Over a year since the UK experienced it's first lockdown, we are still very much living under the blight of Covid. However, the government(s) roadmaps, scientific wizardry, and the ever marvellous NHS rolling out the vaccine programme give real hope that there are glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel.
It will not be easy, and almost certainly not smooth, but at last we seem to be in a situation to start cautiously, carefully planning for live events again. This newsletter offers a variety of perspectives, resources and opportunities to whet your appetite.
OutdoorArtsUK are leading on a mapping exercise to gather the latest information on outdoor performance planning for 2021 (link below).
Articulation are keen to help to gather Scottish details to help populate these lists. Outdoor and non conventional venues and events are well placed to lead the recovery of the arts, and to gently lead the public back into attending events in real life.
Some festivals programmes have announced their intention to go ahead this year, if restrictions allow - a few have rescheduled to later in the year, moved online or adapted their programmes. It would be great to capture what is planned in Scotland.
If you know of festivals, programmes or events for this year, please can you add appropriate details in the spreadsheet below and we will ensure these are also added to the OAUK list.
The hope that this will help to inspire confidence for other organisations, festivals and events. For now the will focus on the outdoor arts, performance festivals and other open-air performances
The Surge Arms is delighted to announce that with the easing of restrictions on pubs in the next few months, it will be closing down for good!
For the past year, Surge has been running an occasionally weekly online Cabaret for all of them sorts that still lust for a bit of the old live performance. A rip-roaring success with thousands of punters having come through their own doors to watch an evening of physical theatre, comedy, dance and the occasional (and optional) fitness video.
To make absolutely sure that the farewell to the Surge Arms goes out with a bang, Surge have recruited some of their favourite acts from the past year, expertly blended with some enticing new performances to round things off.
A time to congregate (remotely), cross pollinate and invigorate.
Calling all Outdoor Artists: Join NASA for a packed weekend of workshops, presentations, conversations and FUN
The theme :
Yes, and…Acceptance. Optimism. Openness. Collaboration. Contribution. And…?
The things to do:
Interactive play, Commedia Dell’Arte, Audio Description, Movement, Light-up your tech, Environmental Activism and performance, Cooking, Cloud gazing… and more!
One year on from the beginning of the pandemic, The Big Freelancer Report maps the problems facing the freelance workforce and makes practical recommendations for change.
This report was created by an independent group of performing arts freelancers, supported by Freelancers Make Theatre Work and funded by Arts Council England.
Scottish Government:
Timetable for easing restrictions
In the Strategic Framework update provided from the Scottish Government, they have laid out their strategic intent to: suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there, while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible.
This document summarises the route out of lockdown back into a more flexible way of combatting the virus and reopening our economy and society.
Resources from Youth Scotland to help community groups deliver outside.
Get ready to have fun with your youth group outside with Youth Scotland's new FREE Outdoor Games Session tutorial film! In less than 15 minutes, you can learn some safe, fun outdoor games activities you can do with your groups, with social distancing, hand hygiene and safe use of equipment.
Youth Scotland have also created some example risk assessments to help you run your outdoor group safely and in line with current covid-19 protocols.
OutdoorArtsUK:
Analysis of the latest Government Guidance
What does the Roadmap mean for the Outdoor Arts sector? Our friends at Outdoor Arts UK have produced this helpful guide as to what the Westminster roadmap might mean for the sector. NB this applies to England only.
Without Walls Outdoor Arts Festivals and Events Access Guide
This guide has been commissioned by Without Walls to promote good practice amongst festivals and events that are involved in the network and outlines inclusive practice and how to address these priorities.
The circus sector now has a document which imparts advice and support on mitigating risks to enable artists and companies to get back to work safely. The Covid-19 protocol highlights key areas that the working group and its conveners feel must be considered when you or your company create a bespoke protocol or implementation document.
The advice and information in the protocol applies to everyone in the sector but it is recognised that individual artists contracting to or working across a number of contracts face different challenges.
SpareParts: Collaborative approaches to culture and place-making
Collaborative approaches to culture and place-making; a road-map back to event delivery in Sandbach by Jodie Gibson, Artistic Director for SpareParts and the Creative Producer for Legends, Lights and Lullabies.
