Call for applications: Rivonia Trial sound jam SA

The sound jam – which is organised by Digital Lab Africa, the French Institute of South Africa, the French National Audiovisual Institute, the Department of Arts and Culture, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa and Deep VR – will take place at Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, from 23 to 25 October.

The Rivonia Trial (1963-64) led to the life imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Walter Sisulu and several others. The trial was recorded on dictabelts. Over 250 hours of the Rivonia Trial have recently been digitised and restored.

Artists who are willing to create a binaural sound from these digitised dictabelts, will work as one of three members of three teams during a three-day jam session. The goal, Digital Lab Africa says, is to “use this audio archive to spatialise it and reconstituting the space of this historical moment by sourcing and staging the different elements on your experience”.

Successful applicants will get a chance to experience a unique creative session with 360 video experts.

Interested artists should send their applications here.

The deadline for applications 12 October.

All sound jam participants will be accredited at DISCOP in Johannesburg from 14 to 16 November to showcase their works.

Requirements

• All entrants must be available for the full three days of the jam.
• Participation is free but entrants need their own computers to edit.
• Entrants need to download the following software in advance: Reaper and Facebook360 plugins (previously known as Two Big Ears).

Applicants will work with three experts: Arnault Labaronne (artistic director), Ulrico Grech-Cumbo (CEO of Deep VR) and Samkelo Mahlalela (audio-spatial guru).

Sound jam timeline

Day 1 (23 October, 2pm-8pm)

Kick-off meeting, team presentation, audio material exploration, technical and artistic briefing, first step of production.

Day 2 (24 October, 9am until late)

Second step of production, research and test.

Day 3 (25 October 9am-12pm)

Editing end of post-production.

For more information about this call, visit the Digital Lab Africa official website.