1. Introduction and Proposed Project

Introduction

I wanted to use this oppurtunity to work with artist in a new context. As I had existing connections with students at Leeds Arts University, I decided I wanted to work directly on a multi-media project with a fine artist. I reached out to multi-media artist Mads McGuinness to start creating.

Proposed Project

Our current plan is to develop a performance to be shown at Assembly House in Leeds on the 8th of December – 3rd year students have the oppurtunity to ehibit their art and Mads was asked to perform there. We then plan to perfect our project to take to different venues, incorporating more elements

The performance will involve me playing music live through Ableton while Mads performs and reacts/interacts with the music, elements of sculpture and possibly projection will also be considered. Sculptures and materials will make use of found materials and objects as acessibility is a main theme of Mads’ work.

The performance will last roughly ten minutes, I will be using midi controllers to perform music in Ableton’s live looping mode and the music will incorporate elements of ambient music, sound collage and experimental dance. The sounds will be made from found sounds from old music or the internet in order to emphasise themes from mads’ work, which were already present in much of my own work.

Goals

The goal of the project would be to develop our exisitng working relationship through working more directly on a piece together. Additionally, it will be an oppurtunity to work in a new context (fine art) and network with venues, other artists and event organisers to open avenues for future collaboration and performance oppurtunities.

Personnel – Direct/Indirect

Mads McGuinness – Instagram :

Main collaborator on project
Multimedia artist – performance, sculpture, video, print, painting.

Mads and I had a previous working relationship, having developed visual elements for an album I was working on with RobinSL, Mads shot and directed the cover for the album as well as some promotional images. Additionally, I created music for a performance piece Mads showed in Newcastle on the 26th of October (App 1 & 2).

She has experience doing shows with musicians, incorporating improvised movement and designing outfits.

Ralph Darbyshire – Instagram:

– Initial contact from Leeds Arts University about Exhibition

current venue contact email:

– info@assemblyhouse.art

Ralph is responsible for putting on the show and is the University’s main contact with Assembly House.

2. Methodology and Rationale

Methodology and Rationale

Initial Planning:

Initial planning included discussions about ideological, thematic and logistical points of interest.

We wanted to create a performance with me performing electronic music while Mads performed, in addition there will be exhibited sculptural works behind us. Mads is to create clothing for the show.
My main contributions to the piece are musical and ideolgical.

We created a google calendar with rough timeframes for each phase of the project, allowing enough time for personal projects and naturally developing ideas (app 3).

Planning Sketches & Notes:

Early Planning Sketch –

Simpler layout with basic idea of what we will be doing, and no concrete ideas for outfits beyond loose ideas.

Later Planning Sketch –

Stronger sense of visual motifs, equiptment and layout.

Early Costume Inspo

Notes from early conversations

Additional notes

My performance:

Ableton live set utilizing live looping and midi controllers
vocals through mic

Equiptment:

Macbook
Akai daw mixer controller
Akai Keyboard
UAD Volt 276 interface & SM57

All equiptment powered through Laptop which will be plugged in to avoid battery running out. PA will be connected to Volt interface for easy control of audio levels. the setup requires little maintainance as all signals including mic signal will run through ableton, meaning that there isn’t necissarily need for additional audio engineer in smaller spaces. (app 6)

Preparation:

due to improv nature of performance, we only have one rehearsal planned in person together – though have indepentedntly practiced
Practice mostly taking place in the 2 weeks leading up to the show.
My practice schedule included running the live set with a timer most days of the week, as I incorporated more elements into the set.
Mads’ rehearsal similarly included practicing movement based on reference tracks (Reference playlist).
Mads developed outfits using a mix of original pieces made using latex and pre-existing clothes. (app 4)

3. Market Analysis

Market Analysis

I Attended shows of a similar style/genre to our proposed show:

Slime Mold rodeo – A lineup of performance artists at “Wharf Chambers”, some of which were LAU students/graduates. Themes included queerness, sexuality, social media, consumerism and the environmental impact of technology. performances often included live performed electronic music, audio tracks, performance art and visuals/films accompanying performances.
Still. Stray. Stowaway – An accompanying performance to an exhibition at Leeds Arts University that involved performers interacting with different apparatus in coreographed performance. Themes included domesticity, femininity and patriarchy. performed by LAU students & tutors.
Resonance – A multi-practice performance at “The Attic” including musical free improvisation and physical performance by LAU stundents and musicians (some from LCON) , as well as exhibited art pieces. Mads featured in this show, exhibiting art and performing with a fellow artist. Themes included worship, sexuality, power structures.

Venues for consideration:

The attic (worked with Mads before) – https://www.instagram.com/p/DIl0EAgiD-n/
Assembly House (frequently works with LAU students) – https://www.assemblyhouse.art/
Wharf Chambers (frequently hosts shows with performance artists and experimental music) – https://wharfchambers.org/event/smr-presents-a-virtual-vaudeville/
East Street Arts – https://eaststreetarts.org.uk/whats-happening/
Left Bank – https://www.leftbankleeds.org.uk/
HPBC – https://www.hydeparkbookclub.co.uk/
Howard Assembly Room – https://www.operanorth.co.uk/howard-assembly-room/

Your Market/Target Audience

demographics attending shows at venues – appealing/networking to/with existing art/performance community
Main demographics discussed would be queer audiences and fans of more alternative/hardcore style shows as they are more likely to indulge in left-field shows as well as attend smaller venues.

4. Costs and Budgeting

Hypothetical Budget

Current plan to perform at Assembly House ensures we won’t have to pay for a space. – though booking cost for current venues range from £100-£300. Due to booking prices being a significant hurdle, we aim to look for existing, reccuring shows with existing bookings. This means searching for open calls and approaching and networking people associated with shows in similar avenues.
Mads often works with found materials, household items and second hand clothes, meaning that costs for performance materials are often low.
Assembly House have an in house PA.

Potential Funding

https://thewhitepube.co.uk/grants – one off £500 grants for working class creatives given out once a months. Mads qualifies to apply for this grant and would help to cover booking costs but not equiptment.

https://leedscultureprogrammes.org.uk/inspire – hypothetically could be useful, however applications are closed for 2025-2026. Though definitely to look out for in future.

5. Inspiration and Influences

Inspiration and Influences

Mads has cited:

Wallace Berman – as an example of an influence on her print works.
Nan Goldin – as a visual, stylistic and ideological influence for her documentation of queer life, especially though the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Forensic Architecture – as an ideological influence.
Gina Birch’s “5 Minute Scream” – as an ideological and performance influence.
Arca – Arca’s music and accompanying visuals influence Mads’ depiction of themes of femininity, autonomy and technology
Matthew Barney – for the scale of his designs and nonds to popular culture, as well as his work with musical artist Bjork

•Key Themes: class, power structures, resistance, autonomy and gender, queerness

My influenes:

Oneohtrix Point Never – sonic soundscapes and approach to sampling, exploration of memory/nostalgia, commercialism
Slauson Malone – sonic experimentation with sampling & recording, existentialism, power structures, performance.
David Bowie – exploration, reinvention, obscuring of identity/gender/sexuality as well as willingness to experiment and bring avant-garde/experimental ideas into mainstream.
Death Grips – themes of internet consumption, anti-extablishment and anti-fame ethos, sonic experimentation.
SOPHIE – Melding pop music conventions with experimental sound design, visceral and uncompromised exploration of transgender identity, sexuality and commercialism.

•Key Themes: existentialism, queer identity, memory, collage, power structures

6. Contingency/Risk Assessment

Contingency/Risk Assessment

We assesed:

Venue and our performance setup. (App 5)
possible issues with Ableton set detailed in App 6
SWOT analysis

main worries were making the performance space as clear as possible, keeping equipment safe from damage. Since wouldn’t not see the performance space until the day, it was important to be very vigilant about possible risks.

(images of venue space and equiptment setup in app 10)

7. Potential for Development

Potential for Development

Re-producing show for different venues:

Going to contact local promoters such as Not a thing. , Ray Productions or Rat Depot (arts newsletter and event organiser).
will be researching event managers and venues to bring show to as well as contacting performers that have performed there.

adding more elements:

Projection similar to what Mads did for previous work (App 1)
Contacting a light technician for light work
additional musicians or artists etc.

8. Evaluation Viability

Evaluation Viability

This project is very viable, being able to perform in a wide range of venues with appeals that span from alternative music venues/shows to fine art spaces and events. The setup is portable and easily adaptable as it all runs though the computer and is semi-improvised and tailorable to many spaces. The materials needed for the performance are mostly accessible and cheap. The project has a good niche appeal that many venues across leeds and beyond would be able to host.

Assembly House Show:

Because of my submission extension, I got to perform this piece at Assembly House with Mads as planned, This served as a great first show and opened networking opportunities with the venue holders and other attendees of the show. (app 8)

this initial show was well attended and recieved with very good feedback.

9. Bibliography

Bibliography

Reference list

Berman, W. (1968). Untitled. [online] Metmuseum.org. Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/291991.

Bowie, D. (2025). Blackstar. [online] Spotify.com. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/album/0vxg8oJKDu3i0bXQu7vEpi?si=A0vJfYsjSmOaIaPz4IxnaA [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Death Grips (2025). Bottomless Pit. [online] Spotify.com. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/album/4dIPUQHheyH9e6ioplvNT2?si=SAv2-4nlScOsoWfC-uTEaw [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Forensic Architecture (2019). Forensic Architecture. [online] Forensic-architecture.org. Available at: https://forensic-architecture.org/.

Goldin, N. (2008). Nan Goldin. Trixie on the Cot, New York City. 1979 | MoMA. [online] The Museum of Modern Art. Available at: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/102266?artist_id=7532&page=1&sov_referrer=artist [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Leeds Arts University (2025). Paula Chambers | Still. Stray. Stowaway. | Leeds Arts University. [online] Leeds-art.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/whats-happening/exhibitions-and-events/paula-chambers-still-stray-stowaway [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Leeds City Council (2025). Arts and events | Leeds.gov.uk. [online] Leeds.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/arts-and-events [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Leedscultureprogrammes.org.uk. (2023). About Us | Culture Programmes. [online] Available at: https://www.leedscultureprogrammes.org.uk/about-us.

Marsalis, J. (2025). Slauson Malone 1. [online] Spotify.com. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6mWYIx4qV7et94cpRRU77N?si=T6cvbNjRS7ihHqJ6DfDc3g [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Not A Thing. (2020). Leeds | Venues List. [online] Google Docs. Available at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HVnNJot9pKWpADD4SRsxAJ_J5ALNo4vcB1F8z8Hpj30/edit?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGno3zUhNKD8BFKcU7wshgDDGnMJXoMe_g3PWAnYdpfm4E-llQUCP89_9KNExM_aem_XmJ9koS2gfhDCqLyn6T0Ow&gid=703430642#gid=703430642 [Accessed 10 Dec. 2025].

Oneohtrix Point Never (2025). Oneohtrix Point Never. [online] Spotify.com. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wPDbhaGXCqROrVmwDdCrK?si=mzkERIGISvaqtnoR7GfDgw [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Pearce, S. (2025). Arca Shares New Video for New Song ‘Anoche’: Watch. [online] Pitchfork.com. Available at: https://pitchfork.com/news/71849-arca-shares-new-video-for-new-song-anoche-watch/ [Accessed 19 Nov. 2025].

Tate (2023). Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990. [online] Tate. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/women-in-revolt/exhibition-guide.