At Alfieri Theatre in Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena) the Project “AVAT-ART” by MOTUS
A unique experience and a real trial has been realized by MOTUS in collaboration with Castelnuovo Berardenga City Council (Italy) at Alfieri Theatre on April 20, 2023, at 9.15 pm, with the AVAT-ART Project.
An experiment that could be extended nationally and applied to various kind of performative events (shows, concerts, etc.). Through a robot Avatar with remote control, which can be booked on the website of each theatre or concert hall, a person with disabilities, although unable to move, can take part in all kinds of cultural live events without limitations.
The idea of the project AVAT-ART takes inspiration from a previous experience carried out in 2020 at the “Santa Maria della Scala” Museum in Siena (Italy). The museum provided an experimental service for the access of people with reduced or absent mobility to the exhibition spaces , through a robotic alter ego teleguided through “BrainControl Avatar”, a software created by the Liquidweb company. This experience inspired the MOTUS Company to apply this approach also to the performing arts, not only to allow people with disabilities to participate in live performances but also to offer them the opportunity to participate in side events such as, for example, workshops and meetings.
Thanks to the collaboration with Castelnuovo Berardenga City Council, the pilot project has been realized by MOTUS with the support of Liquidweb technicians at Teatro Comunale Vittorio Alfieri from 18 to 20 April 2023. After the first day of technical set up and adjustments, on the 19 April the MOTUS Company held a workshop specifically designed for people with disability remotely controlling the robot, and thanks to this technology, the participant was able to dance with the professional dancers of the MOTUS Company. Then, on 20 April at 21.15 MOTUS had the regional premiere of the show “Last Stop” in an evening open to the public with the participation of the youth with disability who made a short presentation to the audience before the show.
The pilot project could later be used as a model for many different theatrical spaces, concert halls, sports halls, auditoriums, etc. becoming the start for a “revolution” for universal accessibility to live performances. If this model is extended to national level (i.e. involving institutions engaged in people with disability or elderly care) a specific AVATAR booking service for cultural events could be created to allow participation of subjects with reduced of absent mobility.
“Last stop”, is the show presented during this event at Teatro Alfieri by the MOTUS Company. The work is about environmental sustainability and climate changes and has been produced by MOTUS with the support of Regione Toscana and co-produced by Mulino ad Arte.
Credits of “Last stop”: choreography Martina Agricoli dancers Roberta Morello, Mattia Solano, and Martina Agricoli, music various authors, directed by Simona and Rosanna Cieri.