Emma Writes 

I first heard about the BBC Performing Arts Fund in the summer of 2014, when I saw that YDance were seeking a BBC Fellow. I applied immediately as YDance have brought many amazing opportunities to young people across Scotland, including the youth dance group I worked with during my time at SkyeDance. I could not pass up the chance to actually work for them. They do incredible work across I Scotland, furthering opportunities for young people in the dance world.

I began dancing at the age of three, mostly because my older sister danced and I wanted to copy everything she did when I was little, and I quickly came to love dance. I was introduced to Contemporary Dance at the age of ten, when I first began to appreciate performances by professional companies and I found the whole experience magical. I remember desperately trying to capture sections of choreography in my head so that I could try it for myself when I got home. My love for dance grew and after I left school I attended Dance for All in Edinburgh.

I always had a passion for teaching and so it seems natural that this, teamed with my creativity, led me to pursue a career as a choreographer and Dance Artist. I have been lucky enough to create dance works with some amazing groups of young people; through my Dance Development post at SkyeDance, with the modern dance society at Edinburgh University, with my groups at Royal High School, Edinburgh, and with my new classmates at Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS). I am now more than halfway through my BA year in Dance at PASS, and the new experiences and knowledge that I have gained have pushed me closer than ever to my goals.

I want to use this opportunity as a BBC Fellow to grow as a choreographer, which will be made possible by being given the chance to learn from some of the best artists and choreographers currently working in Scotland, and to develop and create my own work. Ultimately, I hope that this year will bridge the gap between who I am now and the professional artist that I wish to become.

 I am so excited to start on the many project planned with YDance as part of my BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship. I would like to take this chance to thank YDance and the BBC PAF for believing in me, and for giving me the most amazing opportunity of my career so far.

THE BBC Performing Arts Fund Team would like to wish all its followers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

 

Hannah Butterfield – Fellow at Third Angel in Sheffield

"In the week that Third Angel open their new collaborative theatre work 'Paradise' in Portugal, I'm feeling rather excited about where this wonderful fellowship has led me... I've spent a week in Lisbon working in a dramaturgical role with Third Angel and Mala Voadora, I've presented two work-in-progress showings of my new solo show '21000 Miles of Rail', I've begun to work with producer Emma Beverley, and have recently secured Grants for The Arts funding for the tour of my first solo theatre work. I cannot thank the BBC PAF team and Third Angel enough, this opportunity has been so important to my development as a theatre maker and I can't wait to get my show on the road starting in June 2015!"

Nik Partridge, Fellow at Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bristol

"I directed the first-full UK production of Chris Goode's Infinite Lives, as well as assisting Emma Callander on Banksy: The Room in the Elephant and, most recently, Sally Cookson on 101 Dalmatians. I was also associate director on Filter and Tobacco Factory Theatres' co-production of Macbeth. I had an article published in Lyn Gardner's Guardian theatre blog about how supporting emerging talent and regional theatre can go hand-in-hand."

 Charlotte Mountford, Fellow at The Lowry Theatre in Salford

"It's difficult to summarise what an amazing year 2014 has been and I feel a bit lost looking forward at 2015 without PAF! There's been a lot of highlights; meeting the other  fellows and forming genuine friendships as well as getting the chance to hear and see one another’s work and learning so much from so many people. Ultimately, Flow (my culminative project) will be hard to top! It was an exciting weekend of theatre for Salford, showcasing the talent the city has in some it's brilliant venues. The artists I got to meet and work with amazed me throughout and I'm lucky enough to be continuing working with them as a Producer. Similarly, The Lowry (my host organisation) has taken me on as a permanent member of staff following my fellowship as a member of the Programming Team. So that's a lot of highlights!"

Freddie Machin, Fellow at Ice and Fire Theatre Company in London

"Osama bin Laden, global health initiatives and the CIA. Three subjects I most certainly wouldn't have had the gumption to tackle without the support of the BBC Performing Arts Fund or the patient support and patronage of ice&fire theatre company. This year has been a huge step forward in my work as a playwright. I have researched a play, written it (twice) and workshopped it with a professional company. It has been an invaluable springboard into the next phase of this project and hopefully my career."

Emma DeDakis, Fellow at Accidental Theatre

"The Kitchen, the Bedroom & the Grave: Dramaturgy (script & performance) for full-length production: debut playwright Donal O'Hagan's hybrid stage play & documentary and Accidental's first N. Irish tour. Playwrights' Bootcamp: I ran this alternative writing workshop, which hijacked directing, acting and one-to-one theatre techniques for writers  .Scratch Night: Co-producer & mentor for first scratch hosted by Accidental -- three experimental plays by young N. Irish theatre-makers Scratch Night: Co-producer & mentor for first scratch hosted by Accidental -- three experimental plays by young N. Irish theatre-makers".

