not for the likes of me

Arts Partnership Surreyand Farnham Maltings are looking to commissionand present a tour of an extant,or possibly new, piece of theatre across the county that has, at its heart, the ambition to reach people who don’t normally engage with the arts.

The successful project is likely to targeta particular group or set of communities. It is probable that the final production will be presented in spaces other than theatres such as libraries, museums, prisons, leisure centresor village greens as appropriate to the ambitions of the work. It is likely that the space itselfwill be integral to the event. We are looking for bold, considered ideas that respond to this challenge.

The commissionis for £30,000 to cover all the associated costs of development, producing and an initial three week tour of Surrey of the finished work.Partners may be able to provide rehearsal space in Surrey. It may also be that the successful company brings additional resources or supplements this award with additional funding.

In addition the commissioners will offer, where possible, contacts, advice, specialist intelligence, equipment, producing expertise, etc.

We are looking to present the work in autumn 2016, assuming fifteen days of performance in Surrey, which will be coordinated by the commissioning partners who will also provide specialist support in developing audiences.

Projected timeline:

  1. Work to be selected by September 2015.
  2. Idea to be developed in consultationFarnhamMaltings and APS between September and November 2015, including identifying appropriate locations for performances.
  3. Piece to be rehearsed and produced between March and June 2016 in consultation with Farnham Maltings, who will provide advice and support on tour coordination and marketing.
  4. Piece to tour for up to 15 dates in Surrey in September/October2016 with the potential for additional weeks of touring across the south east.

Application criteria:

  1. Demonstrate experience of making work for new audiencesand 3-5 years’ experience of producing or creating work for performance
  2. Explain ambition and goals of the project and how it will achieve our goals
  3. Specific audience engagement goals: who is the piece for, how will those audiences be reached and where could it be presented
  4. Piece to be appropriate for single-day touring engagements in spaces with limited technical facilities
  5. Either a recontextualising of an existing piece adapted for new audiencesor possibly a new piece of work to be developed

How to apply:

1. An open call for a two-page declaration of interest describing what the idea is, who it is for, who you are, why we should work with you and how your idea meets the project ambitions.Closing date Monday 20thJuly 2015. Sent by email to

2. From these a shortlist of 10 – 12 artists/companies will be asked to produce adeveloped proposal which should include, but not be limited to:

  • a longerdescription of the idea, including how you will engage with specific audiences
  • biographies of potential artists
  • a budgetbreakdown, including any additional income
  • the company’s recent artistic experiences

A financial contribution will be made towards the time spent on compiling this submission.

Deadline Wednesday 2nd September 2015.

3. From these we will select 3 – 6 for interview.
Interviews to be held in the week commencing 21stSeptember 2015