Tales Of Two Cities - new artist development programme

Tales of Two Cities is aimed at very early career theatre artists – those with a maximum of three years professional practice. It’s for individual or groups of artists interested in making theatre and developing their practice in forms other than playwriting. For artists who are finding their voice and figuring out how to articulate and focus their vision. Artists must be from or based in Cork. We want to support a new cohort of theatre makers to develop their practice in Cork city and county.

Central to the programme is the opportunity to see international work, develop international networks and receive guidance from international practitioners. The programme will involve travelling to Bristol to experience work, meeting artists based in Bristol and attending workshops by artists based in Bristol. Participating artists will receive a fee to cover their time for travel, workshops, mentorship, and development sessions. Additional flights and accommodation will be provided for time spent in Bristol.

Artists will also develop the beginnings of a new idea or project throughout the programme, supported by CMF and The Everyman, and mentored by professional practitioners. The work will be developed without the pressure of having to present anything to a public audience. This is an opportunity to assimilate, to dream, and to begin to create something, whilst being influenced or excited by the work of international practitioners.

We welcome applications from all early career theatre artists based in Cork and we would like to encourage applications from members of groups who are underrepresented in the arts sector, including Asian, Black people, People of Colour, people with disabilities, neurodiverse people, members of the D/deaf community, members of the Traveller community, LGBTQI+ people, to apply. We would also like to encourage those who identify as female or non-binary to apply.

Application Criteria - Who Can Apply?

• You must be from or based in Cork, and in the first three years of your professional practise as an artist (not counting 2020 and 2021 due to ongoing restrictions).
• You must be over 21 and not currently in undergraduate or postgraduate education.
• You can be from any performance discipline – theatre, dance, music, circus, socially engaged practise, combined arts.
• This programme is specifically for theatre makers who wish to develop a form other than playwriting.
• You must have availability for the key dates in the programme, and be happy to travel to Bristol if government guidelines allow.
• You must be curious, open and excited about learning from other artists in order to develop your own practise and networks.
• You can be working individually or as part of a group (one application per group).

How do I apply?

Send a CV (2 pages max) and a one page cover letter explaining how you fit the criteria, a little about your practise as an artist, why this opportunity will help you to develop your practise, and what you would like to get out of the six month programme. We’d also like to hear about an idea that you would like to develop as part of the programme.

Alternative to a cover letter, you can also send us a 3 minute video explaining the above.

If you need any additional support with the application process, please contact us at twocities@corkmidsummer.com and we can help you out.

Please send your application to twocities@corkmidsummer.com by midday on Monday 11 April.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Key Dates and Timeline
11 April 2022 (Noon) – Application Deadline
13 April 2022 (Afternoon) – Interviews for Short-Listed Candidates

Part 1 – Seeing Work, Soaking Up Ideas, Meeting New People

April 2022 – Programme starts

• Key meetings with other artists and the CMF / Everyman team
  

May 2022 – Trip to Bristol during MAYK

• To see work, meet local and international artists.
• This will be 2 - 4 days between 13 and 29 May 2022

June 2022 – Focussed time at Cork Midsummer Festival (15 – 26 June)

• To meet artists, see national and international work, and host Bristol artists in Cork
  

Part 2 – Putting learning and experience into action – thinking about a new project

July 2022 – Artists assigned a mentor specific to their practise

• Initial meeting with mentor to establish goals and outcomes, including setting the direction for R & D days
• R & D days (time to think, research, work as a group to put ideas together) to be facilitated by The Everyman & CMF

August / September 2022 – Mentorship sessions & development week

• 4 mentorship sessions, one a week over four weeks
  One development week in a studio space

October 2022 – Return Trip to Bristol

• to see works in progress as part of Ferment @ Bristol Old Vic
• weekend TBC October 2022

November 2022 – Final meeting

• Bringing together all of the participants for a final sharing of thoughts, ideas and next steps