Put down your cooking knives and pick up your musical instruments. The Iron Creative challenge calls local musicians and artists to put their talents and imaginations to the test - and create from a list of ingredients.

Playing on the idea of the popular Japanese TV show, Iron Chef, where chefs are challenged to make dishes based on unusual secret ingredients, the project is the brainchild of Northern Rivers Conservatorium’s Resident Creative Artist.

"We hope to create some truly original works," Mr O'Boyle said.

"We are looking for six teams which will have three hours to create a new 5-8 minute performance work - from scratch - using a list of 'ingredients' assigned to them.

“The process will be fun but challenging as none of the participants will have any idea what they’re going to get.

“They may be assigned ingredients like the kazoo, paint tin drums, voices, marimba, dance and an ingredient of their choice. In addition they’ll be given a musical ingredient to incorporate, for example: a rhythm, a chord sequence or several musical notes.

“From there, the teams will have three hours to be as creative as possible with all those ingredients to produce a work that they’ll then perform.

“We could see composition, movement, visual arts, film or some other type of performance.

"The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes it exciting for both the participants and the audience."

Free!

The Iron Creative is free for all participants and open to anyone with an interest in creative expression.

Mr O’Boyle said he wanted to create an annual event that tapped into the wealth of artistic talent in the Northern Rivers and inspired creativity.

“The Iron Creative will encourage ingenuity, originality, innovation, teamwork and artistry,” he said.

Mentors

“The Northern Rivers Conservatorium has engaged six mentors to work with the teams in the six weeks prior to teach them how to successfully collaborate within the parameters of an Iron Creative event.”

“The mentors are already coming up with interesting ideas and are now eagerly awaiting their teams. It’s completely free to take part, so we’re calling on all musicians and artists who are up for the challenge to get their nominations in to the Conservatorium as soon as possible.

The inaugural Iron Creative event will be held on Sunday, May 23. Teams will create and rehearse their works at the Conservatorium during the morning, then present them at a public performance at 2pm at Lismore City Hall, where the winners will be announced.

Applications close on Friday, April 23. Musicians and artists can register their interest online at enrol.nrcac.edu.au

For more information, contact the Northern Rivers Conservatorium on 6621 2266 or by email: [email protected]

For more information, visit https://nrcac.edu.au/iron-creative-world-first/