In Good Company thrilled to receive Arts Council funding to continue artist development scheme and to extend its partnership network

In Good Company thrilled to receive  Arts Council funding to continue artist development scheme and to extend its partnership network

In Good Company thrilled to receive  Arts Council funding to continue artist development scheme and to extend its partnership network 
 
In Good Company, the flagship artists’ development programme for the East Midlands, is delighted to announce that the scheme will continue until 2021 thanks to a wider partnership of venues being involved and further funding support from Arts Council England. In Good Company is the flagship professional creative and business development programme for theatre makers and companies in the East Midlands.  


In Good Company current partners include: Derby Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre, Burton Brewhouse, Lincolnshire One Venues and The Old Library in Mansfield and as part of this next exciting stage, the consortium look forward to welcoming and working with new partners including: Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton (developing a new strand of work for new writing); Nonsuch in Nottingham (to offer additional commissions for work with and for young people); Curve, Leicester and Nottingham Playhouse. New Diorama in London will also become a new partner and extend IGC’s reach and profile into the capital.  
 
Through the expansion and development of In Good Company, the scheme will deliver an enhanced programme of artist development opportunities, including: masterclasses and workshops, rolling artist-support fund, offering seed commissions to regional artists; three commissioning funds for mid-career artists, two commissioning funds for specific areas of work suggested by IGC partner venues (e.g. working for young people and diversity); new writing development opportunities, platforms to showcase new work through festivals and scratch nights (including Departure Lounge and Check-In Festivals); a subsidised touring programme supporting partner venues to programme three high quality, diverse shows; regular newsletters, social events, 1-2-1 advice meetings for artists and an online directory allowing artists upload and share CVs and portfolios (delivered as part of The Big House consortium).  
 
In Good Company is committed to supporting artists to make work and recognises the importance of paying them to do this. Throughout the three year programme, £146,000 will be given directly to artists through the commissions, performance fees, seed funding and paid scratch nights. 


The overall aims of In Good Company, with the support from all partner venues and the ongoing expansion and development of the scheme, are to: establish an exciting new partnership of like-minded organisations who are passionate about artist development and instigate an innovate programme of support, expand the critical mass of artists based in the Midlands so that its reputation is as a place where talent is supported and developed. IGC will support companies at a crucial stage of development to become audience focused, be financially aware and strategically connected, expanding skill-sets and artistic quality. We will support arts venues to take risks in programming work from emerging artists, to share resources and best practice, and to encourage artists with protected characteristics to develop their work. 
 
Emily Coleman (In Good Company Producer) and Ben Anderson (In Good Company Creative Producer) said: “We are really delighted to have support from Arts Council England to continue this programme for independent theatre-makers and the significant role each member of the partnership from across the Midlands will make to IGC in the next few years. Most importantly it means that artists based in the region will have access to a continued and growing level of support unlike any other in the UK. Independent artists and companies will continue to be the focus of IGC and we will build on our remit to widen our engagement with artists with protected characteristics and a diversity agenda has been applied to all our opportunities.”  
Sarah Brigham (Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Derby Theatre) said: I'm delighted that In Good Company has been successful in gaining this level of support from Arts Council.  What started 5 years ago as a good idea and a desire to develop local theatre makers across the East Midlands has now grown into this brilliant 10 venue partnership.  We are excited to be welcoming new partners on board and on developing a shared vision for artist development in the region.  (Please see more venue quotes under NOTES TO EDITORS). 
 
Departure Lounge festival produced by In Good Company…on later this month. From Thursday 19 until Sunday 22 July, Derby Theatre will once again play host to Departure Lounge, a fantastic summer festival of fresh and thrilling theatre, innovative performance, workshops and talks produced by In Good Company. On the Friday of the Festival, we will see the return of the ever-popular panel discussion which, for this year, will focus on Leadership in the Arts. Practitioners, artists and audiences come together for a fascinating and insightful discussion with leaders from a range of inspirational arts organisations in the UK. Chairing the discussion will be British freelance theatre critic, journalist and blogger, Matt Trueman. Why not join us for this event to hear more about In Good Company’s plans for the future? View the full Festival brochure and line-up online at www.derbytheatre.co.uk or via issuu. 

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