Festival of ideas meets intense art camp meets magic house party, Vitalstatistix’s annual 'Adhocracy' is like no other event in South Australia.
Curated by Vitals’ Creative Producer Emma Webb and artists Jason Sweeney and Paul Gazzola, audiences are invited to experience some of the most interesting makers from around the country, and the early stages of their works. “'Adhocracy' is also very focused on experimentation and multidisciplinary art,” says Emma, “as well as supporting social engagement and radical ideas. Each 'Adhocracy' always incorporates some way of discussing some big ideas – for instance in 2014 climate change was one of the overriding themes.”
But these work don’t just disappear after June. In fact, 'Adhocracy' has contributed to the development of over 40 new works in 5 years, and Vitalstatistix has hosted 5, 2-week residency projects – which sees a creative team working with South Australian artists for a fortnight in the lead up to, and including, 'Adhocracy'.
This year there are eight projects in development, including 'Crawl Me Blood', a sound and performance installation inspired by 'Wide Sargasso Sea' with Halcyon Macleod and Willoh S Weiland; Kelly Doley’s 'Alternative Futures Working Group'; Ahmarnya Price, Dan Koerner and Ingrid Voorendt’s 'Awkward Sex Scenes'; and Emma Beech’s 'Louise At The Corner Store'.
'Adhocracy' is such an important creative development, says Emma, “where artists can be supported and resourced, and offered peer and audience feedback. In South Australia 'Adhocracy' also brings artists together from across the country, and enables South Australian artists and audiences to be part of national dialogues.”
So, if you’ve never been to an 'Adhocracy', this is how it rolls. Doors open for audiences at 3pm and the public programme is an hour-by-hour schedule of showings, talks and other experiences. “A selection of 'Adhocracy' artists will give short sharp talks about what they have been working on... Then at 4:30pm each day there will be three guest speakers across visual art, performance and writing.” All to be wrapped up with the Winter Witches DJs, who will play until midnight.
Adelaide – diarise or despair. This event is not to be missed.
'Adhocracy' takes place at the Vitalstatistix Theatre Company, 6-8 June.