Pete Lannon, Fellow at Imaginate

"My fellowship with Imaginate this year has given me the opportunity to go to two international children’s theatre festivals as well as spending time learning from award-winning theatre company Catherine Wheels. The highlight of my year, though, was being awarded funding from Creative Scotland to develop Raised by Wolves, a new piece of work for young audiences – something that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the fellowship."

Dorothy Wilson writes

"As Chair of the Board of Trustees for the BBC Performing Arts Fund it is my pleasure and delight to announce the 2015 PAF Fellows for 2015 – truly the 32 to watch.

In May 2014 we announced this year’s Fellowship. We wanted to build on the success of previous years and decided to broaden the Fellowship to embrace a wider range of performing art forms including, for the first time, circus.The BBC Performing Arts Fund has played a substantial role in supporting new artists through our funding programmes and, significantly, through our mentoring and peer support. We are enormously encouraged by the breath, depth and ambition of this year’s Fellowship applications.

With great difficulty, because of the sheer strength of proposals, we shortlisted over 40 Fellowships for interview this year and the Trustees and BBC PAF Team took to the road traversing the nations and regions to meet the candidates and their hosts.Several weeks later the Trustees and PAF team met again in a locked room to finalise the Fellowship decisions for this year. No buzzers, no phones votes and no public eliminations but the decision was made with the aid of extensive notes and a selection of tasty cakes!

We had to make some really difficult decisions to achieve our final list but the ambition of this year’s Fellowships and the support of their host organisations shone through.

We are delighted to announce the 32 Fellows whom the Board believes will make a significant impact in their chosen fields"

Here they are

Dorothy Wilson writes

"As Chair of the Board of Trustees for the BBC Performing Arts Fund it is my pleasure and delight to announce the 2015 PAF  Fellows for 2015 – truly the 32 to watch.In May 2014 we announced this year’s Fellowship. We wanted to build on the success of previous years and decided to broaden the Fellowship to embrace a wider range of performing art forms including, for the first time, circus.

The BBC Performing Arts Fund has played a substantial role in supporting new artists through our funding programmes and, significantly, through our mentoring and peer support. We are enormously encouraged by the breath, depth and ambition of this year’s Fellowship applications.

With great difficulty, because of the sheer strength of proposals, we shortlisted over 40 Fellowships for interview this year and the Trustees and BBC PAF Team took to the road traversing the nations and regions to meet the candidates and their hosts.Several weeks later the Trustees and PAF team met again in a locked room to finalise the Fellowship decisions for this year. No buzzers, no phones votes and no public eliminations but the decision was made with the aid of extensive notes and a selection of tasty cakes!

We had to make some really difficult decisions to achieve our final list but the ambition of this year’s Fellowships and the support of their host organisations shone through.

We are delighted to announce the 32 Fellows whom the Board believes will make a significant impact in their chosen fields

And here they are

 

1. Jonathan Lo Conductor                      
2. Amy Fisher Theatre Producer              
3. Max Johns Theatre Designer               
4. Beverley Grant Dance Artist               
5. Brona Jackson Dance Artist                
6. Rosie Hood Folk Singer                     
7. Jenny Roxburgh Lighting Designer      
8. Evie Manning Director                       
9. Natalie Murray Beale Conductor         
10. Hannah Moore Choreographer/Director  
11. Rikki Henry Director                           
12. Antonio de la Fe Choreographer and Performer 
13. Rebecca Lyon Tutor/Performer            
14. Ola Ince Director                               
15. Rachael Young  Theatre maker            
16. Sarah Bentley Producer                       
17. Anthony Lau Director                         
18. Toby Peach Theatre Maker                  
19. Samantha Potter Playwright               
20. Rhian Jeffrey Director                         
21. PJ Harris Director                               
22. Emma Smith Dance Artist                    
23. Dan Daw Dance Artist / Artistic Director  
24. Jasmin Ann Cooray Poet                    
25. John Ross Choreographer                   
26. Nina Patel-Grainger Theatre Designer  
27. Stephen Coulter Creative Producer      
28. Joseph Wallace Director                      
29. Nel Crouch Director/ writer                  
30. Stacey Sampson Writer                       
31. Melanie Purdie Creative Producer          
32. Emma Hill Writer                                  

 

So we invite you to revisit our blog page @10.00am on 10^th December 2014 or follow us on our social media feeds where our #32onestowatch will be revealed.

As we near the end of a wonderful year funding Community Theatre  Tell Tale Theatre’s cast member Alex Clark has written a blog about the experience of bringing Animal Farm to a Liverpool audience.

"It was an unremarkable midsummer's night in Liverpool. The actors of Tell Tale Theatre Company were gathered for their usual Thursday evening meeting. During the week, word had gone round that the writer, Lawrence Wilson, had a dream to share. It was a vision of a glorious production of George Orwell's Animal Farm; a story of how the downtrodden could rise up, and change their world for the better. As he shared his story, the actors listened intently, and when he was gone, they set to work.

The actors were led by two remarkable creatures named Emma and Leanne, who were determined to see the dream come to life. The actors worked hard under their guidance over many months. Their talents were varied; their commitment unquestionable. All were working day-jobs and asked for no reward in helping make the vision a reality. They did it not for material gain, but for the sheer love of theatre, and the opportunity to share a wonderful story with the world.Whilst on Animal Farm the dream faded fast, turning instead into a terrible nightmare, on Tell Tale Farm things could not have gone more differently. Where Orwell's animals suffered from their leaders' infighting, and found themselves in as bad a situation as they had been under the old order, here things were much better. All of the actors were encouraged to contribute their ideas to the production, and their roles were handed out according to ability rather than privilege. 

Under the benevolent leadership of Emma and Leanne, and with the assistance of budding young designers and stage managers from Liverpool Insitute of Performing Arts (as well as the always reliable support of their semi-retired set-builders, John and John) things soon took shape. When production week arrived, all were eager to share what they had created with the world.And so, on opening night, when the lights came up, the audience were treated to a spectacle of vivid animalistic drama, with professional lighting, live music and sound, and a beautiful backdrop that made it all the more believable. And, though life on Animal Farm was fraught with fear, the actors were not, and for four nights they told a cautionary tale of what can happen when those in power bully the weak into submission, and supplant a vision of hope with their own nefarious dream of dominance.

For the long-suffering creatures of Animal Farm, the story may not have had a happy ending, but that wasn't going let Tell Tale Farm give up hope. And so, when the show was over, they took to the road, sharing the story with the students of three nearby schools, so that the next generation might be inspired to have their own glorious dreams, to share them, and to see them brought to reality!

(Many thanks to the BBC Performing Arts Fund, it wouldn't have been the same without your support!)"

Two of the many wonderful quotes to come from the contributors of Theatre by the Lake’s Youth Theatre Group.

Their new project “Stone Soup” inspired by Folk Tales will see them travelling the Lake District visiting schools and community centres performing from September until the end of October.

The history of the project goes back to February 2013 when Theatre by the Lake brought together the many youth theatre groups they have connected with throughout the Lakes from Cockermouth to Workington. 

 Jeff Wallcook (Writer & Director Stone Soup) about the Festival 

“The feedback from the audience and participants was extremely positive with many of the older youth theatre members expressing a passion for spreading the word of youth engagement in the arts and putting young people in a positive perspective in their communities. They had a desire to take their work out to other young people and to become positive role models and advocates for community involvement was highlighted”

Taking on this mantle Theatre by the Lake successfully applied to the BBC Performing Arts Fund to support their Autumn Tour through our community theatre fund. BBC PAF Board supported their application and the first workshop went ahead on May 05^th where the group explored the concept of the piece and its connection to the old folktale “Stone Soup”.

Jeff Wallcook the writer is currently writing the draft script and the group will start rehearsing 11^th -21^st August. There are many challenges ahead with the sheer scale of the Lake District and the complexities of working with young people in a county with high levels of rural isolation and patchy public transport. We wish the team the best of luck with the rehearsals and look forward to hearing back from them later on in the run.

Quote: What did I learn? That 10:30 is too early to get up.  (Teddy)

 

 

"On the 15th May 2014, in The Grimsby Minster, we performed "The Grimsby Story". We were able to do this because of the BBC grant we had received.

We had been working in the community, listening to peoples stories of snippets of their lives. It started off with a community event in our local shopping centre. Led by Emma Middleton and Louise Clark, people were invited to share their memories and stories about Grimsby. This was a great success, and we ended up with a group of people who saw the project through to the performance. It’s working title was "Stories, Sites & Spectacles". We attracted participants through posters distributed throughout the town, and by word of mouth.

 

 

Once collected, the stories were brought to life through music, drama and poetry. A genuine camaraderie developed as rehearsals went on. All ages and talents came together to develop the piece. Masks were made, from paper mache, of the gargoyles around The Minster, and our Youth Theatre used them as part of the physical performance in the play. The musicians in the group wrote the lyrics and music, inspired by the memories and stories of the group. The oldest member recorded his memories and those recollections were played during the performance.

 

The performance was a walk through the ages of Grimsby, from the First World War to modern times, via the seaside, through the town and into the surrounding countryside.

Some of the topics covered were letters from the past, postcards from the seaside, hellos and goodbyes, schooldays and a piece devised by a mother of one of our Youth Theatre members, who had never acted before, hanging her washing out, thinking about her life. There was a Victorian scene with a group of children playing in the sandpit, and a child in the audience went to join them! A lovely spontaneous moment. 

Ladies & gentlemen from a local choir joined in with the singing, and one man who got involved, used to go to drama school, and said it had reminded him so much of the good times he had there.

We worked with other groups doing this and met new people through it.

The whole piece was all included in The Museums At Night event."

Find out more here

Fusion Youth Theatre and Community Arts

 

 

The Flow Salford journey began in December 2013 when The Lowry and I were successfully awarded a BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship. It had always been a part of the application that the culmination of my fellowship would be some sort of showcase for local artists. After meeting with many Salford theatre-makers, directors, performers, writers, graduates, students, venues and lecturers my ambition for the project expanded.

I began to get other venues on board – The Kings Arms and Salford Arts Theatre – who were equally as excited about a festival of new local work as I was. We agreed that Flow would be a weekend festival celebrating the vast, the varied and the very new work being made in Salford today.  A diverse range of strictly Salford’s newest talent would take up residency across the city’s cultural landscape. We were excited about the cross-pollination of audiences this could provide as well; the opportunity to see something new in your go-to venue or venture to a different space to see something you like the sound of.

After seeing so much brilliant work in the city, I decided to make the selection process an open-call. The application wasn’t strict, but applicants had to be based in Salford, or making work in the city with a proven dedication to its cultural landscape. We received over 30 eligible applications, all of a very high standard with exciting ideas

Working with the partner venues, we finally agreed on 8 local artists.  The final line-up includes sound-specialist Manoli Moriaty working with Shona Roberts, children’s theatre company Scallywags, installation artist and performer Kate Daley, comedy sketch group Gein’s Family Giftshop, solo artists Nathan Birkinshaw, site-specific specialists Moonstruck Me, dance by Laura Fay Thomas and interactive performance from Inkblot.

We had a lot of great applications from companies with fledging ideas that we wanted to see so we’ve also curated an evening of ‘Flow Salford Snippets’. The night will give these companies the chance to perform 15 minutes of a work-in-progress to an audience and panel of experts.. These companies are 1956 Theatre, Northern Rose, Alex Summers and Fresh Loaf Productions.

Myself and the other venues involved hope that Flow will showcase Salford as hub of emerging talent. Flow Salford will encourage artists and audiences to explore the city, discover new talent and new spaces and… go with flow.

http://www.flowsalford.co.uk/

Don’t forget we are here to help you. We have designed a top tips guide to navigate you through this year’s Fellowship

 

 

 

 

 

Some questions that came up time and time again in our sessions across the country were ..

 Can we pay our fellow ?

The grant should allow the Fellow to undertake the placement without being out of pocket; for this reason the majority of the grant must be spent on per diems, accommodation and travel costs for the Fellow. 

Can they have worked for us before?

No. The Fellow must not have undertaken any paid work by the organisation in the past in any capacity. This includes co- productions and collaborative productions that were paid. We need to be strict on this rule to ensure fairness of interpretation. Anyone who has been paid any amount of money (as a salary or as a small fee) is not eligible to be your Fellow.

At what stage in their career should our Fellow be? Our Fellow is a recent graduate, are they suitable?
The Fellowship is designed for people who have shown dedication to a career in the performing arts industry. They have probably undertaken some form of internship or work experience in a professional company before, and may have had a small pieces of work shown or developed. They have a good reputation within the circle they are known in, but they need to widen this network in order to gain larger opportunities that will impact their career significantly. This Fellowship should be the bridge between emerging artist and recognised talent.

So lecture over and you can still contact us on our email performingartsfund@bbc.co.uk if you are still unsure. We know from our workshops that this year’s BBC Fellowship might not suit every organisation but we are very excited about the opportunities that these fellowships can provide.

GOOD LUCK

 

June sees the BBC PAF team take to the road in a series of briefings about the 2014 Fellowship.

We are traversing the country from Cardiff to Newcastle from Glasgow to Belfast hoping to meet you and bringing you an insight into this year’s grants scheme.

We know that many of you have questions about the application process and this is your chance to hear the Fund’s Director Miriam O’Keeffe provide her insights into this year’s Fellowship.

This year’s scheme is open to all genres in the performing arts including circus and puppetry. We know from our Inbox that many of you still have questions about whether your organisation can apply. We hope that these sessions along with the support given through our website will help with  any queries you may have.

We welcome both individuals and organisations big and small to join us at our events. Tickets can be booked here and are strictly allocated on a first come first served basis.

An email ticket must be presented on the door for access to any session.

Don’t worry if you can’t attend in person.  Our handy Tips and FAQ’S resource can be accessed through the PAF Fellowship grant page. We also urge you to read our terms and conditions as we have made some changes to this year’s scheme and we anticipate that many the answers to your questions can be found here.