Dance Base Scotland: Digital Communities and Collaboration:Finding, Sharing, and Creating Online Resources with Rebecca Olivia
11am on the 2nd April
In the final part of Dance Base's Catalytic Lecture series, Rebecca will look into the meaning of open source in terms of computing including how to share work digitally and the recycling, modification and interaction with work we see online.
Exploring the pros and cons of distributing work using online tools, Rebecca will discuss topics such as donations, social media and ownership as well as understanding who has the right to share your work from beyond the original source.
Do you need help with a particular practice? Are you longing to connect with someone who shares your specialism? Or maybe you’re just up for taking a chance on a new way of working?
Theatre-maker Simone French and drag legend Cheddar Gorgeous want to connect artists who are open to starting new creative collaborations. If that’s you and you would like to pitch your project, please get in touch by completing the online form below.
I LIKE NETWORKING: Mentoring and Networking for the Creative Industry
I LIKE NETWORKING is a platform which aims to support women and non-binary professionals looking for a career in the creative and cultural industry and those who already work in the field but feel stuck.
Mentees will be paired with a mentor for 4 meetings, over a 3-month period. In collaboration with their mentor, mentees will define their goals, finesse their skill set, and refine their CV. Additionally, mentors will expand mentees' network by introducing them to industry peers and demonstrating how best to establish and maintain professional relationships.
Manchester International Festival: Resources for Artists and Freelancers
Artists, freelancers and others within the creative community have been badly impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and MIF have compiled an evolving list of resources for anyone looking for information, advice and support.
It’s by no means a comprehensive list and information is constantly changing, so MIF have made it an open document which you can add to.
Voluntary Arts Scotland has teamed up with YouthLink to offer a £2,000 micro-commission to a partnership project between a volunteer-led creative group and a youth organisation, that helps combat loneliness in young people.
Three £2,000 micro-commissions will be awarded:
One in association with Luminate will be awarded to a project that specifically aims to benefit older people.
One in association with YouthLink Scotland will be awarded to a project that specifically aims to benefit young people (aged 12-25).
One in association with TRACS will be awarded to a project that specifically supports traditional arts, Gaelic or Scots.
For specialist arts institutions or registered charities to provide training opportunities across the fine and performing arts.
The Trust welcomes applications from all sectors of the fine and performing arts, including (but not exclusively) music, drama, dance, film and fine art.
DG Unlimited is seeking applications from creative practitioners and cultural organisations from all artform specialisms based in Dumfries and Galloway. DG Unlimited also welcome applications from non-cultural sector organisations that have a track record of including high quality creative activities / events within their wider work.
ARTCRY aims to encourage artists to create bold political work, with fast-turnaround funding to enable fast action.
The reason that ARTCRY exists is to encourage artists to make work which responds to events happening now. ARTCRY will give responses within a week so that you can get started on your work and get it out there into the world more quickly. Any work funded must require an immediate start which would count out more traditional funding options.
All work must be presented for free in the public realm
This could be on the streets, in a public space or digitally. This does not mean it only has to be shown in this context.
Arts and Health Hub:
How to Write Funding Applications
Are you intrigued and confused by the world of funding? Want to tackle funding applications but not sure where to start? This 2 part workshop aims to demystify and breakdown the world of funding applications into something understandable and achievable for artists.
This is a 2 part workshop series that runs on 16th and 30th April (both sessions 10.30am — 12.30pm). Your ticket is for both sessions and you should attend both. Places are limited to 14 places (including 2 bursaries). The workshop takes place over Zoom.
The Weir Charitable Trust aims to support Scottish-based community groups and small charities to provide services across Scotland to help the Scottish community. These groups and charities are likely to have found it difficult to access funds elsewhere.
The Trust will consider funding specific activities and services in sport, recreational facilities, animal welfare, health and cultural projects (see "What we fund") to improve the quality of life for people, either through a particular field of expertise or via a local community.
This event invites women (cis and trans), genderqueer, and non-binary producers to meet to celebrate their work, discuss the challenges of our industry and collaborate to change its future.
This is a gathering for aspiring and established producers. All artform specialisms are also welcome at all stages of presentation from digital to small to major to international.
Lecture introducing the principles of Meyerhold's Biomechanics and their importance for the contemporary performer by Tony De Maeyer - an actor, choreographer, specialist and instructor of W. Meyerhold's Biomechanics from Belgium/Germany.
A talk about the need for re-contextualisation of the Theatre Biomechanics in order to free it from the dogmatic understandings and misunderstandings that grew from its historical context.
