The region’s premiere performing arts festival is offering to support performing arts events up to a maximum of £3,000 in its 2017 guarantee against loss programme.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is providing opportunities for artists, promoters and venues based in, or with connections to, the region to take part in next year’s festival, which takes place between Friday, 26 May and Sunday, 4 June.
Programme director, Pete Renwick, said: “We will offer successful bids a guarantee against loss of between £500 and £3,000 per event during our 2017 festival and are urging artists, promoters and venues to send us in their proposals.”
This year, the programme will come under two strands: events within and those outside the region with a connection to Dumfries and Galloway.
Peter added: “We are looking to support performing artists, venues and promoters across Dumfries and Galloway to stage ambitious arts event that reflect their own creative ambitions. The intention is to show the region’s performing arts community at its best.
“Secondly, as a borderland region, we have much in common with, and much that separates us from, our neighbours in Scotland, North of England, Ireland and Isle of Man. We are looking for performing arts events that explore and or celebrate the connections, similarities and differences with our neighbours.”
The festival is also rolling out its annual young persons’ event guarantee scheme.
They are looking to underwrite events held between the 2017 dates which will be selected and promoted by young people for young people. The scheme is open to young promoters, artists and youth organisations, to programme their own live performing arts events.
All events should take place between 26 May to June 4; be a performing arts event, include one or more of the performing art forms in music, theatre, dance, comedy and the spoken word; and be exciting and ambitious.
Peter added: “We are looking to create a programme of the highest quality and with broad public appeal. We will underwrite the event against loss against an agreed budget to an agreed maximum. In the case of a free event, we may award a small grant in place of a guarantee.”
Deadline for applications is Tuesday, 15 November at 5pm and decisions will be communicated by 25 November.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival chair, Ken Gouge, said: “We are delighted to once more be offering guarantees against loss to artists, venues and promoters who wish to put on their own events as part of our annual festival.
“The quality and diversity of independent events this year was superb and helped to not only enhance the festival’s programme but also showcased the exceptional standards that can be achieved through supporting our excellent network of performing arts promoters in the region.
“We are looking forward very much to seeing what 2017 brings and would urge event organisers to send us in their bids by 15 November.”
For further information and an application form, visit: www.dgartsfestival.org.uk/dumfries-galloway-art-festival-2017-guarantee-against-loss-events-underwrite-scheme
