Call for submissions: ‘Camden NoW!’ commissions
The deadline for this programme has now closed - thank you to everyone who applied. Please follow our social media and sign up for our mailing list to hear about future opportunities!
2022: The pandemic enters its next phase. War in Europe. The world is heating up, misinformation spreads, and a cost-of-living crisis is upon us. And on Drummond Street, you can still find the best bhel poori this side of Mumbai.
If you were offered £10K, production support, and a platform in the heart of Camden, what would you use it to say?
Camden People’s Theatre (CPT) and Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) invite artists resident in Camden to fast-track new theatre and performance projects addressing life in Camden, London or the world – right now. We’re looking for small-scale contemporary theatre ideas with urgent things to say – to be made this year with performances at CPT in December.
Securing funding in the arts is harder than ever and requires longer and longer to plan. So: what would you make if you could make a show now and present it this year? What needs to be said, and who needs to be saying it?
Camden Now! is the first iteration of a new partnership, ‘Developed on Drummond Street’, between neighbours ODAC and CPT, which will explore new ways of making work in Camden, with and for Camden residents.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking from new, topical ideas from artists working in theatre and performance who are resident in the London Borough of Camden, and ideally speak to issues and audiences local to the area. (If you are applying as a company, at least one of your core team must live here.)
We want proposals primarily in the field of devised and collaboratively made contemporary theatre and performance – although we’re open to considering proposals incorporating other forms including live poetry, live art, dance, comedy. We’re not looking for writer-led plays, or revivals of old shows. We prioritise innovation and experimentation in form, and welcome some element of topicality and local relevance. We’re looking for projects that need to be made now, and where both artists and audiences will benefit from this rapid production timeline.
In acknowledgment of the significant barriers to professional participation in theatre, we welcome applications from artists from the Global Majority, Deaf and disabled artists, and artists from working-class backgrounds – and from other backgrounds marginalised in the arts.
The projects need to be of a realistic scale to be fully made and performed in the studios and theatre of ODAC and CPT for the commissioning fee provided. You need to be able to produce the show yourself (with our help). Projects should be new, and should not have received significant support or development time elsewhere. This commission is designed to cover or substantially contribute to your full creation and production costs. Proposals must not be dependent on as-yet-unsecured additional funding from other sources.
WHAT WE’RE OFFERING
£10,000 commission fee, to cover costs of creating and producing your show
Up to 6 weeks of rehearsal space at ODAC between July and December 2022.
A run of performances at CPT in early December 2022.
Dedicated producing support from CPT’s in-house producer
Mentoring from the CPT and ODAC teams; marketing support in advance of public performances; community engagement support where appropriate; technical support; support with access needs.
HOW TO APPLY
The application is a two-stage process: first, submit answers to our questions about you and your project; then, there’ll be an informal interview for a small number of applicants. The selection process will involve staff of CPT and ODAC, alongside invited representatives from Camden communities.
To apply, please send us your answers to the following questions. The application can be in whichever form suits you e.g written, video, voicenote.
Who are you / your company? (up to 200 words)
What have you made before? (up to 200 words)
What is your idea for the commission? (up to 300 words)
How would you describe your relationship with Camden? (up to 100 words)
Please submit the residential addresses of your lead artistic team (at least one of these should be in London Borough of Camden).
Please confirm that you have availability in your working schedule to create and perform the show this year.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to present a budget for the show ahead of interview.
To apply in written format, please submit your application using the form here (it will not save your answers before you submit (so please prepare them in advance). Please also fill in the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form.
To apply in another format, please email your application to artists@cptheatre.co.uk
Applications will be open Fri 13 May – Monday 27th June (this has been extended from 13th June)
If you have any questions about this callout or your project, email Daniel on daniel@olddiorama.com
An audio version of the call for submissions:
The Camden NoW! commission is generously supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for Camden People’s Theatre, and Old Diorama Arts Centre.
