Programme
World Futures Orchestra
World Futures Orchestra invites curious minds to explore sound as a tool for imagination and world-building. Over one afternoon, twelve people build a small future together — listening, improvising and shaping it out of sound. No musical training is required. No instrument is required. Only attention and willingness. Open to anyone 18 or older, from any background, musical or not. World Futures Orchestra (WFO): Lagos edition is a project of Opus Unknown, presented in partnership with WAC People with the generous support of New York University's Gallatin School for Interdisciplinary Research.
When
Open — sign up any time
Where
J. Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture & History, Onikan, Lagos
Editions
1 run
Practical detail
What it asks of you.
- Places per edition
- 24
How to participate
Choose how you show up.
Why it exists
About Opus Unknown
Opus Unknown is a New York City research laboratory exploring the intersections of sound, culture, and technology. Working collaboratively with communities around the world, we foster cross-cultural inquiry through speculative design, worldbuilding, participatory workshops, performance, and multimodal ethnography.
Formed by Carol Gimbel, performer and designer, and Ayodamola Okunseinde, technologist and anthropologist, Opus Unknown is collaborating with WAC People to present their current iteration of the World Futures Orchestra (WFO): Lagos edition, a global, sonic “self-portraiture” that both shines light on cultural heritage and helps society to think more imaginatively about our futures.
What happens
The shape of the room.
Part 1
Arrival & listening
Doors open. We begin by listening together.
Part 2
Building the world
Sound as material: we make the future we are imagining.
Part 3
Break
Food and open conversation.
Part 4
Playback & close
We perform what we built together and close.
Who it's for
People and partners.
Editions
Every time it has run.
From past editions
What it actually looked like.
Related work
What came out of it.
Creative Work / Dance Film
ITA — THE WORLD OUTSIDE
Dance expression film exploring return to movement, creativity and human connection after restriction and isolation.
Participatory Music / World-Building Workshop
WORLD FUTURES ORCHESTRA
Participatory world-building workshop using sound, music and collaboration to explore collective futures.