Surf the Wave Call for Participation
Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) and national partners are pleased to announce call for participation in the Surf The Wave Artist as Entrepreneur programme.
They are seeking expressions of interest from independent dance artists, dance companies and their producers to participate in a year-long programme of activities that aims to
· Create a space for thinking about how we create, communicate and collaborate in dance
· Build and strengthen networks and relationships with promoters and venues
· Open up possibilities for touring dance across the UK
· Support artists and companies to respond to these new opportunities
What is Surf The Wave?
Surf The Wave is a major dance project that aims to fundamentally change dance touring in the UK. This three-year project runs from October 2017 to August 2020, taking a longer term approach to talent development, networking and showcasing.
Surf The Wave will be delivered in three phases:
1. Artist as Entrepreneur – a strategic programme of talent development and artist support involving artists, producers and promoters (including those new to dance) around the UK.
2. The UK Dance Showcase (16th – 19th May 2019), which will have a separate selection process.
3. Surf Generator – A year-long programme of touring and development support to translate interest into tour dates following on from the Showcase.
Surf The Wave is supported by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund, the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The Artist as Entrepreneur event partners leading events in their region are: DanceXchange, South East Dance, The Place and Yorkshire Dance. We have developed the Surf The Wave programme with partners from the National Dance Network over the last two years and it is a UK wide programme.
What is involved?
The Artist as Entrepreneur programme offers an opportunity for artists and (where appropriate) their producers to come together and participate in a period of reflection, development and networking across the UK. Participants will attend two intensive professional development events that will be hosted by our partners. These events are a series of 2 x two-day residentials. The programme will include guest speakers, panel discussions, open space sessions and networking opportunities focussing on four key themes:
• Concept • Quality • Communication • Sustainability
The aim will be to look across and beyond the Creative Industries for inspiration and discussion.
These intensive events will also see venue and festival promoters and programmers from the host region invited to network and exchange with participating artists and producers, allowing for facilitated and peer exchange and learning about dance, and the possibilities for presentation. Through this, we are aiming to build a broader network for dance touring that will support, commission and programme dance across the UK. Therefore, we are looking for artists and producers to travel to a region within which they would like to build new relationships, and for promoters to stay in their own region. Promoters may come from dance or cross art form festivals or venues.
The Artist as Entrepreneur events will take place:
| Location | Partner | Date | Venue |
| England / London | The Place | 18/19 April
(tbc) September |
The Place, London
The Place, London |
| England / South East | South East Dance | 21/22 April
(tbc) September |
Brighton
TBC |
| England / Midlands | DanceXchange | 15/16 June
18/19 October |
TBC
DanceXchange |
| England / South West | PDSW | (tbc) June
6/7 September |
Bristol
PDSW, Bournemouth |
| England / North | Yorkshire Dance | 5/6 July
21/22 September |
Yorkshire Dance, Leeds
Dance City, Newcastle |
Participants are asked to indicate their preferred location(s), and will be required to attend both sessions in that region. There will also be events running in late 2018 / early 2019 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (subject to funding).
Participants who have completed both intensives will then have the opportunity to pitch for Surf Generator seed support. These financial awards (ranging from £1,500 to £5,000) will allow artists, producers and the promoters they may connect with to apply learning from the programme, responding to areas of development identified through the process – be that in marketing, organisational support, or creative production. The aim is to support artists and companies to adapt their approach or networks to extend their tours to new markets for dance.
Who is it for?
They are seeking applications from those who:
· Have produced and toured at least 2 publicly funded works in the UK, and are seeking to build on this
· Are willing to commit to attending a set of two Artist As Entrepreneur events in one region
· Have an idea in progress, or work that could be ready to showcase or tour from May 2019
· Are willing to examine how they conceive, research, develop and present their work to venues and promoters
· Are committed to diversifying audiences for their work and working collaboratively with promoters
Who is this opportunity NOT for?
Whilst we acknowledge the broad benefit that this programme can offer across the dance sector, this supported opportunity is NOT aimed at new graduates and those artists and companies taking their first steps into the dance touring market. You can keep up to date with developments and further opportunities throughout the project by signing up for their newsletter: email “Subscribe” to stwcoordinator@pdsw.org.uk
What is the benefit?
Selected participants will receive:
– A full bursary to attend the programme of events, covering:
– A participation fee
– Travel & accommodation
– Meals at the events
· Access to a range of financial supports, including an opportunity to pitch for Surf Generator seed support in response to learning
· Subsidised delegate places to attend the UK Dance Showcase in May 2019
· Opportunity to meet and network with promoters, and attend brokering events throughout the Surf The Wave project (2017 – 2020)
Thanks to the support of funders, there are up to 100 bursaries available for artists, and their producers, to attend events across the UK.
How do I apply?
Download and fill in the application form and equal opportunities form.
Provide links and examples of work, and the names of 1 professional referee
Send this information by email to: stwcoordinator@pdsw.org.uk with the subject heading “Application – Artist as Entrepreneur”
Deadline for applications: 9.00am Thursday 18th January 2018