visions, promoted by the Faculty of Arts & Architecture, at the University of Brighton, has established a reputation for presenting new, high quality visual performance by international and UK artists since 1994. 

We are exploring how visions can develop as an essential platform for experimental visual performance, informed by practice-led research.   Support and investment developing this has been provided by the University and the Arts Council of England.  Our research will involve external partners, artists, scientists, academics and researchers as well as post-graduate and under-graduate students from the University of Brighton.   visions will present this work and research through University-led events, debates, symposiums, publications in print, digital media and online, rather than in the previous festival format. The future visions programme will seek to build a leading edge body of international research work and practice outcomes.

Through a programme of research, commissions, debates and presentations, visions plans to examine new approaches to the creative manipulation of objects in space using both real and virtual spaces. This could range from working with live performers to digital agents, experimenting with visual theatre practice, other performing arts and new technologies. Research work and collaborations will take place across disciplines and geographic boundaries. 

visions is consulting with key stakeholders and researching opportunities for establishing practice-led research located both inside and outside the University of Brighton. This will include the Faculty of Art & Design’s newly formed Art and Performance Research Institute (APRI) and potentially collaborating with the Design Research Institute (DRI) using the facilities of the newly re-furbished Sallis Benney Theatre and the University of Brighton Gallery.

A visions discussion symposium took place in April 2006 with presentations by guest speakers who demonstrated through their work and research the potential for visual theatre and performance.

An visions transcript of the symposium is available.

visions will be resourced, with the support of the University, from research and arts public funding streams and will establish its programme sometime in the future.  The programme will build into collaborative joint projects with artists, other academic institutions and organisations, potentially including the commercial media sector.

Since visions was established in 1994, it has worked with a range of partners to present six biennial festivals, supported by the University and Arts Council England. visions presented work by artists of national and international reputation, ran symposiums and debates and published critical writings.  The programme policy and direction has evolved throughout this period, and visions has now entered a new phase with a focus on research and commissioning of new forms of visual theatre practice.

The visions website will be redesigned to provide a communications and research information source.

The visions programme is being led by a project team within the Faculty of Arts and Architecture, advised and led by Professor Jonathan Woodham, Director of the Centre for Research and Development, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Brighton

The visions project development team is currently under review but please contact either:

Professor Jonathan Woodham, Director of the Centre for Research & Development and visions Project Group Chair & Advisor

Gez Wilson Gallery and Theatre Manager
Tel: 01273 643010                          

Contact visons by email.

visions
22 January 2007