Theatre / News
Bristol Old Vic triples funding for new commissions
Ferment, Bristol Old Vic’s artist development department, has announced plans to triple its commissioning budget for new work.
The announcement is part of the company’s revamped commitment to freelance and independent artists across the South West, on the programme’s tenth anniversary.
After two years of conversation and learning with artists across the region, the revamped model hopes to respond to the urgent and evolving needs of the industry’s freelance and independent creative sector.
is needed now More than ever
Ben Atterbury, Bristol Old Vic’s New Work producer hopes the programme will “guide [artists and companies] development, back their ambition and commit to presenting their work.”
Supported by the John Ellerman Foundation, the Ferment recent successful productions include Wild Swimming by FullRogue.
The investment will allow Bristol Old Vic to commit to more funding, more skilled collaboration and longer runs.
The revamped Ferment programme will be organised into three main strands of activity:
- ‘Development, Commissioning and Co-Producing’ will see the company triple its commissioning budget and co-producing three or four projects with artists and companies per year, as well as eight to twelve smaller development commissions – the Commissioning Round for this opened on June 16 and will close on July 15.
- ‘Targeted Projects’ will offer structured and bespoke support to tackle specific needs from the artistic community, through writing and producing to offstage roles and beyond.
- ‘The Ferment Forum’ is the company’s ongoing free, open, accessible network of artists, currently with over 600 members, aiming to engage communication and mutual support for artists across the South West
The latest Ferment supported work is the co-production Outlier, written and performed by Malaika Kegode with original music written and performed by Jakabol.
Main photo: Paul Blakemore
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