CONTINUOUS BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Gateshead) and Siobhan Davies Dance (SDD London) are delighted to announce CONTINUOUS, a new partnership initiative commencing May 2018. Our collaboration seeks to advance the creation, presentation and development of audiences for experimental independent contemporary dance. We will use our combined experience as leaders in our fields of practice to support the development of new experimental dance practice within a visual arts context. Our partnership begins with two CONTINUOUS Commissions for new dance works to be made at BALTIC and SDD, performed at BALTIC and tour to other venues across the UK. Deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is STRICTLY 23:59 on Wednesday 20 June. We will not be able to accept applications submitted after this time. SUMMARY Our new joint commissioning model will see the two selected dance artists or choreographers offered the opportunity to create an ambitious new work and to exchange knowledge with the staff of SDD and BALTIC. This supports our aim for artists and organisations to learn from one another about how to create the best conditions for making and presenting dance in a gallery context, and for engaging audiences. We also wish to share that knowledge with colleagues and the public. Selected artists will each be hosted at the CONTINUOUS Studio at BALTIC and at Siobhan Davies Studios for up to 7 weeks of making. Practitioners will be supported and have access to both organisations, keeping artists at the centre of this collaborative approach. These first commissions will premiere at BALTIC in Autumn 2019 before touring nationwide. We launch our programme at this particular moment in order to support diverse practice amongst dance practitioners and create new audiences for experimental dance. Through our combined working we seek to create a legacy through professional development and critical dialogue, creating capacity for this hybrid practice for both dance practitioners and visual arts galleries. Both organisations aim to be leaders nationally and internationally in creating and presenting work at the intersection of dance and visual art, and in generating audience engagement and critical dialogue. Siobhan Davies Dance s significant work in this area has included touring work for galleries most recently material / rearranged / to / be; it s three-year Dance Artist / Curator Mentorship Scheme; the Creative Europe collaborative project Dancing Museums; and the publication Who Cares? Dance in the Gallery and Museum. BALTIC launched a new strand of
programming in October 2016 with BALTIC Live, presenting live art and experimental dance and bringing innovative work to the North East such as Jack Webb s THE END and Gillie Kleiman s Recreation. All of these have raised questions about the value of these appearances and encounters and about the opportunities and challenges visual arts contexts present for dance and choreography. WHAT WE ARE OFFERING We will produce 2 commissions to be performed at BALTIC in Autumn 2019 and subsequently tour to UK and international venues (subject to additional funding to be raised by SDD and partners). The commission will include: Up to 23,000 support including: An artist fee of 6200 incl. VAT Travel budget of up to 3500 Up to 11,300 support toward additional performers and their travel and other production costs (to be mutually agreed with BALTIC and SDD) Additional in-kind support including: 7 weeks of in-kind rehearsal space at BALTIC and SDD Curatorial and production support from BALTIC and SDD Marketing and documentation Tour booking and production (subject to additional funding) Access to BALTIC and SDD networks Assistance with additional fundraising (this is not required) WHAT WE EXPECT FROM SELECTED ARTISTS This opportunity is both a commission to create an ambitious new work and an opportunity to exchange knowledge with the staff of SDD and BALTIC. This supports our aim for artists and organisations to learn from one another about how to create the best conditions for making and presenting dance in a gallery context, and for engaging audiences. We also wish to share that knowledge with colleagues and the public. New Work Developed through genuine engagement with BALTIC and SDD Can be durational or a fixed duration Can take place in a gallery, a public space within BALTIC, or BALTIC s performance space Should be able to adapt to other touring locations Should include one or more performers, which can include the choreographer and/or other performers Created through min 4 weeks at BALTIC and up to 3 weeks at SDD
