RE:emerging

an invitation to dance artists with parenting responsibilities in returning to practice

The Work Room has a long-established practice of recognising parenting as an equalities issue within the performing arts. With support through Creative Scotland’s Radical Care action research, we are creating a peer support group for freelance dance artists who are moving back into an active working practice after taking time away to care for children. This may be immediately after a period of maternity/ adoption/ parental leave, or at a later stage in life such as children starting school.

For all freelancers returning to work after having a child is a hugely complex balancing act. For dance artists, this can include the additional pressure of the impact on the body and returning to a physical practice. RE:Emerging will bring together a core group of 5-6 participants who will work together over a period of 9 months to design and then engage in a in a be-spoke programme of workshops, networking and advisory sessions to enable a re-emerging into professional practice. We anticipate that this will include a mix of online and in-person events for the group, along with individual 1-2-1 sessions. The programme will include some events that will be open to a wider group of parent-artists.

The key aim of RE-Emerging is to support participants in raising confidence, contacts and developing strategies to approaching a working practice while balancing caring responsibilities. Support for those participating in RE:Emerging, will include:

• A £1000 bursary towards your time;
• An allowance for childcare for you to attend two performances, workshops or industry events across the period;
• Travel expenses
• Access to resources through the PIPA (Parents in the Performing Arts) Foundations Programme

On-site childcare will be provided for the in-person sessions and we have a budget towards other access requirements.
If you are interested in being part of the RE:Emerging group please note your interest stating why this resonates with your circumstances at this time. This can be sent as an email, or a short video or audio voice notes (no longer than 3 minutes
long) anita@theworkroom.org.uk by Friday 3 June.

Please also use this email to indicate if you would require any access support to undertake the project, have a preferred method of communication or any other information you would like us to be aware of. The Work Room is commitment to
ensure an expansive range of dance artists and practices are visible and supported. If there is more interest that spaces available, selection will be made so there is a breadth of lived and professional experiences represented across the group.

Image credit: Brian Hartley