Release Date: April 1, 2008
Media Contact: Stephen King, External Relations
E-mail: Stephen.King@uregina.ca
Phone: 306-585-5439
Mobile: 306-536-4312
Fax: 306-585-4997
New labs give U of R unique centre of excellence for study of hip hop culture in Canada
Hip hop culture will be the focus of a series of events surrounding the opening of the University’s new Interactive Media and Performance (IMP) labs on April 2 at the Riddell Centre.

The labs (located in Rooms 049 and 025 in the Riddell Centre) house a multi-media DJ interactive studio workshop and performance space, a beat-making and electronic music production studio, an ethnomusicology lab, and research offices for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

The IMP labs are the result of funding by Canada Research Chairs program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Government of Saskatchewan’s Innovation and Science Fund awarded to fine arts faculty member Charity Marsh.

“The establishment of the Interactive Media and Performance lab means the University of Regina will be one of the few institutions in North America devoted to the study of DJ technologies, DJ music cultures, and the social worlds within which they thrive,” said Marsh, the University’s ninth Canada Research Chair appointment.

The launch event also includes a roundtable discussion with hip hop artists from Saskatchewan and a hip hop concert and reception. Marsh will facilitate the roundtable discussion with hip hop artists Eekwol, Mils, Def3, DJ Quartz, InfoRed, Merky Waters, Stinson, Aries, and Truth beginning at 4 p.m. in Room 050 in the Riddell Centre. Demonstrations of the IMP labs facilities will follow the discussion.

The culmination of the launch is a performance by hip hop artists Eekwol and Mils with special guest Def3. The performance and reception will take place in Room 176 of the Riddell Centre.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.