The Theatre Arts Admin Collective is calling for applications for the 2016 Theatre Arts Admin Collective Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary – in partnership with the Baxter Theatre Centre and the Distell Foundation and supported by nearly 60 wonderful individuals from South Africa, the UK and the USA who contributed through our Thundafund campaign, supported by the Department of Arts and Culture.
This year, we are offering 4 bursaries (supported in partnership with the Baxter Theatre Centre and Distell)
The Bursary offers an emerging theatre director a mentor, a small budget, a month’s rehearsal space and a week of performance at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. It is recommended that directors work with already existing scripts as the month-long period has proved insufficient for devised work.
Previous winners of this bursary include Amy Jephta, Tara Louise Notcutt, Asanda Phewa, Leopold Senekal, Pusetso Thibedi, Kim Kerfoot, Tsepo wa-Mamatu, Thando Doni, Nicola Elliott, Lidija Marelic, Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Alan Parker, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Thenjiwe Stemela and Bulelani Mabutyana.
Previous winners have more than proven themselves over the years; Phala went on to win the Standard Bank Silver Ovation at the NAF 2015 for Kapka’s Ape. Alan Parker won an Ovation Award for Detritus. Nicola Elliott went on to win the Young Standard Bank Award for Dance and Dom Gumede won the Naledi New Voice award and his work Crepuscule went on to the Market Theatre.
“The Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary is the only opportunity of its kind in South Africa, and for a young/emerging director that makes it exceptionally valuable,” said Kim Kerfoot, one of the 2011 winners. “It is a wonderful environment in which to find yourself, full of people that want you and your work to succeed, and are willing to do everything within their power to make that happen,” he added.
The 2016 bursaries will run over four periods:
Bursary 1 – 2 May – 4 June (performances from 31 May – 4 June)
Bursary 2 – 18 July – 20 Aug (performances from 16 – 20 Aug)
Bursary 3 – 22 August – 24 Sept (performances from 20 – 24 Sept)
Bursary 4 – 24 Oct – 27 November (performances from 22 – 27 November)
The Bursary is specifically designed for emerging theatre directors who have had some experience in directing and whose passion is to have a career as a theatre director.
If you are an emerging director and would like to grab this opportunity please submit: a 1-page creative proposal, your CV (including 2 references with contact details), and an indication of your preferred date to artsadmin@mweb.co.za by Friday 19 February 2016. The bursaries will be announced on Tuesday 1 March 2016. For enquiries call 021 447 3683.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Theatre Arts Admin Collective
Built on the tenets of affordability, inclusivity and accessibility, the Theatre Arts Admin Collective is a vibrant home for local theatre practitioners – a place where they can create work, develop skills, perform, engage in dialogue and meet and work with theatre practitioners who come from diverse backgrounds, whether cultural, social, and economic or simply in skill and experience. Described as the rehearsal space of choice, the Theatre Arts Admin Collective is dedicated to creating the right environment for artists and theatre to flourish. In an industry which is culturally divided, dominated by a few voices and vastly under-supported financially, both through patronage and funding, the Theatre Arts Admin Collective strives to support, enable and provide opportunity for artists to continue developing skills, creating work and generating income. Open to fresh ideas and up for experimentation based on current trends in economic thinking, the Theatre Arts Admin Collective is an organic model and successful training ground for re-conceptualising what a theatre institution, in South Africa, can be and how it can sustain itself.
About the Baxter Theatre Centre
The Baxter Theatre Centre provides an exciting forum for the celebration of life which is the essence of live theatre, music and dance. It is one of the major live theatre venues in Cape Town and has always been at the forefront of the performing arts both as a popular venue and as a leading and award-winning producer. See www.baxter.co.za for current and future productions and initiatives.
About the Distell Foundation
Distell, one of South Africa’s premier producers of fine wines, spirits and ready to drink alcoholic beverages, has actively been supporting CSI (Corporate Social Investment) projects in communities where they have a business interest. Support is given through the Distell Foundation, by focusing on the development of the creative arts sector, especially emerging talent in the performing and visual arts. A big focus area of the foundation is the support of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevention initiatives as well as youth development programmes which lead to individuals making healthy choices in life. Remedial art therapy programmes are also supported to assist vulnerable individuals who are affected by alcohol misuse. Other focus areas include Education, Skills Development (life skills and hard skills), Job Creation, and Environmental Conservation. For more information, please visit www.distell.co.za
Artslink.co.za Account:
Gilly Hemphill
The Famous Idea
info@thefamousidea.co.za
011 706 8153
082 820 8584
Theatre Arts Admin Collective
www.theatreartsadmincollective.weebly.com