets now on sale via www.rcs.ac.uk/boxoffice
Last
Futures will showcase the country’s most exciting emerging talent as they
celebrate and question the socio-political movements which made 1968 a year
that changed history. When global uncertainty, from the war in Vietnam to the civil
rights movement sparked protests, pickets, riots and revolutions, ordinary
people demanded change.
Futures will showcase the country’s most exciting emerging talent as they
celebrate and question the socio-political movements which made 1968 a year
that changed history. When global uncertainty, from the war in Vietnam to the civil
rights movement sparked protests, pickets, riots and revolutions, ordinary
people demanded change.
Through music, performance, visual
arts and design, Last Futures will
reflect on the relevance of those movements in contemporary society and propose
radical visions of futures to come.
arts and design, Last Futures will
reflect on the relevance of those movements in contemporary society and propose
radical visions of futures to come.
The immersive, multi-arts
experience opens on March 17 (exhibition only) with the opening night for the
performance and exhibition on March 18. Last
Futures runs until March 25 and will bring together hundreds of artists,
academics, curators, performers, writers, musicians and designers.
experience opens on March 17 (exhibition only) with the opening night for the
performance and exhibition on March 18. Last
Futures runs until March 25 and will bring together hundreds of artists,
academics, curators, performers, writers, musicians and designers.
Four composition students from the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland – ranked in the world top three for performing arts
education – will write new works for Last
Futures. The pieces will be performed by Royal Conservatoire musicians and members
of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Conservatoire of Scotland – ranked in the world top three for performing arts
education – will write new works for Last
Futures. The pieces will be performed by Royal Conservatoire musicians and members
of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
The performance element of Last Futures will explore how to action
radical visions of the future by weaving music, design, drama and text in a
contemporary revision on the experimental creative methodologies that emerged
in the late 1960s.
radical visions of the future by weaving music, design, drama and text in a
contemporary revision on the experimental creative methodologies that emerged
in the late 1960s.
The exhibition will present
critiques of the proposed futures of 50 years ago and imagine alternative
versions of the future to come. A programme of curated live events, including
talks, screenings, music and performances, will take place within the
exhibition space.
critiques of the proposed futures of 50 years ago and imagine alternative
versions of the future to come. A programme of curated live events, including
talks, screenings, music and performances, will take place within the
exhibition space.
This is the third collaboration
between the institutions. In 2016, New
Dreams celebrated the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death
with music, drama, dance and visual art inspired by themes in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2013, MONAD, which was supported by Scottish
Ballet, commemorated the centenary of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. It was composed, danced and lit by students
from the Royal Conservatoire with costumes and sets by The Glasgow School of
Art. The score was brought to life by members of the Royal Conservatoire and
BBC SSO.
between the institutions. In 2016, New
Dreams celebrated the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death
with music, drama, dance and visual art inspired by themes in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2013, MONAD, which was supported by Scottish
Ballet, commemorated the centenary of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. It was composed, danced and lit by students
from the Royal Conservatoire with costumes and sets by The Glasgow School of
Art. The score was brought to life by members of the Royal Conservatoire and
BBC SSO.
The student voice is at the
forefront of Last Futures which is
being led by Co-Directors Josh Armstrong, a lecturer and graduate of the
Contemporary Performance Practice programme at the Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland; Becky Sik, a lecturer in Sculpture and Environmental Art at The
Glasgow School of Art, and Sukaina Kubba, a lecturer in the School of Fine Art
at The Glasgow School of Art, who curated the exhibitions for New Dreams and MONAD.
forefront of Last Futures which is
being led by Co-Directors Josh Armstrong, a lecturer and graduate of the
Contemporary Performance Practice programme at the Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland; Becky Sik, a lecturer in Sculpture and Environmental Art at The
Glasgow School of Art, and Sukaina Kubba, a lecturer in the School of Fine Art
at The Glasgow School of Art, who curated the exhibitions for New Dreams and MONAD.
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland, said: “Scotland’s national conservatoire is the only place of our
kind in Europe offering the full range of the performing and production arts
together and the encouragement to work with fellow students across all of our
art forms.
Scotland, said: “Scotland’s national conservatoire is the only place of our
kind in Europe offering the full range of the performing and production arts
together and the encouragement to work with fellow students across all of our
art forms.
“When creative and artistic minds
come together, magic happens, so we’re excited about the opportunity Last Futures presents to harness the
collective force of these dynamic artists, academics and performers to create
an ambitious, exciting and thought-provoking experience for audiences in
Glasgow and Scotland.
come together, magic happens, so we’re excited about the opportunity Last Futures presents to harness the
collective force of these dynamic artists, academics and performers to create
an ambitious, exciting and thought-provoking experience for audiences in
Glasgow and Scotland.
“Collaboration is at our core so we
are thrilled to once again partner with The Glasgow School of Art, the
University of Glasgow and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, three vibrant
and world-renowned institutions.”
are thrilled to once again partner with The Glasgow School of Art, the
University of Glasgow and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, three vibrant
and world-renowned institutions.”
