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Looping the Loop’s open call commission and micro-commission 2024

Looping the Loop is looking to commission two Thanet artists to experiment with ideas in a nurturing environment.

 

Starting in September, these artistic experiments will benefit from a live sharing during Making More Waves taking place 7 - 18 November, a festival that celebrates and supports talented artists of Kent and Essex, in partnership with ARK.

 

The recipients of these open call commissions will join artists Susan Crothers (commission) and Titchy Tall Tales (micro-commission), selected from last year’s Making More Waves’ scratches and micro-commissions.

 

We believe in empowering artists and giving them the space to flourish.

 

We are interested in partnering with artists/companies working in any form of live performance and who are interested in connecting with local communities.

 

Gathering people for a shared experience is important for us. We are curious about ways to do this both physically and digitally. We are interested in hybrid projects that blend artforms and can appeal to new audiences.

 

We are particularly interested in work that explores one, some, or all the following questions:

 

  • Can touring be environmentally sustainable?

  • How can we connect more deeply with the people in our places?

 

We want to support creative ideas and processes that speak to some of these ideas and have accessibility embedded in them.

 

We seek works that resonate deeply with the people of our community, leaving them moved and inspired, whether through moments of laughter, tears, dance, or a call to action. Your artistic voice has the power to make a difference. We are excited to witness the beauty you bring into the world.

 

“The micro commission was incredibly helpful to me because that investment of money and support was just what I needed. It bought me time to play and write and experiment, and the result was evident in the feedback from the audience. Financial investment is essential for experimentation, it is vital for artist esteem.” Susan Crothers, micro-commission artist 2023, commission artist 2024.

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MORE DETAIL AND BUDGET INFORMATION

Micro-commission

 

£500 is available per micro-commission. It can be spent however you see fit.

 

There is no expectation for you to create a finished product. We know the budget doesn't allow for that. We recognise the lack of seed funding and hope this micro-commission can help you unlock more funding.

 

We are looking for brand-new ideas or a work you haven’t explored publicly before.

 

Artistic and production mentoring from Looping the Loop Directors and Producer will be available and agreed upon depending on the artists' needs and Looping the Loop capacity. This should also be the beginning of a conversation towards a larger commission in 2025 and possibly other opportunities, particularly with our partners One Degree East and Applause.

 

The live sharing at Making More Waves can be in any format as long as it is in front of our audience. It can be a short piece, a talk, a film, or anything more innovative.

 

You will be required to attend the Making More Waves workshop and panel discussion as a participant on Friday 8 November.

 

Commission

 

£2,000 is available per commission. 

 

It can be spent however you see fit, however we would hope that it allows you to pay yourself and people you’re working with, and that this commission can help you unlock more funding, or is just the extra you needed to complete funding you already have in place.

 

Artistic and production mentoring from Looping the Loop Directors and Producer will be available and agreed depending on the artists' needs and Looping the Loop capacity. Our ambition is to keep mentoring you past Making More Waves and possibly unlock other opportunities, particularly with our partners One Degree East and Applause.

 

Although we are not expecting a polished show, there is a requirement to present a live sharing at Making More Waves with a partially developed performance.

 

You will be required to attend the Making More Waves workshop and panel discussion as a participant on Friday 8 November. the 8th of November.

TIMELINE

 

The application process for the micro commission and commission will run as follows:

 

10 June: Applications open

3 July @ 9 am: Drop-in online surgery for applicants

8 July @ 2.30 pm: Drop-in online surgery for applicants

14 July: Deadline to submit your application

24 July: Interview with shortlisted applicants

29 July: Micro-commission and commission announced

8-17 Nov: Making More Waves

13 Dec: Micro-commissions and Commissions end


 

ELIGIBILITY

 

To be eligible, you must:

 

  • Live in Thanet

  • Be a member of the Performing Arts Collective Thanet (PACT) - you can sign up HERE


 

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

 

Your application must be submitted on Google Forms:

 

For micro-commission, submit HERE

For commission, submit HERE

 

Applications close at 11:59 pm on 14 July.

 

You can submit your application as either written text (up to 700 words), an audio file (up to 5 minutes), or a video file (up to 5 minutes).

 

Your application must address the following points:

 

What is your project idea? Please tell us about the creative idea for your project. What artform are you working in? Are there any collaborators you are working with? What stage of development is the work at?

 

Please tell us how you would like to connect with people in Thanet.

 

How does your project respond to one or both of the following questions:

 

  • Can touring be environmentally sustainable?

  • How can we connect more deeply with the people in our places?

 

Tell us how you have considered or plan to embed accessibility in your work.

 

Let us know how this micro-commission/commission would help you and what support you would like to receive from Looping the Loop besides the financial contribution. 

 

For the Commission we will want to know how you’re planning to spend the money.

 

You must also share a link to one example of previous work. These could be previous projects and/or examples of the project you are applying with. We welcome links to videos, webpages, or files to download.

 

We will also ask for your name, contact details, and monitoring information. No personal data will be shared with anyone other than those working at Looping the Loop.

 

No feedback will be available at the application stage.

Feedback will be available at the interview stage.

 

If applying via Google forms is not accessible to you, please get in touch with our Producer, Estelle, at estelle.loopingtheloop@gmail.com to discuss alternative access options with you.

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