A ‘re-set’ year of Community and Creativity
With investment from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, we can now announce ambitious plans to support and celebrate local talent through 2021! With a range of creative opportunities for artists, young people and communities to kickstart a year of change and creative renewal.
‘Everything we do is powered by the stories, ideas and creativity of the artists and communities we work with. But this year has been incredibly tough for so many people, with inequalities that have always been present brought into sharper focus by Covid. We know that access to live performance and opportunities to be creative or pursue a career in the arts aren’t the same for everyone and that’s about to get harder. Now is the time for the Northcott to tackle this with a series of meaningful interventions. We’ve seen some incredible creative projects come through during lockdown and we’re excited to build on that with these initiatives that will enable other people’s ideas and creativity to shine through and effect real change.’
Daniel Buckroyd, Artistic Director & Chief Executive
Young People
We can already count on a strong reputation for working with young people via our Young Company. Now, in order to reach a wider range of young people and to offer a more diverse mix of creative opportunities, we are inviting young people to help shape our future programme. Anyone aged between 14-21 can apply to become a Young Advisor and help the Northcott come up with ideas for new activities that can be tried out through 2021. Learn more.
We are also offering opportunities for people age 14 – 21 to produce a digital artwork or filmed piece about the change they want to see in 2021. We are looking for original creative ideas and we’re offering up to £500 worth of support to help young people bring their ideas to life online. Learn more.
‘We’re particularly keen to hear from young people who feel like their voice and ideas haven’t been heard within Devon as loudly as they should in the past. We want to help change that.’
Lisa Hudson, Producer (Children & Young People)
Creative Communities
Community groups thinking about the change they want to see or the inequalities they want to see righted we will support by matching them with a professional artist – which may be a writer, a musician, a dancer or a filmmaker – to help share stories, discover new skills and make some noise. With grants up to £5,000, projects can be ambitious. Learn more.
‘What’s important to us is responding to what communities need, so whether people have a grand plan or a modest idea, that’s fine by us. We’re particularly keen to hear from communities whose stories and voices may not have been heard previously.’
Charlotte Hanson, Head of Projects & Participation
Artists & Theatre Makers
We’re also extending our professional development programme for theatre makers, offering more opportunities for people to gain hands-on experience and develop a career in the creative sector. Northcott Futures includes: a programme of mentoring, masterclasses and production experiences for Early Career Artists; a new Technical Programme designed for those interested in a career in technical theatre including stage, flying, lighting, sound and AV; a Producers Programme for those needing specific knowledge to mount a production; and an Associate Companies Scheme for more experienced theatre makers at a pivotal moment of their career. Learn more.
Theatre makers can also apply for three new digital commissions – following the theatre’s The Time is Now commissions which launched five new works during lockdown, these £1000 commissions invite artists to reflect on what the last six months have taught us about ourselves and our society. Learn more.
We’re also announcing a new job opportunity to work with us in the role of Associate Director. Supported by Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries, this role has been created to specifically support a theatre maker from a lower socio-economic background. Learn more.
‘There continues to be a significant lack of diversity across the arts, with a pressing need to provide progression routes for talented people from backgrounds that are under-represented. We’re committed to playing our part in addressing this by putting inclusion at the heart of our recruitment processes, finding new ways to share the power and resources we have at our disposal, and fostering a working culture that is welcoming for all our team.’
Emma Stephenson, Finance & Operations Director
Audiences and artists can also look forward to an Exeter Fringe Festival in 2021.
We’ve teamed up with the Fringe team to ensure there will be a celebration of local creativity next year. The festival will collaborate with partners, venues and artists across the city with details announced soon.
Exeter Northcott Futures is kindly supported by The Noel Coward Foundation, The Idlewild Trust and The Mackintosh Foundation.
