They are: Lucy Bradley; Ira Brand; Roxanne Carney; Rachael Clerke; Liz Counsell; Marivi da Silva; Daisy Douglas; Philip Douglas; Ellie Dubois; Helen Edwards; Sarah Emmott; Matthew Evans; Emma Frankland; Ruth Holdsworth; Vanessa Kisuule; Davide Levi; Zara McFarlane; Ronan McMahon; Nathan Penlington; Joshua Pharo; Lee Reynolds; Arron Sparks; Melanie Spencer; and Cécile Trémolières.
There were 470 applications in response to a national call for proposals to artists who had been practicing for no more than 10 years. The selection was made by Emma Gladstone, Artistic Director, Dance Umbrella; Errollyn Wallen, composer; Shonagh Manson, Director, Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Jon Opie, General Manager,Jerwood Charitable Foundation, in addition to an internal selection panel: Michael Duffy, Music Manager, British Council; and Toni Lewis, independent artist and creative producer.
The Performing Arts Micro Bursaries were created using legacy funds from the BBC Performing Arts Fund to provide individuals with direct support for their professional and creative development, without the expectation of an specific product output and/or public engagement. Grants will be awarded in two rounds and the first deadline was 9 January 2017. The fund will re-open for applications later in 2017.
The BBC Performing Arts Fund existed to support emerging talent across the performing arts sector. The Fund awarded over £5m during the 12 years of its operation. On its closure in 2016, and in line with its Charitable Deed of Trust, part of the remaining funds were transferred to Jerwood Charitable Foundation in order to continue its work in nurturing talent.
Overview of the artists’ projects:
- Theatre and opera director Lucy Bradley will undertake puppetry training at the Little Angel Theatre.
- Artist, writer and performer Ira Brand will participate in a nine week stand-up comedy course.
- Artist and creative producer Roxanne Carney will receive mentoring from Hannah Jane Walker.
- Bristol-based artist, satirist, punk singer and drag king Rachael Clerke will research a new performance piece.
- Producer Liz Counsell will research how to encourage more venues to programme live literature and more producers to work in the field.
- Leeds-based dance artist Marivi da Silva will undertake physical theatre training at MOVEO in Barcelona.
- Glasgow-based producer Daisy Douglas will attend OFFTA, Montreal to develop her practice.
- Gateshead-based producer Philip Douglas will develop his skills as a programmer/curator by attending UK festivals.
- Argyll-based contemporary circus artist Ellie Dubois will research material for a new show.
- Bristol-based producer Helen Edwards will attend IETM in Bucharest in April.
- Manchester-based theatre maker, writer and performer Sarah Emmott will explore scriptwriting in BSL.
- Performance maker Matthew Evans will undertake a period of research and collaboration with a video designer.
- Writer and performance maker Emma Frankland will experiment with ceramics to inform the development of her practice.
- Gwent-based Ruth Holdsworth will undertake research for the development of her practice as producer and curator.
- Bristol-based spoken word artist and writer Vanessa Kisuule will undertake a period of dance training.
- Leeds-based conductor Davide Levi will undertake training in opera coaching skills.
- Singer and composer Zara McFarlane will undertake field research in Jamaica for a new music theatre piece.
- Glasgow-based performer and writer Ronan McMahon will experiment with two collaborators by forming a clowning ensemble.
- Live documentary maker Nathan Penlington will research a new site-specific work around the Grand Union Canal.
- Video artist and lighting designer Joshua Pharo will receive mentoring for the development of his practice.
- Opera conductor Lee Reynolds will receive language coaching.
- Juggler and performance maker Arron Sparks will travel to Stockholm for a period of research with Jay Gilligan.
- Theatre director Melanie Spencer and writer Xi Nan will research an idea for a new theatre piece.
- Theatre designer Cécile Trémolières will present her work at the World Stage Design exhibition in Taipei this summer.
More information on the Performing Arts Micro Bursaries.
