The Impact of Digital Media on the Performing Arts | Canadian ...

A new report entitled Beyond the Curtain: How Digital Media is Reshaping Theatre was recently released by Ballinran Entertainment Ltd. in partnership with Digital Wizards Inc., Canadian Actors Equity Association, and Stratford Shakespeare Festival.? It contains a study of the challenges facing the performing arts in the sector?s attempt to embrace and achieve the right balance with new media and digital technologies. The research involved interviews with leading theatre professionals and an online survey that received over 400 responses.

Beyond the Curtain identifies a number of challenges facing theatres including changing audiences. With cuts to arts education and the increased expectations of young audiences for more exciting visual effects and behind the scenes access through social media, theatres need to adapt. Theatres also face stiff competition from other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV, gaming and social media which are often less expensive and can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.

When it comes to implementing new technology and media, budgetary constraints as well as gaps in training and skills can impede experimentation. ?Managing social media requires acquisition of new technology, training and other resources. The report recommends that more funding be put towards innovation and re-purposing of content for big and small screens as well as a forum and workshops for the exchange of ideas and skills in digital media. The report also provides many examples of projects that undertaken here and abroad using a variety of new technologies in productions, as well as in the promotion and re-purposing of content that could be useful to other performing arts professionals.

One of the major challenges still remaining is the contracts and agreements between all the parties involved in a production. Groups in other countries like the UK have already made progress on this front with agreements specific to the re-purposing of content for digital platforms for example. ?The report recommends that Canadian producers and unions speed up negotiations to remove some of these barriers to innovation.

Source: http://ccarts.ca/digital-economy/the-impact-of-digital-media-on-the-performing-arts/

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