Are you working in the UK as a director, actor, playwright or theatremaker? Are you an independent producer or running a theatre company without core funding? Would you like to share your thoughts and experiences to help with research?

Yes? Contact me now to attend one of these discussions. Email: afitzgibbon01@qub.ac.uk

My journey continues in researching the role of independent artists in policymaking and leadership in the funded theatre sector in the UK. My travels and conversations have covered Belfast, Cardiff, Bristol with countless Skype interviews in between. And from 23 – 25 October I will be in Scotland.

The thoughts and experiences of independent artists are bringing huge insight to this work and the more varied and diverse the better. To join in, please sign up to come to a relaxed and informal discussion session. We know many people take on multiple roles so please choose the one that is the closest/best fit to how you see yourself or the time that works best for you.

Monday 23 October 2017: The Lyceum, Edinburgh (with help from Red Bridge Arts) 

10.30am – 12pm – Directors/Auteurs

1.30pm – 3pm  – Actors/Theatremakers

A small session is also being arranged in Edinburgh for Independent & Freelance Producers (sometime around 5pm). Please get in touch if you are interested in attending.

 

Tuesday 24 October 2017: Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, 350 Sauciehall St, Glasgow

12.00 – 1.30pm – Playwrights

 

Tuesday 24 October 2017:              National Theatre Scotland, Rockvilla, Glasgow

5.00 – 6.30pm – Directors/Auteurs

*** Another session scheduled for 25 Oct will not go ahead. Apologies for any inconvenience ***

 

All sessions are confidential and can accommodate a maximum of 6 people. More information on consent and how information will be used will be provided. To book a place or get more information, please contact researcher Ali FitzGibbon afitzgibbon01@qub.ac.uk

Every effort to accommodate all needs and abilities will be made, please just ask. While childcare can’t be offered, sessions are timed to offer at least one session during school time in each city and babies are welcome.

A final series of discussions will be held in Birmingham later in autumn – Watch this space for details.

Are you an independent artist working in the UK as a director, actor, playwright or theatremaker?

Are you an independent producer or running a theatre company without core funding?

Would you like to share your thoughts and experiences to help with research?

If you answered Yes, get in touch. Email: afitzgibbon01 [at] qub.ac.uk 

As part of PhD research exploring the role of independent artists in policymaking and leadership in the funded theatre sector in the UK, I want to hear from independent artists working in the UK, and particularly outside London, through a series of informal recorded group discussions .

Your thoughts and experiences on your life and work are vital in completing the picture. These are relaxed and (hopefully) enjoyable short opportunities to share thoughts with your peers. We know many people take on multiple roles so please choose the one that is the closest/best fit to how you see yourself. To book a place or find out more, get in touch

Tuesday 19 September 2017: Lyric Theatre, Belfast

10am – 12pm                                                  Directors/Auteurs

1pm – 3pm                                                     Actors/Theatremakers

4 – 6pm                                                           Independent Producers

Wednesday 20 September 2017: Lyric Theatre, Belfast

10am – 12pm                                                  Actors/Theatremakers

1pm – 3pm                                                     Actors/Theatremakers

4pm – 6pm                                                     Playwrights

Monday 25 September 2017: Travelling Light Theatre Co, Bristol

12.30pm – 2pm                                              Actors/Theatremakers

3pm – 4.30pm                                                Directors/Auteurs

Tuesday 26 September 2017: Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

10am – 12pm                                                  Directors/Auteurs

1pm – 3pm                                                     Playwrights

4 – 6pm                                                           Independent Producers

Wednesday 27 September 2017: Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

10am – 12pm                                                  Actors/Theatremakers

All sessions are confidential and can accommodate a maximum of 6 people. More information on consent and how information will be used will be provided in advance. To book a place or get more information, please contact me on afitzgibbon01 [at] qub.ac.uk.

Every effort to accommodate all needs and abilities will be made – please just ask.

FURTHER DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM. If you are a fulltime company or theatre and are interested in getting involved in this research, hosting sessions, etc, please get in touch.

With one week left to the All-Island Performing Arts Conference, see the full schedule here. With Andrew Eaton, Michael Keegan Dolan, Shona McCarthy, Tania Canas and Richard De Domenici all delivering addresses, it is a packed programme. Also delighted to see such a range of contributors on the stage from all scales and types of work – Brokentalkers, Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, Junk Ensemble, Baboro, Anu Productions, Blue Teapot Theatre Company, Outburst Arts and so many others. If you haven’t booked then now is the time!!

Just prior to the All-Island Performing Arts Conference in Cork, there will be a special free lunchtime event in Belfast on Monday 19 June with one of its speakers, Tania Cañas. Possible with the help of colleagues at Terra Nova Productions, and the Brokering Cultural Exchange Research network.

For those not familiar with her point of view she has been writing and working in Australia for some years as an arts professional, working in community engaged practice. Some of her most provocative writing is here.

To attend the event on 19 June, follow this booking link.

Booking is now open for the 2017 conference with Theatre Forum and TheatreNI. As guest curator for 2017 it’s been a really interesting experience to listen to, and explore, current conversations and topics; what people are worried or excited about; how we move forward when things seem so uncertain. The conference theme #TwistorStick is about making choices and decisions. Do something or do nothing. Every decision is a variation on this whether the decision is about making work, protecting our skills, preparing for the future. Full programme will be announced shortly.

If you are interested and couldn’t make it the audio recording and PPTs of the talk on the role of arts and cultural leaders in managing Intercultural Exchange is now online.

You can find out more about the network through their site. They will be hosting two further events in Zurich and London during 2017 before concluding their current programme of research with a final event at Queen’s University Belfast in January 2018.

In advance of next week’s event, I’ve written a short article for Slugger O’Toole about why I think this conversation is important. There are still some tickets left for the free talk on Thursday 6 April at 6.30pm. Hope to see you there.

(The photo has nothing to do with the talk or the article).