Olle Strandberg Colling
It's a new year and we're more certain than ever that now is the time to avvvoid anti art algorithms and build community elsewhere. My thoughts have been circulating around small and midsize digital communities and how most of them doesn't seem to be thriving. Why is that?
Many people have some kind of whatsapp group, or similar (with like five childhood friends or something) where they're writing on a daily basis. It's a small enough group to expose oneself within, the people are best friends and they're probably seeing each other over a large glass of vodka in a bar or at someone's place every now and then. It makes total sense. Is that all we need in terms of private chat groups, really?
I see how many people are escaping X hoping for Bluesky to save them from something. It's a bit confusing to me. I see the incentive to be pretty early on a new platform like that to get a bit more attention among peers before it's too crowded. But if that's not all...why are people longing for a new place to point a megaphone at a vast sea of people and bots who are busy shouting into their own megaphones? It's a longing for visibility and attention. I totally agree that the culture sector shouldn't be paying Meta to reach their target groups and hopefully get a few more people to come see their show or whatever it is. The performing arts sector shouldn't be putting money and human resources on social media presence. Especially not venues that are building a local or regional audience. Or should they?
I can't stop thinking about how much more a venue, company or artist would benefit from a smaller digital context with more attention from truly interested stakeholder and audiences. Yet I don't see many communities like that. 20-100 or 100-1000 true heads that are writing, exchanging and sharing ideas, wishes, thoughts, confessions or whatever on a daily or weekly basis. It's almost always 1-3 people who are writing every now and then, 20 people who react with some kind of emoji or something and 320 people who are silent. Maybe caring, maybe not. Is it so that the only truly social digital contexts we want are 1-2 groups of 2-5 people that we already have known for 10 years+? And other than that we just want to passively consume information about more or less random events and sometimes tell people about our upcoming birthday party? If not. Why aren't we (everyone...but thinking more of the culture sector and maybe the performing arts sector in particular) focusing more on building strong alternative digital social places with 100-1000 true fans/supporters/invested audiences instead of throwing time and money on Meta, or Bluesky? Because it's difficult to change peoples behaviours? Because it takes time, money and effort? Because Meta has really made our AFK relationship with our audience and new audiences much better?
If you've happen to have some alternative place with truly fun social ping pong with artists, venues and audiences online...let me know!
Unknovvvvvvn clouds sdvvvorks pop up flagship lab at Hornsgatan 147, Stockholm.
Three openings in three days. Performances, bar, music, boutique, champagne breakfasts, and more.
Unknovvvvvvn clouds is a dedication to just that. The unknovvvvvvn, clouds and the vvvonderful actress and kick ass artistic guardian angel, Kati Outinen.
We will open new works created by textile artist Anna Nordström, poet Anna Hallberg, lovvvely fashion brand and person (2in1) Albin Granaas and, behind the scenes, Jonas and Daniel (researchanddevelopment.se), Katarina Wiklund, Julia Jäntti and more.
On top of that we've got This is the still place in the room.
More details, program, etc soon.
Back in August 2014, when I didn't have an AI to ask for help with anything, I was sitting in a hotel lobby in Gothenburg with a friend and performer, Matias Salmenaho. As we were about to premiere a new circus production at Stora Teatern two days later we were pretty worried about what we're doing. The performance called "Underart - an ode to a crash landing" felt like a total disaster.
Suddenly we saw a familiar face outside the hotel. A woman was sitting on a park bench outside smoking cigarettes. We soon realized who she was. The Finish Palme d'Or-winning actress Kati Outinen. We needed help with our crappy performance and her presence right there and then couldn't be a coincidence. We invited Kati Outinen to the lobby and after a long conversation (and a bunch of beers and cigarettes) life felt much better. Kati came by our dress rehearsal the next day and survived the experience. That was enough to spark some joy the last few hours of rehearsal before premiere. It ended up playing around 300 times around the world. Kati's been a great support ever since.
Kati Outinen is nothing short of a legend.
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