performing arts technologies lab

The Performing Arts Technologies Lab is both a grant and a support system designed to expand access to and nurture new methods for creating, sharing and experiencing the performing arts. The Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) is looking for innovative ideas in jazz, contemporary dance and theater that make use of new digital tools and production methods.

Whether you are just starting to explore these ideas or have been working with emerging stage technologies and new digital tools for a long time, we’re interested in your unique artistic and technical proposals. DDF welcomes all performing arts perspectives and technical approaches from individuals, partnerships and organizations.

Opportunity

At the Doris Duke Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting the growth of performing artists and innovators, whether working independently, within institutions and nonprofits, or through partnerships and collaborations. We believe that advancements in digital technology and production methods can greatly enhance creativity in the performing arts and deepen audience experience.

In the realm of performing arts and technology, there are many questions to explore. Some are technical:

• What new tools are emerging in the performing arts, and how are artists using them?
• What skills and support do artists and arts professionals need to effectively use these tools?
• What kind of setup is needed to integrate new digital and production technologies with performances, whether in-person, online or in hybrid settings?
• How is digital technology changing the roles and requirements of those supporting arts production and administration?
• Are the resources needed for the integration of new production technologies in the performing arts different from traditional methods, and how can we learn from one another’s experiences to enhance the creative process?

On a more fundamental level:

• What creative possibilities does emerging digital technology unlock, and what are the limitations?
• How can technology alter the dynamic between artists and their audiences, and what are the implications of such alterations?
• Does technology align with or compete with the ways in which artists pursue their work and engage with the communities that assemble around it?
• What does digital technology mean for the accessibility of performing arts for both artists and audiences?

To explore these questions, the Doris Duke Foundation is establishing the Performing Arts Technologies Lab. This initiative aims to support and nurture expansive ideas that seek to experiment with the potential of digital tools in the creation, presentation and distribution of performing arts. The lab is a space for individuals and organizations at all levels of technical expertise who seek to experiment at the intersection of technology and the performing arts.

Recognizing that emerging technologies can reshape the ways in which the performing arts are produced and presented, we welcome a broad range of approaches. This includes projects led by artists, organizations or creative partnerships, but also seeks to extend to those beyond the typical boundaries of the performing arts sector, and we encourage those who see new possibilities for technological advancements in the field to apply. DDF is eager to explore the power and potential of a diverse grantee cohort

We will assess applications based on a few key questions:

1. Does the project creatively explore how new production technologies can benefit performing artists, presenting organizations, producers or audiences?
2. Does the project have the potential to challenge or expand existing presentation formats?
3. Do the project’s ideas and concepts hold the potential to shed light on what it takes to use technology effectively in the performing arts?