Call Out to D/deaf and Disabled Artists (Paid Opportunity)

Application Deadline: Tuesday 7th May, 2024, 5 pm

We invite performers (theatre, dance, circus), musicians, composers, spoken word artists, writers, poets, visual and digital artists to apply.

We are looking for up to four artists from a variety of disciplines, to be part of an artist collective with writer, poet and spoken word artist Ellen Renton, to create new works based on the exploration of Paralympic and Disability Arts archives in Buckinghamshire. The project is called Archive STORIES. We are particularly keen to hear from artists based in Buckinghamshire or neighbouring counties or artists with a strong connection to Buckinghamshire.

Archive STORIES coincides with this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris and forms part of Buckinghamshire Culture’s new season of STORIES, a pilot season of events and activities taking place across Buckinghamshire between May and November 2024.

Please see our Call Out form for more information and to apply. This link contains all the details that you need to know in advance of an application and a form to gather your application responses. Please click here to apply https://forms.gle/uWNSfh5zypCcYiJr8

You can also download the Call Out document, as either a Word or PDF via our website https://buckinghamshireculture.org/news/

For further information or assistance please email: Ursula White (Engagement Producer) [email protected]

How To Apply

Application deadline: Tuesday 7th May 2024, 5 pm

For information, assistance please email: Ursula White (Buckinghamshire Culture Engagement Producer) at [email protected]

To apply please click on this link to our Google Application Form The form will ask you to add links to CV, websites or your online portfolio. CV’s can also be emailed directly. Please also email your CV to accompany the link to your Video or sound file.

Alternatively, you can submit a Video application (this can include BSL & captions) or an Audio application. Max length 5 mins. Include your full name, access requirements, email and mobile contact details and your preferred method of contact.

Please provide confirmation of your availability for the research and presentation periods:

● w/c 17 June NDACA residency High Wycombe

● 20 – 25 Aug NPHT residency Stoke Mandeville & Aylesbury

● Oct -Nov Final exhibition/ sharing/presentation

● 21or 22 May 1st online meeting for Archive STORIES Collective

• Please tell us about yourself, your art form & practice and relevant experience (in addition to your video or recording, please send links to your CV, website/ online portfolios via email)
• What is your connection to Buckinghamshire?
• Why are you interested in this project?
• What will you bring to the project?

Shortlisting Process

Selection criteria for shortlisting will be made based on Numbers 4-7 of the information you supply. Each point will be equally weighted and scored between 1-5.

Selection of the Archive STORIES Collective shortlist will be carried out by Bucks Culture staff and project partners.

We will contact all applicants following the shortlisting process and those who have been shortlisted will be invited to a short online interview with members of the selection group. We will inform shortlisted artists of our decision after the interviews have taken place.

Following your acceptance in writing we will arrange for you to meet the other artists for the Archive STORIES 1st online session.

Background Information to inform your application

Buckinghamshire is the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement and also the home of the two significant archives of disability arts and sports: the National Disability Arts Collection & Archive and the collections and archives of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust at Stoke Mandeville. This summer the Paralympic Games are held in Paris, with its torch once again being lit in Stoke Mandeville before travelling to Paris.

Archive STORIES forms part of Buckinghamshire Culture’s pilot season of STORIES – a new programme to galvanise the power of stories to create new cultural opportunities for local people and shine a light on the rich history and life of the county. Following a period of exploration and consultation with local stakeholders, we are working with artists and communities to weave together stories of people, places, histories and future dreams to celebrate unique places and moments across the county.

We have appointed lead artist Ellen Renton to mark this moment with an invitation to collaborate with other artists and create new works in response to these archives.

STORIES is supported by Arts Council England, Buckinghamshire Council, National Paralympic Heritage Trust, Rothschild Foundation and a number of other partners.

Archive STORIES will run between May and November 2024. It will include approximately 12 days of artists’ time, spread across the following activities:

● Individual digital research of archival material

● Artist’s meetings, workshops and archive visits in June and in August

● Creation of your own and/or collective work

● Participation in the final public event/sharing of works in November 2024.

Lead artist Ellen Renton has already started investigating the digital archives and will guide the process of developing a theme or approach to investigate the archives with a collective of up to 4 other artists.

As a member of the collective you will explore newly created oral histories, digital archives, physical artefacts, artworks and documents.

The collective will meet in person during 1 week in June and 1 week in August. These residencies will involve physical visits to the NDACA archives at Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe and NPHT archives at Stoke Mandeville, Halton and Aylesbury. During each week there will be scheduled opportunities to share your insights, inspirations, connections with fellow artists and directions for further research. We anticipate 2-3 days of physical presence by collective members each week.

Outside of this period, your research and creation of work is self-guided. We will communicate and support you online at intervals as required by the work the collective wishes to develop.

There will be a final public sharing/workshop/presentation/exhibition in Oct/Nov. At this stage, we are keeping the shape and content of the final sharing deliberately open, as we want the collective to discuss and decide on its content and presentation format. It could be an exhibition, a live event, a recording, a publication or a combination of these.

We are planning the 1st online meeting of the collective on Tuesday 21 May, at 11 am or Wednesday 22 May, at 11 am.

Commission Fee

There is a fee of up to £2400 per artist available to cover time spent on the project. There is also a small travel and materials budget available.

Access - What support is available?

You will be supported by Ursula White, Engagement Producer. You will also be supported by the other artists on the project. We will work with you individually to ensure you have access to the practical support you need to take part in the interview process and project fully.

Who should apply?

Bucks Culture would like to hear from artists at any stage of their career who are keen to develop their creative practice through this project and are particularly interested in collaborative practice and what can happen when different disciplines meet. We are inviting applications from Disabled, D/deaf, or neurodivergent artists. We are particularly keen to hear from artists based in Buckinghamshire, neighbouring counties or artists with a strong connection to Buckinghamshire.

Application deadline: Tuesday 7th May, 5 pm

Interviews to be held w/c 13th May

About Lead Artist: Ellen Renton

Ellen Renton is a poet, performer, and theatremaker from Edinburgh. Since performing her own work for the first time in 2015, she has read at venues including The Scottish Parliament, The Roundhouse, Kings Place, and Leith Theatre, and at festivals such as Verve, and Norwich + Norfolk Festival. While always keeping poetry at its core, her work is varied and has included theatre, journalism, and multimedia collaborations. Ellen has previously been a commissioned artist at Buckinghamshire at the National Paralympic Heritage Trust.

Find out more: https://ellenrenton.co.uk/about/

About Buckinghamshire Culture

Buckinghamshire Culture is the creative and cultural partnership for the county, developed to drive forward the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. Building an inclusive, uplifting and supportive creative hub, we connect, build and nourish creative individuals and organisations. We share and celebrate the value of creativity and culture to everyone’s lives – embedding it across essential agendas. We harness the power of working together through collaboration and partnership, shaping joint projects that support happier and healthier lives for our residents. Together, we can better celebrate and share stories of our communities and county. Find out more: https://buckinghamshireculture.org

About NPHT

The National Paralympic Heritage Trust was established in July 2015 to protect and share British Paralympic Heritage. Find out more https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk

About NDACA

NDACA brings to life the heritage and rich history of the UK Disability Arts Movement. Find out morehttps://the-ndaca.org

About BuDs

Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) is a user-led pan-disability charity operating primarily in Buckinghamshire. Find out more https://buds.org.uk