Shared Learning Will include knowledge exchange around topics including production, presentation, access, curation, communications, audience engagement and critical / intellectual frameworks Will be documented and shared publicly and with professional colleagues through the duration of the engagement using means to be determined in dialogue between the artists, SDD and BALTIC Other Activities As this opportunity is part of a significant learning process for all, selected artists may be invited to participate in other activities with Siobhan Davies Dance and BALTIC. These may include audience engagement work, sharing of work in progress, participation in closed and open evaluation and skills-sharing activities. These activities may be subject to additional fundraising and be recognised with additional fees for selected artists. SELECTION CRITERIA Our primary concern is with the rigour of the artist s practice and the artist s interest and enthusiasm for working in a visual art context, evidenced by expression of interest. Previous experience of working in galleries as a performer or choreographer is not required. We are committed to recognising the value of practices reflecting a range of backgrounds. We are inviting artists with different skills, experiences and voices to join us. We actively encourage applications from those who consider themselves as having a minority representation in this field. Eligibility: Open to independent dance artists and choreographers whose professional practice is based anywhere in the UK (including Northern Ireland) Artists of all ages 21+ can apply. There is no upper age limit Applicants should have an established practice in dance and/or choreography evidenced by minimum 3 years of professional activity. Formal dance or choreographic training not required Dance artists / choreographers may perform in their work but this is not required Collectives or duos may apply. If selected, would work with SDD and BALTIC producers to allocate commission support appropriately This opportunity is for independent artists We are looking for dance artists / choreographers who have: An established and ambitious practice evidencing commitment, risk-taking and well-developed ideas An interdisciplinary, collaborative and/or research-led approach to their practices
A demonstrable interest in creating and presenting work in a gallery context, and in understanding and influencing the conditions for this A strong rationale for undertaking this programme at this stage of their career for working with BALTIC and SDD in particular; for being involved in both commissioning and knowledge exchange Enthusiasm for audiences and public engagement Interest in documenting and evaluating their working process and sharing this with colleagues and the public SELECTION PROCESS Expression of Interest: Complete the expression of interest form available here. The deadline is STRICTLY 23:59 on Wednesday 20 June 2018. You do not need to propose a specific project we want you to develop your ideas through a genuine dialogue with us. We would like to get a sense of your practice in general, the questions and concerns likely to be your focus over the next year, and your interest in working with us in this way. Shortlisting: Applications will be shortlisted by: Siobhan Davies, Artistic Director, SDD; Katie Hickman, Assistant Curator; BALTIC; Sarah Munro, Director, BALTIC; Lauren Wright, Programme Director, SDD Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 13 July 2018. Final selection: Selection will take place at BALTIC on 24 July 2018. Attendance on this date is very important; if you anticipate being unable to attend in person on this date, please let us know why in your application. We may not be able to accommodate alternate arrangements. Finalists will be offered up to 120 in travel expenses and a fee of 200 for attending the selection day. Selection will involve facilitating a short participatory activity for members of SDD and BALTIC staff and the other shortlisted artists, as well as a conversation with a group of selectors. Selectors will include: Anita Clark, Director, The Work Room; Siobhan Davies, Artistic Director, SDD; Katie Hickman, Assistant Curator, BALTIC; Sarah Munro, Director, BALTIC; Freddie Opoku-Addaie, artist, choreographer, performer and educator; Lauren Wright, Programme Director, SDD Successful candidates will be notified within one week of the selection day.
Please direct any questions about CONTINUOUS Commissions or the application process to Judith Ward, Programme Coordinator, SDD, judithw@siobhandavies.com Respecting your privacy and safeguarding your data BALTIC is committed to upholding your privacy and taking care of your personal data. This declaration outlines what, why and how BALTIC collects and stores your personal data securely in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (25 May 2018). As part of your application we request personal data from you to allow BALTIC to evaluate your application, and to communicate with you about your submission. This data will not be shared with any third parties or transferred without your explicit consent. The application data is collected and stored on a third party platform called Submittable. This data may be downloaded to assist with the evaluation process; if downloaded it will be stored on BALTIC s or Siobhan Davies Dance secure servers. Personal data of unsuccessful candidates will be deleted from Submittable once the selection has concluded; data of successful candidates will only be stored for a maximum of six months unless there is a legitimate interest to do so. BALTIC s Library & Archive may retain some data for archival purposes if of cultural significance. See here for BALTIC's current privacy policy. This policy will be updated by 25 May. Click here for Siobhan Davies Dance current privacy policy. Siobhan Davies Dance staff who are involved in the selection process will have access to this data for the purposes of evaluating entries between 22 May and 25 July 2018.