Artists taking the lead is a project that challenges artists to use the nation as a blank canvas and they’re offering a £500,000 commission to make it happen. To quote the official website:
We are looking for great ideas for commissions to take place in each of the nine English regions, making their mark on the cultural landscape in 2012 and beyond. The selected commissions will showcase the best of our nation’s creativity and celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games across the UK.
They’re offering artists:
- nine commissions of up to £500,000, one in each of the English regions (including the West Mids)
- a development grant of up to £5,000 for each of the shortlisted artists, to turn their ideas into finished proposals
- the chance to be profiled in the national campaign promoting the 12 commissions as the best of our nation’s creativity
They’re looking for “original ideas for projects in any artform” which clearly could incorporate dance in some way, so get thinking and think big.
To find out more you can attend one of the briefing sessions being run by Arts Council West Midlands. The dates and locations for those are:
- 17 April 2009 – 10:30 at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, Birmingham
- 21 April 2009 – 14:00 at the Courtyard, Hereford
- 29 April 2009 – 10:00 at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
If you’d like to attend a session you’ll need to book your (free) place. Send your name, contact details and the date you’d like to attend to louisa.griffiths@artscouncil.org.uk or call Louisa on 0121 631 5737.