Professor
Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, said: “The
Glasgow School of Art is delighted to be a partner in this new collaboration
working in partnership with Glasgow’s leading academic institutions and
performers.
Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, said: “The
Glasgow School of Art is delighted to be a partner in this new collaboration
working in partnership with Glasgow’s leading academic institutions and
performers.
“Glasgow is celebrated internationally
as a centre of innovation. Our students from across the disciplines of
Architecture, Design, Innovation, Fine Art and Simulation & Visualisation
will bring their creativity to the celebration ensuring that the importance and
impact of the socio-political movements of 1968 are communicated to the 21st
century audience.”
as a centre of innovation. Our students from across the disciplines of
Architecture, Design, Innovation, Fine Art and Simulation & Visualisation
will bring their creativity to the celebration ensuring that the importance and
impact of the socio-political movements of 1968 are communicated to the 21st
century audience.”
Professor
Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Glasgow, said: “Glasgow is a powerhouse where ideas and creativity flourish
and grow. It is no surprise, then, that a unique creative collaboration like Last Futures has come out of a strong
partnership between Glasgow’s leading arts and academic institutions and
performers.
Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Glasgow, said: “Glasgow is a powerhouse where ideas and creativity flourish
and grow. It is no surprise, then, that a unique creative collaboration like Last Futures has come out of a strong
partnership between Glasgow’s leading arts and academic institutions and
performers.
“The University of Glasgow is delighted
to see the talents of our wonderful staff and students within the Arts being
showcased. The collaboration explores a myriad of alternative visions of
futures to come in a way which I have no doubt will capture the public’s
imagination. I am sure everyone involved is looking forward to sharing this
exciting body of work.”
to see the talents of our wonderful staff and students within the Arts being
showcased. The collaboration explores a myriad of alternative visions of
futures to come in a way which I have no doubt will capture the public’s
imagination. I am sure everyone involved is looking forward to sharing this
exciting body of work.”
Dominic Parker, Director of BBC SSO, said: “Together with the other
organisations involved in this project we want to provoke and support the next
generation of creative talent. There is a fantastic spirit of openness and
collaboration between us, and we hope to give the students a space to explore
their own creative responses. We are really looking forward to working
alongside the students and seeing where their ideas lead.”
organisations involved in this project we want to provoke and support the next
generation of creative talent. There is a fantastic spirit of openness and
collaboration between us, and we hope to give the students a space to explore
their own creative responses. We are really looking forward to working
alongside the students and seeing where their ideas lead.”
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
Tickets go on sale in February from
www.rcs.ac.uk/boxoffice
www.rcs.ac.uk/boxoffice
1968:
- North Korea captured the
American intelligence-gathering vessel USS Pueblo - North Vietnam forces launched
the Tet Offensive against South Vietnam - Student protests and a general
strike in France - Enoch Powell delivered his
controversial ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech on immigration - Martin Luther King Jr.
assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee - The Prague Spring in the former
Czechoslovakia. - Eva Hesse’s only solo show in
the US, Chain Polymers, at
Fischbach Gallery, NY - Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 a Space Odyssey is released
- The Theatres Act 1968 abolished
censorship of the theatre in the UK - The musical Hair opened
- US President Lyndon B. Johnson
signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 also known as the Fair Housing Act - Robert F. Kennedy assassinated
in Los Angeles - The Abortion Act 1967 came into
effect in the UK - United States athletes staged a
silent demonstration against racial discrimination in the US at the Summer
Olympics in Mexico City - Apollo 8 was the first manned mission
to orbit the moon - The Race Relations Act is passed
in the UK
MEDIA CONTACTS
For information on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Linda Robertson
L.Robertson@rcs.ac.uk | +44 (0)141 270 8291
For information on The Glasgow School of
Art
Art
Lesley
Booth
Booth
press@gsa.ac.uk | 0779 941 4474
For information on the University of
Glasgow
Glasgow
Áine
Allardyce
Allardyce
aine.allardyce@glasgow.ac.uk
| 0141 3307126 or 07976 201938
| 0141 3307126 or 07976 201938
For information on BBC Scottish Symphony
Orchestra
Orchestra
Elizabeth
Whitty
Whitty
elizabeth.whitty@bbc.co.uk |0303
082 3095
082 3095
VISIT
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
www.rcs.ac.uk | @rcstweets |
Facebook/RCSofficial | YouTube/RCSofficial | Instagram/rcsofficial
Facebook/RCSofficial | YouTube/RCSofficial | Instagram/rcsofficial
The University of Glasgow
www.glasgow.ac.uk | @UofGlasgow | Facebook/UofGlasgow | Instagram/uofglasgow
The Glasgow School of
Art
Art
www.gsa.ac.uk | @GSofA | Facebook/GlasgowSchoolofArt | Instagram/glasgowschoolart
BBC Scottish Symphony
Orchestra
Orchestra
www.bbc.co.uk/bbcsso | @BBCSSO | Facebook/BBCSSO | Instagram/bbcsso