NATIONAL FOLK DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ANNOUNCES
CREATIVE ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Four awards made to artists working with folk music, dance and storytelling
The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has announced the first successful applicants in a new scheme offering creative residencies at its London base.
Four projects have been given the go ahead after more than 50 submissions from a strong field of artists from a range of art forms were received.
The artists receiving the awards will undertake research and development for new music, storytelling and dance projects, all using folk material as their source and inspiration. The artists will receive a bursary towards expenses and fees plus rehearsal and performance space at Cecil Sharp House, and support and guidance for the future development of their work.
The creative residencies are the latest initiative by EFDSS to encourage and invest in the creativity of artists working with folk art forms, and to promote the richness of the folk arts to artists from all disciplines and genres.
The chosen artists are:
Rachel Rose Reid from Brighton, East Sussex. The writer and storyteller will create a new performance that explores the three worlds on which she was raised - immigrant tradition, urban jungle and English folk music.
Alison Rowley from Hockley in Essex. Working with a 30-piece orchestra, she will undertake research and development for an orchestral fantasia score based on Cotswold Morris tunes in the style of Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth.
London based Jack Harris. He will revisit classic ballads to address the changing conditions of British life and create new ballads reflecting modern life.
Darren Ellis, also from London. He will be exploring new choreography inspired by English rituals such as traditional Maypole, circle and ribbon dances, working with folk musician Emily Askew.
Neil Pearson, EFDSS’ Artist Development and Programming Manager, said there had been a very positive response to the bursary scheme.
“We were delighted with the range of ideas that were submitted from all sectors and cultures. We have chosen four very different projects and artists and we are excited by their creative potential.
“EFDSS is strongly committed to helping artists with their individual development. We were keen for artists to develop work that has the potential to go on tour and reach a wider audience to spread the message about the creative wealth of the folk arts.”
It is envisaged that the bursaries will become an annual award for artists who want to research and develop new work.
The creative residencies were open to professional artists across all sectors – from classical composers and contemporary dancers to poets, musicians and visual artists – not just those working within the folk arts.
Proposals needed to be about working with an aspect of the folk arts and were particularly sought from artists keen to work cross-genre, cross-arts, or cross-culture to create performances with the potential to go on tour.
For more information on the artists go to www.efdss.org
The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has announced the first successful applicants in a new scheme offering creative residencies at its London base.
Four projects have been given the go ahead after more than 50 submissions from a strong field of artists from a range of art forms were received.
The artists receiving the awards will undertake research and development for new music, storytelling and dance projects, all using folk material as their source and inspiration. The artists will receive a bursary towards expenses and fees plus rehearsal and performance space at Cecil Sharp House, and support and guidance for the future development of their work.
The creative residencies are the latest initiative by EFDSS to encourage and invest in the creativity of artists working with folk art forms, and to promote the richness of the folk arts to artists from all disciplines and genres.
The chosen artists are:
Rachel Rose Reid from Brighton, East Sussex. The writer and storyteller will create a new performance that explores the three worlds on which she was raised - immigrant tradition, urban jungle and English folk music.
Alison Rowley from Hockley in Essex. Working with a 30-piece orchestra, she will undertake research and development for an orchestral fantasia score based on Cotswold Morris tunes in the style of Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth.
London based Jack Harris. He will revisit classic ballads to address the changing conditions of British life and create new ballads reflecting modern life.
Darren Ellis, also from London. He will be exploring new choreography inspired by English rituals such as traditional Maypole, circle and ribbon dances, working with folk musician Emily Askew.
Neil Pearson, EFDSS’ Artist Development and Programming Manager, said there had been a very positive response to the bursary scheme.
“We were delighted with the range of ideas that were submitted from all sectors and cultures. We have chosen four very different projects and artists and we are excited by their creative potential.
“EFDSS is strongly committed to helping artists with their individual development. We were keen for artists to develop work that has the potential to go on tour and reach a wider audience to spread the message about the creative wealth of the folk arts.”
It is envisaged that the bursaries will become an annual award for artists who want to research and develop new work.
The creative residencies were open to professional artists across all sectors – from classical composers and contemporary dancers to poets, musicians and visual artists – not just those working within the folk arts.
Proposals needed to be about working with an aspect of the folk arts and were particularly sought from artists keen to work cross-genre, cross-arts, or cross-culture to create performances with the potential to go on tour.
For more information on the artists go to www.efdss.org