Get an insight into working in the creative arts with Creative Youth's free video webinars led by industry professionals and emerging young artists. These webinars cover a wide range of topics and Creative Youth always interested to hear what you would like to learn more about.
Manchester International Festival:
Lockdown Inspirations
Join John McGrath or Mark Ball, respectively MIF’s Artistic Director and Creative Director, to share your lockdown experiences, inspirations and ideas with your fellow artists and creatives. Lockdown Inspirations is a welcoming, informal, supportive and open discussion forum, held frequently on Zoom – and it’s open to all artists and creative practitioners, whatever your discipline or speciality. Stop by and say hi!
Hothouse is a FREE online choreographic training programme for ages 14 – 21 run by YDance in partnership with Scottish Ballet and regional partners which is designed to inspire and develop the next generation of choreographers.
Hothouse involves two levels:
Level 1 – SPARK
Inspirational workshop delivered via Zoom where young people aged 14 – 21 years with an interest in choreography can develop their knowledge and skills as choreographers. Two participants from each regional Level 1 – SPARK will be selected to move on to Level 2 – IGNITE.
Level 2 – IGNITE
Level 2 supports 8 young choreographers selected from Level 1 to develop a dance film. Through a programme of skills development weekends and mentoring, young chorographers will gain the knowledge and confidence to develop their own short dance film, with their own dancers, in their own community, mentored by staff from YDance and Scottish Ballet. Development weekends and mentoring will be delivered online via Zoom.
Anahat Theatre: Improvisation and Storytelling Part 1 (4-weeks)
3pm on the 7th April
A fun and physical approach to improvisation and storytelling where you will tap into a sense of curiosity, playfulness and joy. This online workshop gives you basic tools to tell stories in different imaginative ways.
The course is suitable for beginner and experienced actors and non-actors, as well as musicians, performers and/or directors and anyone interested in improvisation and storytelling.
Taking Space in Performance: Zoom workshop with Serena Flynn
2pm on the 10th April
Using Anthropological theory, Lecoq exercises and personal self-work, you will explore how to delight in the things about ourselves that we think we should hide, find the funny in our flaws and learn to take the space on stage.
Open to performers of any level and limited spaces available.
Please note that this is a practical workshop and active participation is required.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work:
National Theatre Workshops
12th - 16th April
FMTW will be hosting a series of in-person socially distanced, Covid safe Freelancer Workshops at the National Theatre’s New Work Department in London.
These FREE two-hour sessions are a chance to be inspired by our leading artists. The workshops cover a range of working practices including acting, design, sound and directing among others.
OnFife has teamed up with Jan McTaggart, Deputy Director, Head of Programming & Digital Marketing at The Byre Theatre to deliver 3 Digital Marketing Skills workshops for performing artists.
Session 1: Finding Your Audience
Wednesday 21 April 11.00am-12.30pm
The first session looks at how to identify and reach your ideal audiences, looking at the audiences who use different online platforms, finding and understanding the demographics and data, and includes an exercise in jargon busting.
Session 2: Amplifying Your Voice Online
Wednesday 28 April 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
This session is about finding, developing, and amplifying your voice through your content: words, images, audio, and video.
Session 3: Maximising Impact
Wednesday 5 May 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
The final session takes you through simple planning processes which will turn your ideas into reality and introduces methods for coping with the results.
20 Stories High Professional Development Online Workshops
21st April
20 Stories High and Unity Theatre are offering exclusive workshops to help support and nurture your development and talent: Staying motivated in creating your own work and turning ideas into reality.
Creative Arts Education And Events: Beard Like A Boss: a Zoom workshop
5pm on the 29th April
Can’t grow it? Fake it! Get ready to learn some next level beardy artistry from 3 of Scotland’s ‘hairiest’ drag kings, including:
Techniques for creating a variety of hyperrealistic styles from a 5 o’clock shadow, to a manscaped goatee, or a full-blown braided Viking beard
An introduction to the art of postiche and making your own lace front facial hair
How to paint a beardy masterpiece on your face!
This is an interactive workshop open to people of any gender. Ticket holders will receive a list of optional materials to prepare. There will be live demonstrations and DIY activities - full participation is highly encouraged but not mandatory.
