Support for Ambition

Creative Practitioners

Creative practitioners living and working in Dumfries & Galloway, or who have a significant on-going connection with region, can apply to the SfA fund for any amount up to a maximum of £3,000.

Dates

2020-2027

Through its Support for Ambition (SfA) scheme, Arts D&G supports regionally based creative performing arts practitioners to develop their artistic vision, and technical skills and working practices. Artists based in Dumfries & Galloway and working in the following disciplines – theatre, music, dance, film, spoken word and comedy – can apply for SfA seed funding to begin the development of new projects, and/or to develop new relevant skills, or to hone existing expertise.

Application forms available: Monday 2^ndFebruary
Deadline for applications: Monday 16^thMarch, 10.00am
Decisions announced by : Friday 27th March

Projects start after: Monday 20th April

Our Selection Process

Our selection panel will consist of ARTS D&G Director & CEO and Up Yer Airts’ Producer, and an independent performing arts practitioner and/or programmer working in the region. Based on the information an applicant provides we will discuss each submission in detail and assess them on the following criteria with a points-based system:

The merit of the proposal – given a practitioner’s track record to date, how successfully will they be able to deliver it, and/or how beneficial to their working practice will a request for funds to develop skills be?

How realistic is the proposal’s timeframe and what the applicant wishes to achieve?

Is the budget realistic and is everyone paid appropriately?

If relevant, at the end of a proposal’s timeframe, what is its potential for future development, both for the applicant and potentially for the wider performing arts sector?

What we fund

We are interested in applications which describe clearly how a period of focused time-limited research and exploration would enable you to begin to realise a brilliant creative idea, or how developing new technical understanding and confidence would help you to advance your performing arts career further.

You may want to work with a dramaturg or writer, or a musician or choreographer; you may want to attend a summer school or training course; you may wish to shadow a fellow practitioner whose methods and output you have always admired – this fund exists to provide support for specific, defined stages of your creative journey.

In addition, if a successful applicant requests it, we also offer informal bespoke mentorship and wellbeing support, as well as tickets to attend events our organisation presents. This assistance might, for example, help an emerging or early career performing arts practitioner develop their understanding of and engagement with the cultural sector, or facilitate an established artist to make a significant step change in their working practice.

SfA will support the following costs

Fees for your time and that of your collaborators (All personnel involved in your application, including yourself, should be remunerated at the least at minimum ITC/Equity/Musicians Union, or other relevant trade bodies’ rates)
Relevant technical costs
Rehearsal venue, studio or equipment hire
Masterclass, training and/or workshop fees
Relevant travel, accommodation and per diem expenditure.

What we do not fund

Costs which in any way relate to the latter developmental stages of a full production
A practitioner’s or organisation’s ongoing running costs
Submissions which form part of a larger application to any of Creative Scotland’s funding schemes.

How to apply

To apply, you must complete the application form below, along with the accompanying confidential anonymised equalities and diversity monitoring form.

Applications must be sent to info@dgartsfestival.org.uk before the deadline.

Please send your application as a pdf. All applications submitted will be acknowledged and each applicant will be informed of the outcome of their submission. If you require the application form in another format, or require support or assistance, please contact us: info@dgartsfestival.org.uk