What is it?
Micro-bursary funding for new and original performance work which shows potential to move beyond scratch stage and into an extended life, touring to schools or libraries in Devon.
Who is this bursary for?
Doorstep Arts, Exeter Northcott Theatre and Villages in Action are offering a bursary opportunity in 2025 to support the development of original theatre for young audiences in Devon. ‘Young audiences’ are defined as: children ages 0-5, 5-11, or young people ages 11-16 or 16-25. These targeted bursaries aim to deepen the quality of work that is available for families and young audiences in Devon, and to provide progression support to exciting artists regionally who are keen to grow their practice and make work. We will provide support for exciting ideas for performances which honour children’s creative and critical potential, and for artists who are making work which respects children & young people’s intelligence, capacity and active agency.
How does it work?
Funded by Arts Council England, Exeter City Council and Exeter University, Doorstep Arts, Exeter Northcott and Villages in Action, this bursary will offer the selected artist/company the support to further develop a piece of theatre for young audiences. This support comes in three forms:
- Time, advice, mentorship and producing support from the Doorstep Arts, Exeter Northcott, and Villages in Action teams. This includes up to five free days of rehearsal space at Exeter Northcott’s Barnfield Theatre, subject to availability.
- First Steps bursary for touring, up to £800, which will be granted to an exceptional proposal where work requires resource for travel costs, production design or touring. These bursaries are granted to work which show potential to move beyond scratch stage and into an extended life. It is vital that the performances are suitable for flexible spaces; they should be light/agile and easy to tour into spaces without theatre infrastructure, i.e. village halls or school halls. Deadline is 24th April 2025 and touring will take place in late May & early June 2025.
- Through Village in Action’s From Devon with Love programme, and Exeter Northcott’s Elevate programme, further performance opportunities can be provided for successful applicants to share/tour work in development across (primarily rural) Devon.
How to Apply
First Steps Touring Bursary (April 2025-July 2025)
- The deadline for the First Steps touring bursary is Thursday 24 April 2025.
- The online application form is HERE.
- An example practice sheet with guiding answers (in an downloadable and editable Word Doc) is available here, for guidance on the First Steps touring bursary.
Alternate submission: if you would prefer to submit a 2 minute video answering the questions in the online form, you can elect to submit this as your application format instead. If you prefer a video format submission, please make sure it does not exceed 2 minutes in length, and email your submission to erin@doorsteparts.co.uk by the deadline.
Questions about any of the above can be emailed to erin@doorsteparts.co.uk.