What conditions do you need to thrive as a creative? A call for proposals
The deadline for this opportunity has now passed. Thank you to all those who applied! Please follow us on social media (@olddiorama), check our website regularly, or subscribe to our mailing list to find out about more opportunities here at ODAC.
ODAC is excited to launch an initiative supporting new and early-stage ideas, that develop and nurture creative communities.
Old Diorama Arts Centre is a creation centre: a shared home for the live arts, creative industries and local communities in Camden to make, explore and meet in. Celebrating the diversity of activities and people at ODAC we are launching a new initiative to support the birth of conversations, ideas and projects with funds, space and support.
We are looking to support between three and six projects - with funding of between £500 and £2000 per project - for activity taking place between now and the end of August 2022.
What are we looking to do?
We want to create an ecosystem where creativity can thrive; to play our part in providing conditions that enable artists and other creative individuals to take the lead on projects that they need.
We often see people working on different projects in our studios bumping into people they know. We want to support collaboration happening in the building, between existing connections - and those yet to be made. We are looking to fund and support small-scale or early-stage projects that spark connections or test new ways of working. We hope this programme will enable the development of a flourishing creative ecosystem in and around ODAC, for the creative communities that we support.
There are numerous programmes which support theatre makers putting a show together and ODAC will be launching some of those too, but this is not that.
What can ODAC offer?
We have put together a customisable package of support, and can offer:
Money - we have a pot of money to allocate, between £500 and £2000 per project. We want these funds to pay people properly for their time and buy any resources needed.
Space - free of charge Studio space, work space and/or event space at ODAC.
Support - from ODAC’s staff team, including marketing assistance, event organising, and access to ODAC’s professional and creative networks.
Next steps - We’re seeing these as starting points. ODAC will work with you on what the next steps could be, and we ask that you commit to keeping ODAC as a partner if the plans take off.
What kind of proposals are we looking for?
We’re excited by open-ended research, trying things out for the first time, taking risks and seeing what happens without pressure. We hope that these funds and support will enable people to work with one another in a way which otherwise might not have been possible. Maybe it’s something small that you’ve had in the back of your mind for a while, or perhaps it’s the early stages of a big project that would need a second phase of development.
Projects could include, but are by no means limited to:
Networking or connection-building events or projects
Conversations or discussion formats
Professional development opportunities for a specific group of creatives
Establishing new gathering point, peer-support networks or clubs
Events or projects (or R&D towards) that would bring communities together at ODAC
Developing new models for how the arts and creative industries should be
Putting in place new support structures or best practices for your sector
Starting an activist group
Research projects
Publishing a zine
Turning that complaint you have into something to change it
Something else entirely!
ODAC’s creative community encompasses all kinds of arts workers and aficionados, including (in no particular order), production team, directors, choreographers, writers, runners, producers, casting directors and assistants location managers, production managers, stage managers, fine artists, actors, photographers, videographers, arts administrators, marketeers, puppeteers, musicians, technicians, designers, teachers, improvisers, facilitators, workshop leaders, and many many more.
We want to hear from everyone, especially those for whom there might not usually be programmes to support. It helps if you define as ‘creative’ but we don’t mind if you are professional or not. Priority will be given to local Camden residents, but we know that ODAC’s creative community is spread far and wide. You can apply as an individual, group or company - you don’t need to be formally constituted in any way.
Priority will be given to projects which address needs amongst creative communities that have been historically underserved or marginalised by our organisation and sector.
How to Apply
Send an email to Miranda Shamiso, Collaboration Facilitator miranda@olddiorama.com with:
Your full name and pronouns
Your answers to these questions:
Who are you and what do you do?
What is your idea and which community is it for?
Who else would be involved?
How much money would you need (an itemised budget for how much your idea or project would cost, including paying you and your collaborators a minimum of London Living Wage for their time - or freelance rates as appropriate)
When do you want it to happen?
If you have worked with or at ODAC previously, please tell us how.
Where do you live?
The application can be in whichever form suits you e.g written, video, voicenote or any other format you could use to convey your idea or project (in 300-500 words)
Please fill in this Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form too.
WHAT’S THE SELECTION PROCESS?
The selection panel will be made up of members of the ODAC team and a few freelance creatives.
DATES:
Applications open on Thursday 7th April | close at 6pm Friday 6th May
Decisions will be made by Friday 13th May
Ideas and projects will be funded to happen before the end of August 2022.
ACCESSIBILITY
Below is a voice recorded version of this article:
If any aspect of this process is not accessible to you, please let us know and we'll do our best to adapt it. Also do get in touch if you have any questions.
Please feel welcome to share this opportunity with your contacts. We are looking forward to receiving your applications!
Our plans at ODAC are a work in progress. We are open to your questions and suggestions. We are keen to learn by doing, to hear what conditions creative individuals need and to respond to this.
