Starter 2020 (Call For Applications)
28/11/2019 - 31/12/2020
We recognise that one of the best ways an artist can learn and develop their practice, skills and networks is through the active process of making work. And nothing beats dedicated budget, time, space and support in fostering the development of a new idea.
Starter is an initiative designed to seed ideas and develop an artists’ practice through the offer of eight residencies that come with a budget (£2500), in kind space and equipment, access to technical advice and expertise, and producing and dramaturgical support.
In 2019, six of the eight residencies will be targeted towards artists with specific practice, skills or experience, with two residency places remaining totally open. Starter residencies are not commissions or production opportunities, and all rights to the work generated will remain with the artists and their collaborators.
Residencies can be used to:
Artists are guaranteed access to working space at the Company’s new facility in Glasgow, but we will try to secure space at other geographical locations if required.
Two Starter Residencies will go live for applications every three months.
Whilst some residencies are specifically targeted, artists should apply for any and all residencies opportunities for which they are eligible.
This opportunity is open to artists across art forms (including theatre, music, sound, movement, film, visual art, story-telling, spoken word etc), who wish to explore a new or existing bold and vital live performance idea that moves forward their practice and career.
You must:
You must not:
1) Each residency place will be selected by a panel comprising of National Theatre of Scotland staff and external artists and companies. We will select the artists that most excite us through:
2) We would like to select a 2019 cohort who will reflect Scotland’s diversity. Our intention is to have a gender balance across the cohort, and include artists from ethnic minority communities, socially/economic diverse backgrounds, those who identify as disabled, artists based outside of the central belt and speakers of Scotland’s minoritised languages.
3) In making their selection the panel will prioritise artists who have some practical experience in the area in which they propose to work. Similarly we may be less likely to prioritise artists who have had more than three fully funded and professionally produced opportunities for selection.
Please note that due to the number of applications we receive we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Starter: D/deaf Artist
A residency place for an artist that identifies as D/deaf to focus on a new idea for a piece of performance or to facilitate a forward-shift in their practice.
Panel: Caroline Newall (National Theatre of Scotland), Lucy Deere (National Theatre of Scotland), Ramesh Meyyappan (Theatre maker)
Starter: An Artist with an experimental performance practice living and working in a remote / rural location.
A residency place for an artist with an experimental / inter-disciplinary/ Live Art performance practice who is based in a remote or rural location to focus on a new idea or to facilitate a forward-shift in their practice. In partnership with //BUZZCUT//
Panel: Anna Hodgart (National Theatre of Scotland), Bejal Desai (National Theatre of Scotland), Karl Taylor (//BUZZCUT//)
Starter: Ayr or Ayrshire based Artist
A residency place for an artist based in Ayr or Ayrshire to focus on a new idea or to facilitate a forward-shift in their practice. In partnership with the Ayr Gaiety Theatre.
Panel: Lucy Deere (National Theatre of Scotland), Anna Hodgart (National Theatre of Scotland), TBC (Ayr Gaiety)
Starter: Artist making work about the Climate Crisis
A residency place for an artist to develop a new idea for a new piece of performance that explores the climate crisis.
Panel: Caroline Newall (National Theatre of Scotland), Bejal Desai (National Theatre of Scotland), Lewis Hetherington (Playwright and Theatre Maker)
Starter: Open Residencies (x2)
Two residencies open to any artist looking to develop a new idea for a piece of performance or to facilitate a forward-shift in their practice
Panel: TBC
Discovering and supporting new and emerging artists is what keeps our theatre alive. We have a range of Artist Development opportunities available at the National Theatre of Scotland, including Starter, Engine Room, and Script Reading Programme, learn more here.
Stay updated on all upcoming Artist Development events and opportunities at the National Theatre of Scotland by subscribing to the Engine Room newsletter. Enter your email below and select “artist development opportunities”.
The Starter programme is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation