Scratch Bursary: First Steps (Touring)

We’re partnering with Doorstep Arts and Villages in Action to offer a bursary to support original theatre for young audiences in Devon, as part of our artist development programme, Elevate.

Who is this bursary for?

‘Young audiences’ are defined as: children aged 0 – 5, 5 – 11, or young people aged 11 – 16 or 16 – 25. This targeted bursary aims to deepen the quality of work that is available for families and young audiences in Devon, and to provide progression support to exciting artists regionally who are keen to grow their practice and make work.

We will provide support for exciting ideas for performances which honour children’s creative and critical potential, and for artists who are making work which respects children and young people’s intelligence, capacity, and active agency.

Photo of three actors stood side-by-side with one arm raised and the other on their hearts. One wears brown overalls, another a yellow dress, another green and cream patchwork robes. In the background: a brown peg-board set and a giant pin cushion, spool of thread, and tin of shoe polish.
Photo by Craig Fuller

How does it work?

Funded by Arts Council England, Exeter City Council, the University of Exeter, Doorstep Arts, Exeter Northcott and Villages in Action, this bursary will offer the selected artist or company support to further develop a piece of theatre for young audiences. This support comes in three forms:

  1. Time, advice, mentorship and producing support from the Doorstep Arts, Exeter Northcott, and Villages in Action teams. This includes up to five free days of rehearsal space at Exeter Northcott’s Barnfield Theatre, subject to availability.
  2. First Steps bursary for touring, up to £800, which will be granted to an exceptional proposal where work requires resource for travel costs, production design, or touring. This bursary is granted to work that shows potential to move beyond scratch stage and into an extended life. It is vital that the performance is suitable for flexible spaces; it should be light/agile and easy to tour into spaces without theatre infrastructure, i.e. village halls or school halls.
  3. Through Village in Action’s From Devon with Love programme, and our Elevate programme, further performance opportunities may be provided for successful applicants to share or tour work in development across (primarily rural) Devon.
Photo of four children stood side-by-side in a wood-panelled studio, laughing and clapping.
Northcott Young Company: photo by Lillie Sherry

How to apply

This opportunity is now closed. To be notified when it reopens, please become an Elevate member and sign-up to receive emails.

Become an Elevate Member
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please get in touch.
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