Conservatoires UK Biennial Conference 2019 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB

PROGRAMME

Thursday 10 October

Conference Facilitator: Professor Stephen Broad, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

12.00 Registration and Welcome Lunch

13.00 Opening Performance

Welcome Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

SESSION 1 - INSPIRING THE LEARNER JOURNEY

The arts across the UK aspires to be an inclusive and diverse gathering place which is encouraging of as many people, regardless of their background, getting involved. This session explores effective delivery of the commitment to fair access through exploring opportunities created by widening access and from developing new pathways of progression.

Keynote Speaker Karen Watt, Chief Executive, Scottish Funding Council

Dr Lois Fitch, Assistant Principal, and Helen McVey, Director of Business Development, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Alison Mears, Director of Guildhall Young Artists and Safeguarding, and Katharine Lewis, Secretary & Dean of Students, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Panel Session and Q&A

14.45 Tea/Coffee and Networking

15.10 SESSION 2 - THE DIGITAL FUTURE

This session will discuss how the technological revolution will impact on conservatoire students and how we as institutions can help prepare for their future careers.

Keynote Speaker Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman, 4J Studios

Q&A and Discussion

15.50 - 16.15 Tea/Coffee and Networking

16.15 SESSION 2 - THE DIGITAL FUTURE (CONTINUED)

Virtual Conservatoire Project Virtual Conservatoire has been a collaborative project across of Music, , and Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Central School of Ballet, LAMDA and RADA) which concluded in 2019. The £7.5million project used digital technology to enable innovative approaches to teaching and learning, to enhance the student experience and introduce new ways of sharing practice with arts institutions worldwide. Supported by a £2.9 million grant from the then HEFCE Catalyst Fund, the project has helped all six partners to develop their campuses, in particular to maximise the use of digital technology in new facilities and deliver:

 Collaborative teaching projects, where students work remotely with peers in other conservatoires and other disciplines;  Student-led projects where students use new technology to experiment and create their own work, pushing the arts forward in new and unexpected ways;  Live streamed masterclasses with esteemed faculty or visiting artists for global online audiences;  New partnerships across the UK and internationally with digital companies and artists;  Live broadcast student productions and performances, and collaborative performances across the consortium.

Led by Kevin Porter, Deputy Director, Leanne King, Creative Projects Manager, Central School of Ballet Matt Parkin, Head of Digital, Royal College of Music A J Quinn, Head of Screen and Audio Performance, LAMDA

Day 1 Closing Remarks Prof Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Day 1 Closing Performance

17.15 Close of Day 1

17.15 - 18.30 Delegate Free Time

18.30 Transfer to Gala Dinner Venue Coaches to Òran Mór in Glasgow’s West End will depart from the front steps of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

19.00 Gala Dinner Drinks Reception

Guests seated and welcome Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Dinner Service

21.00 - 21.15 Interval

21.15 Traditional Scottish Ceilidh and performances

22.30 Evening close and transport back to hotels Coaches will depart from Byres Road and return delegates to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the City Centre.

Friday 11 October from 09.00 Tea/Coffee and Breakfast Refreshments Jack Bruce Space

09.30 Day 2 Opening Performance

09.40 SESSION 3 - ART-MAKING IN TROUBLED TIMES: AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO LEARNING

In this time of climate change, we need to reduce our carbon footprints both personally and as organisations, but much more importantly we need to increase our political footprints and to contribute to the great social change that is now our chief hope. This change can only come through changing the stories we live by - by changing our culture. Artists have always had a crucial role in defining our culture. Art-making enables us to tell the stories that matter, it helps us understand what it means to be fully human, and allows us to be the change we wish to see in the world. Professor Deborah Richardson-Webb, Head of Performance Pedagogy at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will share thoughts and lead discussion on the ecological artists practice undertaken by learners on a ground-breaking Contemporary Performance Practice Programme as it enters its 21st year.

This opening presentation will be followed by breakout groups and delegates will be assigned to a group for this session.

10.00 Session 3 continued as Breakout Sessions

11.00 Tea/Coffee and Networking

11.30 SESSION 4 - SAFE SPACE AND RESILIENCE

With the world evolving and our industry ever changing, conservatoires have a responsibility to supply world class professional training whilst doing their best at all times to protect all students during their studies.

This session will explore and discuss the subjects of safe space/consent during training, the importance of resilience and how we can, as a network, advocate for our students regarding this issue, as well as pushing for change in the creative industries.

Led by Lloyd Pearce, Chair, CUK Student Network, and Jasmine Munns, President, RCS Students Union

Guest Speaker Maureen Beattie, RCS Alumna, Actress and President, Equity

Closing Performance

Closing Remarks Professor Linda Merrick, Chair, Conservatoires UK

12.45 Conference Close and Networking Lunch

13.30 Delegates Depart