Open call
tactology lab 5: play
Tactology Lab 5: PLAY invites local makers to experiment with electronics through tactile, bodily interaction.
What if a newly built instrument has a will of its own? How do you play, interact and perform with it? In this edition of Tactology Lab, we will design new instruments and instill them with natural behaviour. Or maybe we don’t give them any; it might just happen. Once the instruments are finished, it will be up to you to deal with its quirks and create a performance for the Rewire Festival 2027 in The Hague.
What is Tactology Lab?
We believe that our body is key in expressing ourselves. By designing physical, tactile electronic interfaces for creating art, you can make your expression visible and graspable, and create a strong connection between yourself as a performer and the audience.
Tactology Lab is a 6-day structured programme and space for experimenting with bodily interaction with technology. It is a pressure cooker for artists and creators of various skills and art disciplines. Coached by experts, you will work towards a performance at Rewire Festival in six separate workshop days.
With Tactology Lab, Sounds Like Touch provides a unique learning space, basic materials and coaching by professionals. Additionally, your creative processes and outcomes will be shared via online videos to provide an international stage to you as a maker and your ideas.
Introduction to ‘PlAY’
Many newly designed instruments are quite static these days. You know what you get and can predict the outcome of your actions. We encourage you to rethink how you play your instrument and get inspired by natural processes to create one that is alive in some sort. If it’s alive, it can surprise you. If you are amazed by your instrument, you might come up with an unexpected reaction. This chain of natural interactions creates an intriguing performance for both you and the audience.
Lab makers
Roald van Dillewijn
Vincent is a performer, artist, engineer and creator of tec art installations and music machines.
Materially driven, his work often starts with found or scavenged materials, and aims to physically represent elements from electronic music or digital culture. His process starts with harnessing mechanical solutions and ends as a performative installation.
His work and performances have been shown at events amongst Gogbot festival, U? Festival, Circusbende, De Helling, Paradiso, Wildeburg, Play!, DB’s en Hof van Cartesius.
Vincent participated in Tactology Lab 1 and has since been involved in the facilitation and guidance of the making days in the Tactology Labs.
Wouter van Veldhoven
Dianne is a songwriter, performer and bodily interaction designer. Starting from playing cello and double bass, she began developing electronic, physical instruments. Her vision is that humans need their body to be able to express themselves. That’s why all of her electronic instruments are designed to use your body to be able to play them.
She performed at events such as Rewire festival, Gaudeamus, Tweetakt, ADE, Dutch Design Week, Ars Electronica Festival, September Me en NIME.
Dianne is the founder and artistic director of Sounds Like Touch and has hosted Tactology Lab 1 + 2 alongside Roald van Dillewijn.
program
What to expect
A 6-day full programme, curated by Roald van Dillewijn and Wouter van Veldhoven, including professional stage presence coaching and guidance by ‘Uitvinder’ Jeroen Vissers at the Uitvindersgilde. We will not be teaching a technology. We start from the knowledge within the groups and guide this towards a performance where expressive movement, technology, sound and performance are on equal footing.
A performance of the outcome of your creative process, live at Rewire festival 2027 in The Hague
You will gain knowledge and experience combining electronics with physical materials and strengthen your (local) network of creators
Drinks, (vega(n)) lunch and snacks provided during the lab days
Materials, sensors and boards are available, some at extra cost
Your process and performance documented in photo and video (see our Maker Stories)
Dates
Since this is a group project, it is important to be available at all of the Lab Days.
All locations are in Utrecht and The Hague, The Netherlands.
All days are morning + afternoon
Day 1: inspire Friday 26 February
Day 2: prototype Saturday 13 March
Day 3: construct Sunday 14 March
Day 4: express Friday 25 March
Day 5: embed Wednesday 27 March*
Day 6: perform Th/Su 8 - 11 April*
* This precise day is to be announced according to availability of the performance space
how to apply
Who is this for?
Are you a professional artist or creator and are you interested in working with electronics and bodily interaction? Are you searching for ways to connect your physical artwork to digital/electronic means or the other way around? Tactology Lab might be for you!
We are looking for a mix of professional artists, designers, creative coders, performers and other makers to work in small groups to develop tangible electronic prototypes for a live performance, which will be presented at the 2027 Rewire Festival in The Hague. You don't need to be an expert in performance, sound design, or any particular craft. Participants will be coached by experts and work towards this performance during six separate workshop days before performing at Rewire.
Selection process
We'll form groups to ensure that everyone can learn from one another in various areas. We will be closing the call when there is a sufficient variety of skills to make a selection of participants. So if you would like to participate, be sure to fill in the application form on time. The final selection of the program will be made by our lab makers via a short, informal conversation via video call or in real life - if possible.
You can sign up for Tactology Lab 5 if you are a professional artist or creator – you do not need to have participated in any of the previous labs.
The call opens on 15 October. Interviews take place in the first half of December in Utrecht or online after which 12 applicants will be selected.
What you pay
The price for Tactology Lab 5 is a sliding scale, you decide what you pay, depending on your income:
€ 275: reduced rate for students, recently graduated artists and people with a low / minimum income
€ 375: base rate for participation
€ 475: full rate for people whose employer or a fund (partly) co-finances the participation
Sign up for Tactology Lab 5: PLAY herE
Related events
Previous Tactology Labs
Maker Stories
Check ou these Maker Stories where former Tactology Lab participants give a behind-the-scenes look at what they have worked on and how they went about it.
