Local artist Bianca Tainsh, who creates social projects and transformative experiences, has taken over the Old Courthouse Lock-up in Maroochydore for an artist residency program, the Seedpod Pilot, until February 8.
The Seedpod Pilot is presented by Sunshine Coast Council's Horizon Festival and Creative Spaces program, and will be delivered by renowned live arts organisation Punctum.
The residency was designed to provide space for an artist to test live art and contemporary performance ideas, undertake experiments, develop new work and take risks in a collaborative environment, under the mentorship of Jude Anderson from Punctum.
Live art is a performance that occurs at the moment of encounter between artists, the art, participants and audiences.
"My work ultimately aspires to social transformation, and creating experiential spaces that are generous to an audience, but also intriguing," Tainsh said.
"Experiments with Integrity, will explore what living with integrity means to Sunshine Coast locals.
"The lock-up is an intimate space with a history of human experience seared into the very fabric of the building, an atmosphere that will introduce another layer to the work.
"By being adjacent to a scenic but urban thoroughfare, the lock-up residency would allow a direct link for public connection."
Everyone is welcome to drop in to see the project in action from 2-4pm every day except Sunday, until February 7. There will even be an 'Integrity Brainstorming Session' from 2-4pm on February 1.
Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said this was the first time the Seedpod Pilot had been held in Queensland.
"This Queensland-first pilot residency will provide Bianca with a unique opportunity to delve into her practice and test new ideas, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the work evolves," Cr Baberowski said.
Since creating the Seedpod program, Punctum has worked with more than 400 artists in emerging fields of live performance.
Over 10 years mentoring live arts works, Artistic Director Jude Anderson said she had met many artists who not only needed time and space to test their ideas, they also needed dramaturgical support and dialogue.
"I've found that artists need someone who can help them understand their practice deeply, assist with the testing of ideas and interpreting results, and to aim high with confidence," Ms Anderson said.
"Each Seedpod residency is an adventure with its own experiment and its own way of addressing audience engagement, so I'm looking forward to seeing where this residency will take Bianca's work and thank Horizon Festival and Creative Spaces for proving this opportunity on the Sunshine Coast."
Jude Anderson was the 2019 recipient of the Green Room Awards Geoffrey Milne Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Contemporary and Experimental Performance. Green Room Awards Association (GRAA) is Victoria's peak body for honouring excellence and innovation across the arts sector.
As a part of the residency, Bianca Tainsh will present live performances of her work on February 6 and 7 at 6pm at The Old Courthouse Lock-up, 4 First Avenue, Maroochydore. Entry is free but bookings are welcomed.
