Radical School
Terraforma Radical School is a four-day immersive program where learning unfolds through collective experience, artistic exploration, and shared presence. Set within Villa Arconati, participants live together, fostering an ongoing exchange with one another and with the surrounding environment—its sounds and rhythms. Through listening and field recording practices, the group forms a temporary community in dialogue with the landscape. The program culminates in an open restitution of the projects, where the labyrinth is activated and given voice through the sounds gathered and developed over the course of the program.
Tutor
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The program is led by Donato Dozzy, a key figure in contemporary sound research, widely recognized for his deep and refined approach to listening. His practice explores the relationship between sound, space, and time, with a particular sensitivity to environmental sound and immersive perception. Throughout the program, he guides participants through listening sessions, theoretical reflections, and field recording practices, supporting the development of a situated and attentive approach to sound. His work positions listening as both a perceptual and creative act, making him an ideal guide for a program centered on environmental recording and sonic exploration.
Programme
The first day introduces a shared vocabulary of listening through guided sessions exploring soundscapes, transformed environmental recordings, and immersive compositions. The focus is not on theoretical analysis but on perception—how sound inhabits space, unfolds over time, and generates experience. The exploration then extends outdoors with a field recording session in the park, where participants gather sonic material through active listening and direct engagement with the environment. The day concludes with a collective listening session of the raw recordings, a key moment for developing critical awareness and laying the groundwork for subsequent processes of transformation and sound design.
The second day focuses on transforming recordings into expressive material, combining guided instruction with hands-on practice. In the first phase, participants work with Donato Dozzy to shape, refine, and transform sound, exploring new creative possibilities. In the second phase, these techniques are applied in the development of individual or collective projects, with an emphasis on building a coherent sonic vision through attentive listening and informed decision-making.
The third day begins with continued work on sound productions, focusing on refining materials in relation to the emerging concepts. In the afternoon, a collective sharing session invites participants to present and discuss their work, opening a critical dialogue around the outcomes achieved. Participants are then introduced to sound spatialization, with a technical session on adapting their productions for an immersive environment. The group moves to the labyrinth—the performance space—to consider speaker placement in relation to the works, observing the acoustic characteristics and perceptual dynamics of the site while beginning to design the final sound setup.
The final day is dedicated to completing the sound projects and presenting them to the public, structured in two main phases. During the daytime, participants finalize their works—balancing levels, consolidating the structure of the pieces, and preparing the material for playback. At the same time, a multi-channel spatialized sound system is installed within the labyrinth of Villa Arconati, with listening tests to understand how sound interacts with the space and speaker placement.
In the evening, the projects are presented to the public, offering participants the opportunity to share the outcomes of the week’s work. The experience concludes with a collective moment of listening and reflection, an open sharing of the process, where participants present and activate what they have developed, opening it to an audience.
Venue
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The masterclass takes place entirely within Villa Arconati and hosts 16 participants, who inhabit the space through an on-site camping accommodation, fostering a continuous collective experience. An equipped study area provides space for work, exchange, and development, while the surrounding park becomes an open field for exploration and field recording. The program unfolds across these environments, culminating in the labyrinth, which gradually comes to life and is activated through the final collective performance.
Practical Info
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This masterclass is open to anyone with a curious, artistic, and performative mindset. It is not limited to professional audio practitioners, but welcomes those eager to explore immersive sound through the creative development of environmental audio. We encourage diverse backgrounds and sensibilities, with the aim of bringing together a cohesive and inspiring group united by a shared interest in sound and collective exploration.
If this resonates with you, we invite you to submit a short motivational letter and, if available, a portfolio of your work to: info@terraformafestival.com
The program is limited to 16 participants. Application deadline: May 20
The participation fee is €960. The fee includes:– 4 days of workshops with Donato Dozzy– 4 nights of accommodation provided by the Radical School– All meals for the duration of the programme (breakfast, lunch, dinner)– Technical equipment for the sessions– Ground transportation from a shared meeting point in Milan to Villa Arconati (please note that international travel is not covered and should be arranged independently by participants)– 24-hour reception, welcoming and coordination service, including access to learning spaces and essential amenities
Thanks to the support of Cotopaxi, two full scholarship will be available to access the program.Two additional reduced-fee spots are also available, offering full access to the daily activities at Villa Arconati and to the sessions with Donato Dozzy. If you’d like to learn more about how to apply, please send an email to info@terraformafestival.com
Selected applicants will receive a confirmation email with further details, including the full schedule, practical information regarding the stay at the villa, and payment instructions.