Innovation & Good Practice Webinar | Choosing your digital platform: Scottish and global case studies
Hear from Ben Avison, Editorial and Event Director at Host City and Cavendish Group, who will be chairing the webinar and providing insight into the virtual Host City conference delivered in December. He will be joined by Caitlin McNaughton, Communications and Partnerships Manager for Melbourne Fringe who delivered their online festival in November and Lesley Shaw, Producer at Celtic Connections who delivered their digital-first festival in January as they each share their experience and learnings gained from the successful online staging of their recent events.
The webinar will tackle a range of issues from functionality and look and feel, to rights handling, international distribution issues and monetisation.
Part of the Main:
Part of the Grid Virtual Theatre Workshops
Part of the Grid is Part of the Main’s programme of affordable theatre tech, design and producing workshops and have workshops available to suit all careers and abilities.
For a full list of available workshops, check out their website listed below.
Graeae Call for Application:
Ensemble training programme
Deadline: 1st July
Graeae’s Ensemble Cert HE course in Theatre Making and Leadership is a level 4 course in partnership with Rose Bruford College, in association with Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, LAMDA and RADA.
The course offers unparalleled access to industry and training expertise whilst artists can develop their skills in a fully accessible training environment.
NEAT are currently looking for touring productions to add to their programme for June - December 2021.
NEAT hope as the vaccines rollout continues they will be in a position to slowly restart their programme over the summer months with outdoor events initially and then indoor events for autumn/winter 2021.
All of this will be subject to Scottish Government guidelines.
The Invisible Circus is looking to meet new artists for performance opportunities, collaborations and to inspire future ideas.
Invisible Circus have a few projects they hope will be making their way above ground this year and are excited to expand their performance collective. Invisible Circus are looking for circus/cabaret performers – people who see themselves as artists and have an innovative practice.
The post is responsible for the overall management of Tramway, Glasgow’s internationally renowned contemporary arts venue, and reports to the Head of the Arts, Music & Cultural Venues Service.
The post is responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team including line management of Programmers and Curators, Technical Managers, and Assistant Venue Managers; for ensuring the successful delivery of the venue’s arts and engagement programmes; for venue building operations including customer service and statutory compliance; for the robust management and control of significant budgets, grants, trading income and financial reporting; and for the management of funding and partnership relationships with national and international funding bodies.
In addition, as a key member of the Service’s Senior Management Team, the post will support and contribute to the wider development and delivery of the Service in line with Glasgow Life’s aims and objectives.
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Artist Commissions: My Normality
Deadline: 11:55pm on the 2nd April
SMHAF wishes to commission six artists to respond to the theme of ‘My Normality’ in any way they wish, as long as the work addresses mental health in some way and can, ideally, be shared online. Each selected artist will receive a fee of £500 inclusive of costs and materials.
Open Call: “Happy Together” (virtual collaboration)
Deadline: 5th April
Are you a Scottish-based professional dance performer with strong release technique and improvisation skills, interested in becoming part of a virtual dance ensemble?
Choreographer, and performance artist Sofia Kondylia is looking for four professional dancers of Scotland’s contemporary dance scene to give life to the virtual dance ensemble of her new short screendance film, “Happy Together”. Responding to the radical shift Covid-19 has brought to dance life and culture, the film contemplates on collaborating, choreographing, and moving together as an “ensemble” in this virtual era and beyond.
To apply for “Happy Together” project, please send to sofiakondylia@gmail.com (subject title: “Application for “Happy Together” Open Call – YourName”) your application material:
An up-to-date CV (2 pages max).
A Vimeo or YouTube video link (with password, if any), in which you introduce yourself by name and artistic background and express your motivation(s) for being part of “Happy Together” research project. This should be no more than 1 minute. Alternatively, you can write an expression of interest/motivation letter and include it in your application.
An up-to-date Vimeo or YouTube video link (with password, if any), in which you perform/improvise continuously for 2-3 minutes.
Please, mind that this must be a non-edited, single shot video, which uninterruptedly shows the development of your dancing. You may put your introduction and dancing videos together in one link.
Macnas Job Opportunity: Executive Director
Deadline: 9th April
Macnas is an internationally acclaimed spectacle and theatre performance company based in Galway, Ireland. It is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity, with a voluntary Board of Directors.
This is a senior position, and the ED will be expected to identify and lead on new initiatives in addition to the core functions of the company.
