Creative Arts East: Plugged In – Existing Work Call Out

A New Digital / Live Hybrid Engagement Project for Rural Audiences 

There is a video reading of this call-out with subtitles on both the Creative Arts East YouTube channel and on the Plugged In page on our website. 

What is Plugged In?

Plugged In is a new project run by arts and community development charity Creative Arts East. The project will work specifically with artists who feel that their voice and story may be under-represented amongst rural audiences, to create a range of digital and/or live performance work along with connected community engagement activities. The project’s aims are:

• To support performance artists with protected characteristics to have greater understanding of, and access to, rural audience demographics and distribution opportunities.
• To upgrade and diversify the portfolio of work available for the rural creative circuit and its audiences. 
• To engage new audiences in the digital world.
• To broaden the cultural ambitions and horizons of existing rural audiences.

To find out more about the wider work of Creative Arts East, visit www.creativeartseast.co.uk. 

What Are We Looking For?

3 existing/adaptable works with accompanying engagement work – from any artists with protected characteristics.

Performances

Work should be appropriate for digital, live viewing, or a combination of both! With the pandemic changing the way that audiences consume art and creativity, we want to work with artists who can think outside the box and understand the need for flexibility in the current climate.  We are not specifically seeking recordings of full existing performances for online viewing.  Episodic work, short digital performances or live streams are more likely to be successful.

Engagement with Communities

As well as completed pieces of work, a big part of this project will be inclusive creative engagement activities that can run in conjunction with your work. We would like you to think about any additional enhancement activities you could offer to build intrigue and engagement in both your performance and the project. This activity could be in-person or digital workshops, creative activities, behind-the-scenes, Q&As, postal packs, whatever fits with both the project aims and your work.  We want the project to feel as much of a shared experience between audience and performer as possible.

Work that will be considered

• Work that already exists but would be re-worked specifically for this project.
• Work that already exists but will have new engagement activities developed.
• Work that is in development and can be aligned to the outcomes of this project.
• These funds cannot be used to extend the reach of a pre-existing piece of work that is already freely available to the public.

Who Can Apply?

This project is specifically for performance artists (theatre makers, poets, writers, dancers, musicians etc) – both collective and individual – who consider themselves to have characteristics protected by the 2010 Equality Act. Following an audit of our existing and previous portfolio of work, our focus for the next few years is on diversifying our work within the following protected characteristic areas: Disability, Race, and Sexual Orientation. 

We wholeheartedly welcome and anticipate applications from any artist who feels that their voice and story may be under-represented amongst rural audiences to apply with existing work. This includes artists from all backgrounds, particularly those of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, artists identifying as LGBTQIA+ and artists who have a disability or other protected characteristics. Artists must be over the age of 18 and based in the UK.

Key Information

Number of shows: We will be selecting 3 pieces of work that already exist. We also have 2 commissions available as part of the project – details can be found on our website.

Timeline: Activity will take place between September 2021 – January 2022.

Budget: The total fee (including VAT) is £1100 per show (this needs to include the engagement activities).

Access funds: Additional funds are available for any access assistance that participating artists may require during their work for the project.

Accessibility for audiences: Funds are also available for the incorporation of BSL, captioning or any other access support features for work produced through the project that may not already have these incorporated.

We will also be offering further training and development opportunities as part of the project, including Rural Touring surgeries for newcomers to the circuit.

If you have any questions about applying for Plugged In, or would like this submission brief in another format, please get in touch with Karen Jeremiah via karen@creativeartseast.co.uk.

We are also offering short 30 minute advice surgeries on the following dates: 21^st, 24^th and 29^th June – you can book your slot here.

Deadline for Submissions: Friday 9^th July 2021

How to Apply

Applications can be made via an online form here.

Alternatively, you can submit a video application of up to 8 minutes. This should be sent as a link to karen@creativeartseast.co.uk.

Video Submissions

If you are submitting a video, please ensure you cover the following in your application:

• Your name, company name and title of work
• About the show – please try to include the following:

• Themes
• Art form
• Target audience
• Audience experience
• Delivery format
• Duration

• Details of the engagement activity
• Costs and rough breakdown for show / activities
• Provide any additional links to videos, website, reviews – please include these in the accompanying email.

We aim to respond to all applicants by 26^th July.

Please note that due to the expected volume of applications, we may not be able to give individual feedback.