Artists Research Bursaries

Over the next few months, The Work Room will slowly begin studio residencies at our base within Tramway. We recognise that both structural inequalities and personal circumstances will influence how people are able to return to a studio and alongside this, we are supporting a programme of Artists Research Bursaries.

The Artists Research programme is flexible, financial support to enable members to deepen their practice at this uncertain time. The bursaries are about time to think and respond. Proposed research might include time towards researching practice, exploring new approaches or developing ideas; time to reflect on past work & how to move forward; time to explore collaborations. The timescale for undertaking the research is flexible as long as it is completed by the end of March 2021.

Through this programme we anticipate supporting 10 research bursaries of £1500. The bursary should be used primarily to support artists’ own time but can also include collaborations with other artists or for materials. It is targeted at artists who face particular barriers coming out of lockdown because they have been shielding, have caring responsibilities or other circumstances.

As part of our commitment to ensure an expansive range of dance artists and practices are visible and supported, at least 5 of the research bursaries will be targeted at people who identify as being from one or more of the following groups: Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group; D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent; those with parental & caring responsibilities and people from working-class/ low-ecomic backgrounds.

We will work with the supported artists to share their research with our wider membership and amplify their work across our online platforms.

How to apply:

Applications for the Artists Research support is open to members of The Work Room.  If you require this information in a different format , support in preparing an application or would like to have an informal conversation, please contact us directly.

Your application should include:

·       A short description of the research you want to do;

·       A statement about how working in this way will be important to you at this time;

·       How you will spend the £1500 bursary - please be mindful about the scope and scale of the project within the available budget;

·       A timeline of how you will approach this 

If you are interested in being considered for Time Away - Nethy Bridge as part of your research, please indicate this in your application, stating why you think this could be a valuable part of the experience

In a covering email please note if you wish to be considered for one of the bursaries targeted at under-represented groups and also tell us about any access requirements you may have to support you to undertake this research. This information will only be accessed by The Work Room staff team and will not go to the selection panel. 

The information provided in covering emails will not be shared directly with the selection, but will be discreetly used by our staff team in managing the selection process and prioritising applications to ensure that at least half of the bursaries are targeted at those who self identify with under-represented groups. 

Written applications should be submitted using no more than 2 pages of A4. Alternatively, you can submit an application by video or audio recording. This should cover the points above and be no longer than 5 minutes long. Please don’t worry about the quality of the recording or the camera skills.

You do not need to submit a CV or any supporting materials, but please ensure your artist profile on TWR website is up-to-date as this will be referred to as part of the decision making process. If you need any support in this, please contact Sara Johnstone (Sara@theworkroom.org.uk)

Applications should be returned by email to hello@theworkroom.org.uk by 31 August 2020. You will hear the decisions within 3 weeks.

How decisions will be made:

All applications will be considered by a panel of 4 Work Room members. We invite any members who are not applying for this opportunity to put themselves forward to be part of the selection. The panel will access the application and the members' profiles on our website in making the decisions and the selection will be informed by how the bursary:

· will enable the development of artistic practice;

· support artists who face particular challenges in returning to studio practice.