TRANS PERFORMANCE NOW PROJECT R&D GRANTS 2024-2025

Trans Performance Now project: R&D Grants, 2024-2025 (Live Theatre)

Opportunity for trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming artists and creatives based in the North East of England. Opportunity: (project website: stagingtransness.com)

In partnership with Live Theatre, Curious Arts, and Dr Rachel Hann at Northumbria University, the Trans Performance Now project is seeking applications from trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming practitioners based or working in the North East of England for an R&D Grant.

The R&D Grant will support an artist or group of artists with pre-existing production experience to develop a performance idea to pitch to producers in the future.

Ideas submitted for consideration must fulfil the following criteria:

1. Explores ‘transness’ or ‘nonbinariness’ in performance beyond strict testimony (only telling a personal story); i.e. this might extend to trans-inflected methods and techniques of working, as well as trans-orientated interpretations of characters/stories/events.

2. Previous experience of having been commissioned and/or worked with producers/venues.

3. Is created or presented by trans, nonbinary or gender nonconforming Artist(s).

4. Is a clear career development opportunity for the Artist(s).

5. Be based in or associated with the North East of England.

Selected Artists will receive the following support:

· 5 days of in-kind space and production support provide by Live Theatre to support an R&D phase.

· £10,000 grant to cover your/your collaborator’s time, production costs, and R&D related travel and accommodation.

· Mentoring from the Live Theatre Artistic Development Team and leading academic on trans performance

· Inclusion as a case study in a high-profile academic study on trans performance in the UK.

· Mentoring to be included in, and potentially write for, academic publications.

· Travel, Accommodation and Day fee for attendance at a London Symposium and Newcastle Festival.

Individuals as well as groups are welcome to apply, but the grant amount is fixed. Projects led by theatre makers/performers, designers, directors, playwrights and choreographers are encouraged to apply. The opportunity is also open to all genres of performance from live art to musicals.

Expected outcomes:

· A project outline (such as concept, basic production requirements, market, etc.) that explores transness or nonbinariness in performance that can be pitched in the future to other producers/venues. There is no expectation that a showing is offered at the end of the 5-days in the venue, but there will be a post-R&D briefing with the project lead. It is space for you to develop the idea to pitch to producers and receive mentoring, where appliable.

· Artist(s) to be Guest speaker(s) at a London symposium on Producing Trans Performance at Kings Head Theatre on 12-13 Oct 2024 (travel and accommodation covered, as well as a day fee of £350)

· Artist(s) to offer 20min sharing, as appropriate for the work, to be featured at a festival in Newcastle in June 2025 at Live Theatre (travel and accommodation covered, as well as a day fee of £350).

· Research interviews with the artist(s) conducted by the research team at Northumbria to be featured in academic articles and books.

To apply: Submissions should be no more than two sides of A4 in total plus your budget summary table, or a maximum 5-minute audio/video recording including:

· A brief artist(s) bio, including where you are currently based.

· Links to your previous work/portfolio/CV.

· A summary of your idea (400 words).

· A summary of how the commission would benefit your idea/development (400 words).

· A budget summary table of how the £10,000 grant would be spent to support your idea/development.

Contact details: Submit your application by email or Wetransfer to creative@live.org.uk by 12 noon, Monday 29 July 2024. Please use ‘R&D Grant’ followed by your idea title in the subject line.

TRANS PERFORMANCE NOW: Online Q&A with Rachel Hann on Thursday 25 July 2024. If you'd like to know more about this opportunity, ask questions, and gain some clarification on the award, please email creative@live.org.uk to express your interest in this Zoom Q&A. You will receive a link to join the session on Thursday. Thank you and we look forward to meeting you.

If you would like to apply via telephone conversation or receive admin support to complete your application, please contact creative@live.org.uk to arrange a time before the deadline.

Accessibility statements are welcomed. There will also be an in-person information session hosted at Live Theatre, see below.

Selected grant winners will be selected by representatives from Northumbria University, Live Theatre and Curious Arts.

Please direct any queries regarding this opportunity to: creative@live.org.uk

Application Dates:

Applications open: Thursday 27 June 2024

Deadline for submissions: 12 noon, Monday 29 July 2024.

Selection meeting: Wednesday 28 August 2024. Shortlisted Artists/Companies will be invited to a short meeting either in person or on Zoom/telephone. Representatives from our partners will be in attendance. You will be offered travel expenses for stage two applications (interviews).

Final outcome by: Monday 2 September 2024

Venue availability: Live Theatre has studio availability and is able to agree options after selection.

Applicants should consider travel and accommodation costs, if hoping to be based at a venue in a city where they do not live. For the R&D phase, travel and accommodation costs must be covered within your grant budget. The project can cover travel and accommodation costs to present at the London symposium in Oct 2024 and the Newcastle Festival in June 2025, as well as a day rate.