Download Occupation Press Release

Press Release
Join the Protest. New music to ‘shake the world’
Five musicians from diverse musical genres are joining forces for Occupation – five songs that shook the world, a
digital project which will see them create new songs in parallel to crises, protests and acts of resistance as they
unfold.
Co-commissioned by Welsh National Opera and The Space, Occupation will explore arguably the most potent
vocal expression of public protest – music and song. Five artists – Carleen Anderson, Judith Weir, Cerys
Matthews, High Contrast and Dan-Wyn Jones - will compose original works which will be released on the
Occupation website and shared across social media channels to invite public debate.
The first song, Song One, composed by UK-based American singer-songwriter Carleen Anderson, is released
today [Friday 14 November]. Carleen has chosen the continuing unrest and protests in Ferguson, Missouri as her
theme, following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown this summer.
Commenting on her song, Carleen says: “"The theme of my song, Grains of Dust, concentrates on the brutal
patterns of tribal/cultural disunion in the U.S. which sets a dangerous tone for the collapse of a nation built on
the premise of unity and justice for all.
"I got involved with the Occupation project because I think it's a powerful channel of modern communication,
delivered in an artistic package, for people all around the world to feel a sense of empowerment, that their voiced
objections to the global injustices of our times will make a difference."
The video for Song One, directed by Occupation Creative Director Tim Hopkins, will be shared on social media on
Friday 14 November and will be available to view on the Occupation website [occupation.org.uk] and The Space
[thespace.org/occupationwno].
Songs and accompanying videos from Judith Weir, Cerys Matthews and High Contrast will follow over the coming
weeks. Ffilm Cymru Wales, an artistic partner on the project, will provide opportunities for talented Welsh
directors to create music videos for the songs composed by Judith, Cerys and High Contrast.
Hannah Thomas, Head of Creative Sector Development at Ffilm Cymru Wales, says: “We’re excited to be
working in partnership with WNO and The Space to support creative Welsh talent to collaborate in this innovative
cross-media exploration of contemporary themes, with the aim that Occupation will bring these ideas and art
forms to new audiences.”
Up-and-coming composer Dan-Wyn Jones will close the project with a song whose lyrics will be inspired by
comments and quotes from the public collected over the course of the project. Anyone can contribute to this song
by joining the discussion on Twitter @_FiveSongs and using the hashtag #Song5 to let us know your thoughts
about liberty, freedom and democracy.
Creative Director Tim Hopkins says: “My role in this work, through collaboration with a large team from WNO, the
Space and Ffilm Cymru Wales, has been to try to help make a space for other artists’ work and public interaction.
It explores one way in which our art form can respond to the contemporary world. Opera has a tradition of
bringing many media together. This project exists in a moment of profound technological change – felt directly in
the media we use, and visible in the accelerating role they play in the political realm. Occupation is a kind of
interception – making space for moments of artistic response to these unresolved situations, and moments of
public response in turn.”
Ruth Mackenzie, Launch CEO, The Space says: “Everybody can join in Occupation through Twitter
@_FiveSongs, alongside leading musicians and the ever innovative Welsh National Opera, which is an exciting
chance to help music shape the news.”
The project reflects the theme of WNO’s Autumn 2014 season, Liberty or Death! and the three operas presented
during this season: Rossini’s William Tell and Moses in Egypt, and Bizet’s Carmen. In doing so, Occupation
provides a link between the issues of national and personal liberation in these three operas and issues of liberty
and freedom faced by people throughout the world today. Using digital and social media to do this reflects the
role that this technology now plays in allowing for comment and the sharing of new music and song to reflect on
current events.
WNO Chief Executive and Artistic Director David Pountney says: “WNO’s autumn season, entitled “Liberty or
Death”, focused on the way in which liberty, whether personal or national, has continued to be an important topic
in opera. Our digital feature “Occupation” continues this theme, showing how music provides a unique perspective
for thinking about the modern world. Art and culture rarely have anything direct to say about the minutiae of
politics, but in a wider sense culture of all kinds gives a broader context in which to think about contemporary
events. Music brings understanding and, crucially, harms no-one.”
For more information about Occupation, including photos, videos and guest blogs, visit the website and follow
@_FiveSongs on Twitter.
Ends
Notes to Editors

Occupation, five songs that shook the world
Occupation explores the potent vocal expression of public protest – music and song. Five different
composers will create new songs in response to crises, protests, acts of resistant – as they happen. They will
be shared across social media channels to engage communities – online and offline.
More information is available on the website and on Twitter, @_FiveSongs

Occupation is co-commissioned by The Space and Welsh National Opera

Welsh National Opera is the national opera company for Wales. WNO is funded by the Arts Councils of
Wales and England to provide large scale opera across Wales and to major cities in the English regions.

The Space is a free website for artists and audiences to create and explore exciting new art. They
commission new talent and great artists from all art forms, creative industries, technical and digital
backgrounds, through regular Open Calls and partnerships. Set up by the BBC and the Arts Council
England, The Space is a free public space, a not-for-profit public service for artists and audiences around the
world. The Space is supported by its founding partners BBC and Arts Council England, and its Associate
Partners Arts Council Northern Ireland, British Council, Arts Council of Wales, Open Data Institute, and
Creative Scotland. You can visit it at www.thespace.org.

Composers, Film-makers and key dates:
Composer
Carleen Anderson
Judith Weir
Cerys Matthews
High Contrast
Dan-Wyn Jones
Film-maker
Tim Hopkins
Margaret Constantas
Cyrus Mirza’shafa
Ewan Jones Morris
Tim Hopkins
Date of online video release
Friday 14 November 2014
Friday 28 November 2014
Friday 12 December 2014
Friday 19 December 2014
Friday 23 January 2015

Artistic partners for Occupation are Ffilm Cymru Wales, BFI and The University of Sussex

About Ffilm Cymru Wales
Established in 2006 and formerly known as the Film Agency for Wales, Ffilm Cymru Wales has a remit to
help to develop a film sector in Wales and maximise the economic, educational and cultural benefits of film.
Ffilm Cymru Wales supports Welsh or Wales-based writers, directors and producers with development and
production funding, industry assistance and mentoring opportunities. We aim to bring film makers and
audiences together by encouraging more people to see more films in more venues. We also promote the use
of film in education and community regeneration, producing educational resources in conjunction with
teachers to aid literacy and general learning.
www.ffilmcymruwales.com

Images to accompany Occupation are available for download at http://www.wno.org.uk/press

For more information, photos or interviews please contact Rachel Bowyer, Press and Public Affairs Manager
on 029 20635038 or [email protected]