Random String: The Canal Networked

Random String: The Canal Networked is an extensive collaboration between local, national and international artists led by Coventry arts and technology organisation, Ludic Rooms. Bringing together artists, technologists and local people, Random String aims to encourage those living and working along the canal corridor to explore their connection to this often forgotten urban green space. Through workshops, residencies and commissioning and using the canal’s history and future as a springboard for ideas, Random String will show how combining art and technology can deepen our engagement with the natural world. The culmination of the project will be celebrated at Random String 2021 a four-day festival planned for November and held in Coventry’s historic Canal Basin and along the waterway. The night time waterside festival will bring light, music, installations and projections to the canal as well as performances, workshops and online experiments, all realised with the support of renowned lighting and projection designer, Arnim Freiss. Random String will develop new work with designer, maker and software developer Ling Tan, modern-day English folk duo Crewdson and Cevanne and new sonic experiments from Ideas of Noise as well as supporting a new collaboration between instrument designer Sam Underwood and Coventry visual artist Adie Blundell. The festival will be headlined by Bishi, a singer, electronic rock-sitarist and performance artist, classically trained in both Hindustani and Western Classical styles. Blending the rituals of the natural world with the journey and arrival stories of Coventry people, Bishi’s immersive audio-visual performance on the water will bring poetic spectacle, wonder and imagination to Coventry Canal Basin.

Ludic Rooms will be working across the year to support Coventry residents, artists and arts organisations to explore digital creativity through training, micro-commissioning, tech support and co-creation. There will be many opportunities to get involved online and in-person so please keep checking the website for more announcements.

Part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021