This marks the official launch of a ground-breaking scheme to support Scottish artists creating work for underserved audiences.
Capital Theatres has named the first Scottish artists taking part in its Associate Artist Scheme, one to develop work for people living with dementia and the other to develop work for children with complex or additional support needs. The selected artists are Clare Adam and Lesley Howard (from Just Us) and Kerry Cleland.
The Associate Artist Scheme aims to provide vital professional development opportunities for mid-career theatre makers, alongside developing brand new work for audiences frequently underserved by mainstream theatre. The scheme has been developed in response to the growing demand for work created specifically with these audiences in mind from the very beginning, placing their experiences, needs and creativity at the centre of the artistic process.
Clare Howard and Lesley Adam (Just Us)
Kerry Cleland
“We are so excited to support Just Us and Kerry Cleland as Associate Artists over the next 18 months. Kerry’s established practice in sensory theatre offers great creative opportunities for new work for people living with dementia, while Just Us is a company whose work for children with additional support needs is rooted in Clare and Lesley’s respective lived experience as Deaf and autistic practitioners.”Claire Swanson, Director of Creative Engagement
Each Associate Artist will receive a bespoke package of support including:
- £10,000 to support the Associate Artist engagement with the project, with £5,000 ringfenced for time and professional development activities over the 18-month period and £5,000 towards the creative project
- Ongoing mentoring and professional development support from across the Capital Theatres team
- Mentoring and outside eye consultation from leading artists working in their chosen field
- Facilitated opportunities to gain practical experience with the chosen audience
- A five-day residency in the Studio Theatre to consolidate learning through research and development of a new creative project for the chosen audience
Capital Theatres believes that everyone should have access to extraordinary theatre experiences. Every year we connect with over 2,000 people through our award-winning programme for people living with dementia, while also engaging with more than 2,000 children and teachers across the ASN schools’ network in Edinburgh.
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