As the artistic director of enjinn Arts I believe that every person should have the opportunity to create art. EnJinn stands for “Environment, Justice, Innovation, and the Arts for everyone.”

Co-Creation is a structured approach to composition in groups that can take place in a hybrid, in-person, or virtual environment. It encourages all participants to explore how they are connected to everyone they are creating with, both near and far. This program allows in-person and virtual participation (either or both at the same time). Participants can collaborate and create music and art with people from all over the world using the “Cohere Touch” system (the augmented reality system that pairs with the orchestral piece by the same name).

Intended for groups of two up to a full orchestra, students or community members will work together to explore their space musically and sonically with tones and textures, expand their sense of time by creating rhythmic grooves, and invent a form by creating a new visual, aural, graphical or agreed upon score or form. The piece is usually a music-focused multimedia piece using any available creative tools and with access to the Cohere Touch system (processes real-time sound and video effects, AI and machine learning, drawings, notation, riffs or motifs, found sounds, creating samples for beats, live looping, and audio-reactive visuals that can be controlled through movement). This can happen over multiple sessions or one.

This workshop is music-focused, provides enrichment for orchestral ensemble players, but is open to all instruments and disciplines to contribute to this collaborative, multimedia experience. Participants will have the opportunity to practice and explore their various disciplines, playing their instruments (singing, scales, keys, rhythms), lyrics, dance, visual art, in the context of being a contributing member of a team creating a new work that explores a context, feeling, or any subject of interest. They will receive instruction, feedback, and guidance from professionals and peers locally and around the world as we work to create a new work of art. Through performance and the workshop they will see their ideas come to life along with their peers.

Support En.J.inn Arts (EnJinnArts.org) is available to provide educational and production support, and provide equipment if needed. All software used is free and no uncommon equipment is required.

Implementation Let us know if you would like to set up a collaboration with our group of students and community! Co-Creation is offered through En.J.inn Arts (EnJinnArts.org), and is running in New York year-round with schools and students available to collaborate with other institutions via the Cohere Touch system. New York sessions are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission.