ITAC8, the eighth biennial conference for Teaching Artists, will take place from 28 to 30 August in Antwerp and will be part of the larger event Louder Together, a unique opportunity to combine performing arts for children and young people with the practice of Teaching Artistry.

I’ll be at the 2026 conference to present an introduction to Understory, the project developed with my group, Galvanize Ensemble and guest artists.

The project has been supported by The Marchus Trust, Curious Minds and Hinrichsen Foundation. Workshops took place in Whitehaven Academy, St Mary’s Primary School, West Lakes Academy, The Nelson Thomlinson School – and community groups in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Cumbria, responded to a survey about their environment. I also worked with 6th form students at Trinity School, Carlisle who wrote or performed music to be released as part of the album.

The first preview of the work for improvised and electronic music, with spoken word and film began with an Open Space scratch night, with Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.