Audiences North East

Dance City, the National Dance Agency for the North East has announced a great new initiative - Lab Space, a pilot designed to support artists across all art forms in developing single or collaborative ideas involving choreography, dance and movement.

From 1 August 2009 through to 31 March 2010, Dance City will be offering artists one week residencies in Dance City’s main performance space without charge. Artists will be able to use the space for working from 8.30am through to 5pm.

As Penny Rae, Artistic Director/CEO of Dance City states, “There will be no onus for artists to share work at the end of their week. The whole process of Lab Space has been designed as research time for artists to try things out, take risks and engage in their creative process in a private environment without any pressure of performance or sharing of the process.”

As an added benefit, Dance City is offering a one-off payment of £100 per week per artist or company for expenses. The Lab Space scheme is also offering the opportunity for artists to access one day of free technical support from Dance City’s technical team.

Key weeks have been allocated to this scheme. The 14 weeks available betweenAugust 09 and March 2010 have been published on Dance City’s website at www.dancecity.co.uk/labspace.php.

To apply artists just need to:

• Visit www.dancecity.co.uk/labspace.php for dates and application form
• Complete the application form
• Indicate your top three preferred weeks from the available weeks listed on the website
• Submit completed applications on-line, via e-mail at labspace@dancecity.co.uk or via post to:

Dance City

FAO: Lab Space

Temple Street

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 4BR

Although Dance City has no formal criteria, it is looking to support artists who are sympathetic to the vision and mission of Dance City as an arts organisation which nurtures social transformation and artistic excellence through creative movement.

As Penny Rae says, “this is a pilot and we will do our best to accommodate everyone interested in coming to work here. From initial conversations with artists there does seem to be a need for this type of opportunity and we are hoping to develop Lab Space in new ways beyond March 2010.”

Proposals are now being accepted and the deadline is 5pm Friday 27 June.

Decisions will be taken by the programming team of Dance City.

Successful applicants will be notified by 17 July 2009.