The Edinburgh International Festival Technical recruitment pool
Deadline: 9th April
The Edinburgh International Festival is welcoming applications to their Technical recruitment pool in all areas of:
AV
Carpentry
Lighting
Stage crew
Stage Management
Sound
Wardrobe
Wigs and Make up
Successful applicants will work across the city’s venues delivering quality technical support to visiting companies, which has become synonymous with the International Festival.
Luminate are looking for a Programme Manager who can design and manage a wide range of participatory arts projects with and for older people and multigenerational participants, which test new ideas and approaches.
The role will play an important part in the ongoing development of creative ageing practice in Scotland and will support Luminate’s vision that all older people in Scotland can access high quality arts and creative activities whatever their background and circumstances and wherever they live.
Lorna Rees (Artistic Director, Gobbledegook Theatre) is looking for movement/physical theatre performers for the premier of a new work, GEOPHONIC. This piece will then tour more fully in 2022. Dates and duration tbc
Four of Scotland's leading music and performing arts organisations are looking for creative entrepreneurs to collaborate with them on Creative Informatics Challenge Projects that could transform the way they work and produce exciting new audience experiences.
Funding of up to £20,000 for each challenge is available to successful Challenge Respondents who will retain all or part of the intellectual property for their work, enabling them to commercialise any products or services they produce.
Calling all Producers, Production & Project Managers and Technical Crew Members!
Walk the Plank are running this open call for producers, production/project managers, and technical crew. Walk the Plank are not advertising for specific roles but are expecting a number of opportunities coming up which will suit all roles.
Walk the Plank are looking for ideas to commission from artists, designers, and makers for new pieces of work for the Fire Garden.
The Fire Garden is a site-responsive installation comprising of a series of fiery sculptures, creating a glowing landscape that audiences are invited to explore. It adds new depth to public spaces, inviting audiences to reconsider both the idea of a garden and well-known places in a new light.
Budgets for the new works are between £2,000- £15,000.
'BOOM' is Jump Fall Fly's planned, new, live outdoor Circus / Theatre Show.
Jump Fall Fly plan to commence production in the Spring of 2021 and then tour in the SW and S of the UK over the summer of 2021. Yes it is a plan but sadly NOT a certainty.
Jump Fall Fly are looking for circus artists/performers who would be interested in getting involved and bringing their all to the show.
Coventry City of Culture is inviting creatives to submit their interest and links to their work or portfolio to create a diverse catalogue/database of work and a register of interested artists that can be considered for public realm projects.
Across several days of virtual sessions, The Audience Agency will be bringing together Creative Scotland funded organisations and the wider cultural sector to discuss key audience insights from Audience Finder, Audience Intentions and other TAA “through COVID” research.
For more information and details of booking, Please complete the register of interest form below:
Freelancers make up 70% of the Theatre workforce and have been severely affected by the pandemic.
It is time to hear their voices.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work have partnered with Curtain Call to produce a series of podcasts all about the Freelancers that really do make theatre work.
Macnas: Adapting and reimagining creativity during Covid
The last year has been challenging for Galway-based spectacle theatre company Macnas. Their Galway 2020 commission Gilgamesh, which was originally conceived as public performances, has been reimagined as a series of films
National Centre for Circus Arts:
'Still Life' First Year Foundation Degree Ensemble
‘Still Life’ draws inspiration from the painter Edward Hopper and filmmaker Roy Anderson. They both slow down time and capture moments of stillness in a frantic world. Now the extraordinary has met the ordinary where we have been forced to occupy our normal world.
Still Life aims to provide a sense of looking from the outside in, at the alienation and solitude of modern life, both its struggle and playfulness.
Directed by Sean Kempton.
Circus Futures: European Circus Voices
European Circus Voices offers a collection of podcasts created by traditional and contemporary circus practitioners from across Europe.
The series is introduced by Laura Murphy, a UK circus next Laureate 2018/19. Each podcast offers the personal view of each interviewee, focusing on their circus journey and what innovation in circus means to them.
This project has been created by Circus Futures, the circusnext European Platform's UK & ROI Co-organiser. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England and is Lottery Funded. Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Call Out to Artists and Makers, groups and organisations involved with Circus, Street Arts, Physical Theatre - let us and others know about your work. Take your place in Articulation’s Directory on the Website by sending your information to info@articulationarts.org
