PICA's popular KISS club, launchpad for local FRINGE artists, set to go ahead in September
Updated: 8 Jun 2020
Cate Tweedie
PICA have announced the popular KISS club will be going ahead, with the live performance pinned for September.
A performance event for ideas in development, it features emerging and established artists across live and experimental arts. As well as a fun and interactive night out for art and theatre lovers, it allows audiences to peer into the creative process and discover leading contemporary art in its seedling state.
Founded in 2010 by Australian artist Karen Therese with tactical media group pvi collective, PICA became a platform for the event in 2017.
Over the course of the evening, selected artists present 10 minutes of a work in progress to a live audience and receive feedback in a supportive environment. This is particularly valuable in the current climate, as funding for the arts is uncertain due to mass cancellations of performances and events.
An important platform for the WA arts scene, KISS club has fostered local talent and given rise to a variety of productions, some of which have gone on to tour, including the recent hit Feminah by Charlotte Otton, for which she recently won the award for ‘Best Actress’ in the 2020 Performing Arts WA Awards.
Other KISS club ideas that have gone on to become full productions include Seeking basic needs and other tales of excess by Renee Newman with Ben Collins, Lipstuck by Daley King, This is not personal by Jen Jamieson and Slutdrop by Jacinta Larcombe, which was a sell-out show at this year's FRINGE WORLD.
PICA and pvi collective are now seeking applications for this year’s KISS club, open to both emerging and established artists, groups or collectives who practice any live art form, and are keen to trial works and ideas in progress. Applications close at midnight on Sunday June 14. More information can be found at https://pica.org.au/apply/
KISS club evenings have been known to sell out, so for those who are keen to see some local live performance in development, keep an eye out for the upcoming performances from September onwards!