Announcing the 2021/22 Mid-Career Commission.
In September 2021 we announced that we secured Project Funding from Arts Council England to continue to deliver a programme of support for independent theatre-makers across the Midlands between Sept 2021 and April 2023. In October, we announced new additions to the team with Jen Sullivan joining as Creative Producer and since then we’ve been working quietly behind the scenes on the new programme.
We’re kicking off the 2021-23 IGC program in a big way, with the £5000 Mid-Career Commission. The commission is for a theatre maker or a company with an established practice and who considers themselves mid-career or are transitioning into this stage of their practice. We’re looking for a ‘theatre’ project, whatever this means to you, as long as it involves live theatre (in the broadest sense of the word!) and it has public engagement, we want to hear about it!
Alongside this year’s commission we are launching an Early-Career Producer Scheme that offers the opportunity for an Assistant Producer to work with the Mid-career recipient, supporting their project and receiving meaningful mentorship from experienced freelancers. Recruitment for this opportunity will come later in the year, with input from the Mid-career artist. More information on this scheme can be found in the application pack.
The Mid-career Commission is for a theatre maker/company: with an established practice, identity and a strong track record of creating contemporary theatre; an artist or company who has made 2 to 3 shows, and preferably toured these outside of their region. We’d like them to have worked in partnership with other venues to create previous works. Theatre makers that have the infrastructure and capacity to deliver a show appropriate for their selected audience and can provide a meaningful learning experience for an Assistant Producer.
This is a national call out, although we are looking for a theatre maker/company who can demonstrate a commitment to making and showing work in the Midlands.
Jen Sullivan (In Good Company Creative Producer)
“This opportunity seeks to support artists and companies who have outgrown the support available for early-career practitioners and find themselves in that tricky period of development where fundraising for projects is more important than ever. It’s essential that there are opportunities provided that are artist-led, and we are looking forward to seeing how this grant can contribute to an artist’s wider ambition for a project of national significance.”
What does it include?
The mid-career commission includes: £5,000 commission fee, 2 weeks’ rehearsal space if required, a performance at Departure Lounge festival* at Derby Theatre. Mentorship from IGC Creative Producer, Jen Sullivan; support from IGC venue teams, advocacy and profile-raising opportunities by all IGC partners.
This year’s commission includes an additional £1,000 fee to contribute to recruitment and mentorship of the Assistant Producer in collaboration with IGC.
*If this fits with your project’s timeline.
When can you apply?
Applications open on the 29th of November 2021 and close at midnight on the 30th of January 2022.
In our efforts to make all our opportunity’s as accessible as possible we are accepting written, audio and video submissions and have a small budget to support access in delivery, and we’re open to conversations about how we can tailor our support. We also have created a detailed written and audio pack for the commission. More information can be found on the application page.
The application pack, more information and how to apply can all be found here.
For conversation around access or more information on this opportunity please contact Assistant Producer Aoife O’Connor (a.oconnor2@derby.ac.uk)
Photo: Chris Webb Photography. Esme Sears, Stars Align and Heart Signs