Associate Artist Callout - Seed Commission and Creative Incubator

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of New Earth Theatre, we have set up a 9-month incubator with six partner venues.

We are looking for six British East and Southeast Asian artists/companies who are interested in using a heritage artform in their modern theatre practice. Each artist will receive £2,000, mentoring in fundraising, marketing, and creative development, and a residency in a leading theatre venue.

How to Apply :

Read the application pack below, and fill in the application form by 23:59 Wednesday 5th February 2025. In your application, be sure to mention why your chosen venue is a good match for your work.

Key Application Information :

• You can apply for more than one venue.  However, we are keen that artists create a network useful to the location where they live and work.

• You will work towards presenting a piece or extract between 15-30 minutes.

• Exact performance dates are TBC - but will take place w/c 1 Sept 2025 at Bush Theatre and w/c 22 Sept 2025 at Leeds Playhouse.

• The £2000 is a seed fund amount that we encourage you to find match funding for with the support of New Earth Theatre and partners.

FAQ Artist Incubator Application :

1.How do you define a heritage artform?

The artform needs to originate from an ESEA culture, or be connected to it, and we are looking for artforms that can be performed in a theatre.

2.Can I work with collaborators who are not BESEA?

Yes, if the team is majority BESEA (at least 50%) and the team is BESEA - led. 

3.Can we present a mix of cultures?

Yes, but the festival celebrates BESEA culture and the roots whence we came, if your project fits this you may pitch a mix of cultures.

4.A heritage artform is not usually part of my artistic practice, but I would like to take this call out as an opportunity to connect to my roots and explore this part of my artistic identity - can I apply?

Yes, please do. We are open to theatre companies / artists exploring heritage forms in their narrative theatre work for the first time.  We are also providing a match-making service if you'd like to collaborate with artists with experience working in heritage forms.

5. I am an expert in a heritage artform but I have never done theatre, can I apply?

Yes, please do.  We are open to heritage artists / companies exploring theatre for the first time, but be aware that we are looking for "narrative pieces", work that follows a story, rather than a concert or workshop. We are also providing a match-making service if you'd like to collaborate with artists with experience working in narrative theatre.  

We are offering a match-making Zoom for anyone who is looking for collaborators (either those with more heritage art knowledge or more theatre experience).

We will open our Zoom on: Wed 15 Jan 1-2pm and Wed 22 Jan 1-2pm

Please email admin@newearththeatre.org.uk if you would like to attend

We look forward to receiving your applications!