It’s September!
I don’t know about you but at GATHER UP we are having a real ‘back to school’ feeling. And it is a good one! Time for fresh pencils and new exercise books! So to speak.
Our new programme of activity starts next Monday 6th with a morning class led by Vicki Hearne and we hope very much to see some of you there. All the info for this is here: https://www.gatherup.live/morning-class
And, as promised back at the height of Summer, we are now back with a little bit more information about the various strands of activity the funding GATHER UP was recently awarded by Arts Council England and Bristol City Council will support.
We will try to be concise here but will make sure to share the fully fleshed-out details in coming weeks.
So, in an nutshell, for GATHER UP 2021/2023, we will continue with some of the activity trialled in our first project, back in 2018/2020, and continue to offer:
Weekly term-time Monday morning classes (hosted by Bristol Old Vic and, in Autumn 2021, supported by Bristol Dance Futures)
Saturday choreographic/movement workshops led by visiting artists (6 in total with Jane Mason kicking off the proceedings on 25 September, hosted by Arnolfini. All the info for this is here: https://www.gatherup.live/workshops-gatherings)
The Library of People (our free consultancy service for artists working in dance re-opening in early October, supported by Tobacco Factory Theatres)
In addition to this, we will test:
Monthly Open Practice sessions (hosted on a weekday evening, once a month, at Bristol Old Vic from October)
A Response Pot (whereby artists will be able to apply for micro bursaries to support making/research. More on this soon!)
artist-with-artist social gatherings
In delivering all of this we wanted to pay attention to barriers to access some of us encounter, and with this in mind, we will be managing a Care Pot that we hope might play a part, even if small, in alleviating some of the existing constraints in turning up, tuning in, taking part.
Alongside this outward-facing activity, at GATHER UP we will be making space within the project to explore models for artist-led initiatives. We want to find out, and learn from, what others are already doing, we want to imagine new/different ways to operate, collaborate, partner up, and consider our own sustainability. And, crucially, we want to share our findings so that there might be a wider benefit - to others, to the sector. The Bristol City Council’s Originators grant will enable this research strand of activity between now and March 2022. We owe the biggest thanks to Katy Noakes for lending her incredible insight and bid writing powers to securing this funding.
We are hugely thankful for our ongoing partnerships with Bristol Old Vic and Tobacco Factory Theatres, and to new partners; Arnolfini, Bristol Dance Futures and Theatre Bristol for the belief and trust. This project really is a team effort!
Finally, last but not least, two things:
As our friend and colleague Lisa May Thomas steps away from the co-leadership of GATHER UP, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks her way. Thank you, Lisa, for all that you have brought to the project so far! Lisa will be around and involved in different ways so we look forward to dancing and connecting soon.
And in the same breath, we are thrilled to welcome Laura Dannequin to the GATHER UP team. Laura, we look forward to sharing the steering of this good ship with you!