Call for artists
SEAS X / Four Corners of Europe
Dance4 and SEAS/Intercult are pleased to announce an international research and development opportunity for UK-based* artists from across disciplines to participate in SEAS X, an artistic expedition taking place along the Black Sea Coast in September. This project is supported by Arts Council England.
Artists will be required to develop proposals for international co-productions for European touring and presentation in 2011 onwards as part of the long-term project, Four Corners of Europe.
The call is looking for UK-based artists* who are interested in researching and responding artistically to the social, urban or historic realities of a particular “place”, specifically sea harbors/towns and resorts on one of the four seas, (Black, North, Baltic and Mediterranean).
Expressions of interest for the research period will be accepted from practitioners in any art form (for example musicians, dance artists, theatre makers, writers, crafts makers, film-makers/video-makers, digital artists, actors, animators and beyond). However we are particularly keen to receive applications from artists that explore choreographic practice or are interested in exploring collaboration with dance artists. Artists selected will be expected to explore collaborations with international artists from other participating countries.
*This project is open to all UK based artists, however artists must be able to demonstrate that they are currently based, produce and/or significantly present work in the East Midlands region.
Background
Intercult (www.intercult.se) is an independent cultural, production and education organisation based in Stockholm, Sweden, which builds partnerships and develops projects that reach out to the European cultural scene. It is the executive producer of Black/North SEAS (www.seas.se), an international and interdisciplinary arts project which commissioned artists from the Black and North seas regions to create new works and tour them to coastal towns and cities around Europe, supported by the European Union’s Cultural Programme.
From 2011-2016, Intercult will initiate a new wave of commissions and presentations involving artists from countries on the coasts of the Black, North, Baltic and Mediterranean Seas - Four Corners of Europe, in collaboration with Umeå 2014, Istanbul Foundation for Arts and Culture and others.
We are calling for artists* to participate in first-step research and development facilitated by Intercult using its ‘dating’ methodology with the aim of developing proposals for new international co-productions.
The selection process for UK artists will be led by Dance4 in close collaboration with Intercult and Arts Council England.
There is a bursary allocated to each selected artist for this initial period of research in September. This bursary includes travel, accommodation, per diems and a small fee for the invested time and preparation.
Who are we looking for?
- Artists with experience of delivering high-quality contemporary practice
- Previous examples of co-producing and touring, nationally and / or internationally
- Capacity to produce the work
- An innovative approach to working in public and unconventional spaces
- Interest and experience in working across art forms and with choreographic practice
- Interest in reflecting the social and cultural life of a particular place or region
- A desire and capacity to extend international networks and their own intercultural competence
Timescale
- Interviews with Arts Council England, Intercult and Dance4 will be held on Monday 26 July 2010.
- Research expedition to coastal cities/SEAS X will take place from 13- 27 September 2010.
- Subject to capacity and viability the following may be part of future plans:
- Presentation of co-production proposals to the Four Corners of Europe platform January-May 2011. Further development Autumn 2011.
- Co-production and touring will take place 2012-2016. More details will be made available to selected participants from Intercult
Application and Selection
If you would like to apply for SEAS X, please submit your CV and a written statement of no more than two sides of A4 explaining how this opportunity will enable you to develop as an artist and what you would gain from participating in this programme.
Please evidence your capacity and experience to develop and deliver the work in the future from this initial research period. Arts Council England, Dance4 and Intercult cannot guarantee any contribution at this stage for future development of the work.
You may wish to consider the following in your statement:
- What are the outcomes we might expect from taking part in this programme?
- What partnerships would you like to develop?
- What kind of projects do you want to develop?
- Your commitment, availability and capacity to the time scale given
- Your commitment to produce and preset work in the East Midlands
- Your interest in transnational and cross-cultural collaboration
- Indicative costs if known
Selection Process
The deadline for expressions of interest is Wednesday 14th July 2010. Please note that we will not accept applications after the deadline.
Short listed artists will be notified on 21st July 2010 and must be able to attend interviews in Nottingham on Monday 26 July 2010. No alternative dates will be given.
Announcement of up to 3 selected candidates will be made on Tuesday 03 August 2010
Please send your proposal, plus supporting evidence and CV by email to seas@dance4.co.uk
If you wish to submit any supporting material** that cannot be emailed e.g. DVD/visual material, then please post three copies with your application and send to:
SEAS X Applications
c/o Dance4
3-9 Hockley
Nottingham
NG1 1FH
UK
** Please be aware that supporting material cannot be returned
For further information about the selection process please contact Dance4 on 0115 941 0773
For further information about the project please contact Adam Jeanes (SEAS/Intercult): adam.jeanes@intercult.se
