About voxlab
VoxLab is a developmental live arts laboratory in residence at Dartmouth College, focused on fostering projects by Dartmouth alumni. During the week-long retreat in Hanover, alumni artists develop their works-in-progress in collaboration with current undergraduates. Our goals are to create a space for alumni to experiment, immerse the students in the process of creating new work, and build a more connected community for alumni in the arts.
Two summers ago, we held our first fully remote theater festival, showcasing 7 works by more than 60 artists—including 9 student-artists—over the course of a month. The pandemic necessitated some fairly dramatic changes, and we remain in awe of, and so grateful for, all the work those artists accomplished.
This past year we were able to bring artists back to campus, with an expanded and more inclusive program. We started the Design residency, for the artist working 'behind the scenes' to explore their creative potential. The Lab itself also contained a far greater breadth of form, from live streamed performance art to VR theater, to a space opera with brainwave reading reading headbands. Even withe the challenges created by the pandemic, our artists were able to produce beautiful, complex, and innovative new works.
vox moving forward
Founded in 2012 as VoxFest, VoxLab 2022 marks our tenth anniversary and a continued evolution that aims to be more inclusive of works that fall outside the usual purview of capital ‘T’ Theater, emphasizing process over product. To that end, we maintain a broad definition of “theater,” and are actively seeking out live arts projects that transcend the category.
We curate with an eye towards a breadth of artistic form, so we are very interested in your installation, your audio walking tour, your dance piece, your political puppetry, your new musical, your meditation, your video game, your… anything that is fundamentally LIVE.
VoxLab and the Theater 65 Class
A fundamental part of VoxLab is our collaboration with Theater 65, a course taught during the summer term, that focuses on immersing students in new work development.
During the lab, projects will work closely with students, who, in years past, have performed in, assistant directed, stage managed, designed, and dramaturged pieces. When applying, it is important that you be able to articulate how you might collaborate with the students—part of Vox’s mission is to continue to build up our artistic community, and that includes “future” alumni.
The residency
As a Voxlab artist, you will receive:
Pre-process support, including assistance in coordination of casting and hiring, travel, and artistic consultation as requested.
Dedicated rehearsal room throughout the retreat period, if in-person; Zoom room, if virtual.
Access to the College’s vast material and natural resources during the retreat.
Free room and board for you and your collaborators during the retreat (if in-person)
Process support for your project from the VoxLab team and Dartmouth Theater Department Production Manager for the duration of your residency, which may include artistic consultation, the sourcing of crucial/minimal props and costumes (if in-person), the opening of Zoom rooms (if virtual), printing of new scripts/scores, etc. The earlier your production needs are clarified, the more likely we can support them, within reason.
The support of a Company Manager who will work to learn and meet your team’s access needs and address housing/food/travel needs as they arise.
The voxlab design residency
Working as a professional live arts designer presents some very specific challenges. How do you get access to a grid full of lights? An entire scene shop? Costumes from any and every period? These, and countless other hurdles, impede our creativity. The Design Residency, a new addition to VoxLab, will offer a Dartmouth alum access to the Theater Department’s technical resources, design stock, and rehearsal/studio space, in addition to all of Dartmouth College’s libraries and online resources.
Design Residency applicants may choose:
A Solo Residency
A Designer In Residence Designation
A Designer In Residence Designation
Similar to a traditional writer’s residency, you will be able to escape to a beautiful place for a week to develop a project, do research, play with Dartmouth’s resources, and meet other wonderful artists.
A Designer In Residence Designation
A Designer In Residence Designation
A Designer In Residence Designation
You will spend half of each day focused on a solo project and the other half working in direct collaboration with the leader(s) of one of the other VoxLab projects.
Our hope in splitting the artist’s time is to maintain our commitment to community building and collaboration, while still supporting each artist’s needs.
Past projects
Support Our Artists
Our goal is to provide each Voxlab participant with the best possible artistic support and bring a wonderful and talented community together. To support our mission, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our alumni artists!
VoxLab is curated by Vox Theater, with the generous support of the Dartmouth College Department of Theater.