Call goes out to local artists

Derby Theatre, along with Create in Mansfield and Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester, are on the lookout for associate artiststo be a part of their joint artist development scheme, In Good Company.

Born out of consultation with a community of artists, In Good Company is the professional development programme for artists making work in the East Midlands, led by creative producer Ruby Glaskin.

Funded byArts Council England, it launched in July 2014 and is delivered by all three partner venues.

Following the launch last year, five professional associate companies were appointed and now the partner venuesare looking to recruit more associate artists to join the scheme for 2015/16. This is a bespoke development opportunity for artists in the region which offers access to resources, space, mentorship and funding.

A unique programme offering a strategic and responsive support to artists, the benefits include: mentorship, and working with, the creative producer to develop bespoke artistic development programmes; mentorship from leading and in-house practitioners, an administrative base at one of the three partner venues – a desk, shared telephone line, print, Wi-Fi etc.; access to in-kind rehearsal and production facilities, artistic guidance, business and organisational advice; technical, marketing, fundraising, press and audience development support; performing and performance feedback opportunities; complimentary tickets to masterclasses; financial support towards programming fees and match funding plus much more.

To be considered as an IGC associate company, Derby Theatre, Create and Attenborough Arts are looking for: companies who primarily work in live performance, artists who make high quality performance and strive to demonstrate best possible practice, artists who are committed to making work in the East Midlands, or be based in this region; committed to developing their work in accordance with IGC’s aims and objectives; are able to identify artistic and administrative needs and ambitions; artists who make high quality performance and strive to demonstrate best possible practice both artistically and in their approach to outreach and audience development and who are responsive to challenging their knowledge, practice and assumptions about reaching new audiences as inclusively as possible.

Full/more details will be supplied on enquiry/application.

Ollie Smith, co-director of LaPelle’s Factory, one of the associate companies for 2014/15, said: “Being an associate company has been great for LaPelle’s Factory because it’s meant that we were really able to hit the ground running.

“The sense of community has been incredibly important, opportunities for networking and the exposure of our work in the right places have helped us develop much more quickly than if we’d have gone it alone - and the bespoke structure of the scheme has kept us focussed both in terms of developing creative material and being strategic regarding business decisions.”

Artists and companies interested in being an IGC associate are required to submit details and information by Friday, June 12, at 5pm – to include: a brief biography of the company (maximum 500 words), including full listings of all company members and collaborators; a list of key creative projects to date, including performance date and venue; examples of work, submitted by an online link and/or images; testimonials from creative professionals; timeline of what you propose to do as an associate company; how, as a company, you will contribute to the scheme, plus a brief paragraph of your hopes, aspirations and where you would like to be by the end of your residency.

Applications should be sen to: Ruby Glaskin, In Good Company producer at: [email protected]