Soundpainting academy
Internationale academy rond live creatie en improvisatie
During the Soundpainting Academy, you will spend three days immersed in a unique artistic language that connects musicians, dancers and performers across the world. You will learn how to lead a group through simple gestures and how to respond as a performer to creative impulses that emerge in the moment. Whether you are a teacher, a performer, or simply looking for new ways to foster creativity, soundpainting offers an inspiring method for collective creation, regardless of experience or discipline. Guided by internationally renowned soundpainters, you will explore the possibilities of this versatile language in a hands on learning environment..
What is soundpainting?
Soundpainting is a multidisciplinary sign language used to create art on the spot. This language, invented by Walter Thompson in 1974, currently consists of some 1,500 characters and is used worldwide by artists, art teachers, students and non-professionals. One soundpainter fronts an ensemble and conducts the group of musicians through gestures.
Whether you want to make music in small groups or work multidisciplinary with a group of a hundred people, soundpainting is the ideal tool to put creation first. Both soundpainter and performers are challenged to create on the spot. Because soundpainting is easy to learn, both beginners and advanced performers can make music together and use the language in all possible contexts. Soundpainting develops the player's musicality, creativity, technique and musical memory.
During this three-day workshop, you will be introduced to or further deepen your understanding of the universal language of soundpainting, a useful musical tool for your own teaching or artistic practice. You will learn to soundpaint yourself by getting to know the soundpainting characters and you will learn to play in an orchestra. And of course you will not do this alone, but under the guidance of leading sound painters and with the members of the Safety Last Soundpainting Ensemble as living examples. You finish with a presentation moment (on a silent animation film) in the concert hall of Music Centre De Bijloke.
By who?
Who is it for?
Deeltijds Kunstonderwijs (part-time art education)-teachers or (professional) musicians, dancers and performers who want to apply the language of soundpainting in their own teaching or artistic practice.
Practical info
- Dates:
- Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August 2026 from 09:30 to 16:30
- Saturday 22 August 2026: performance at Bijloke Wonderland at 15:00
- Follow up day on 6 February 2027 from 10:30 to 15:30
- Location: Music Centre De Bijloke, Bijlokekaai 7, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Registration fee: €200. Register by filling in this form. Payment details can be found in the form. Deadline: Tuesday 30 June.
- Please note that participation is limited to 30 attendees. Be sure to register in time.
- You may cancel your registration until 1 August, subject to a €20 administration fee. After this date, the registration fee cannot be refunded.
Soundpainting Academy is a coproduction of Music Centre De Bijloke & MATRIX (Centre for New Music) in cooperation with the Safety Last Soundpainting Ensemble
