stuff we do
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Producing We have both been producing throughout our careers with a shared focus on Live Art. Ash’s more visual and performance art background led her to curate and lead events and festivals internationally, while Laura’s dance and Live Art-focused background previously led them to run an organisation. Together their focus is on social and sector change within the UK. |
SELF-LED PROJECTS
When we lead on or initiate our own projects we’re often giving our own spicy take on advocating for change in the sector for freelancers, producers and arts workers. We will often create resources or reports within these projects so that these changes may be evidenced and disseminated across the sector.
WORK WITH OTHERS
**Please note we are only able to consider strategic level producing at the moment. We are unavailable for project or on-the-ground producing due to capacity limitations**
Often the projects we produce reject traditional definitions of taste, culture and art in order to create a space for social change. These marginal and radical practices are joyful, sorrowful, painful and soulful, but always impactful and powerful. Here are some of the most recent projects we have worked with others to create: |
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Advisory, mentoring, consultancy We believe strongly that freelancers have the best, most-up-to-date, useful working knowledge of what it means to be an independent artist or arts worker. Open access knowledge sharing is one part of this, which we do through sharing our own working resources, but we know that bespoke sessions with focused answers is vital too. We work with many individuals to share our knowledge and experience, offering different levels of support. |
ONE-to-one advisories
We offer advisories or advice sessions for artists and arts workers at any career stage working in performance, live art, experimental theatre and dance.
You might want to talk to us about: ~ how to progress a project, idea, practice ~ strategic, business and financial planning ~ fundraising strategy and application writing ~ soundboard for your unformed project or career thoughts We offer these sessions at different prices depending on whether you are working during a funded or unfunded period. This is the same for individuals or small organisations/companies. “The session was gold dust!” “Our conversation was just so useful and invigorating” mentoring
Being freelance in the arts can be a lonely affair and sometimes you just want someone to check in with. We've mentored artists, producers and art workers at various stages of their career and like to build a relationship that has space for skill sharing, advice, venting, practical tools and pastoral support.
If you'd be interested in receiving mentoring from us, whether a handful of sessions or something longer-term, get in touch and we can talk about what you'd like to achieve and build a programme together. We offer these sessions at different prices depending on whether you are working during a funded or unfunded period, but this might be something to include in a funding application, such as a DYCP or Project Grant you are working on. “Thank you both for the utterly refreshing real-talk session this afternoon. It was incredibly helpful and really focussed our thinking on what we need to prioritise” CONSULTANCY
These bespoke sessions will guide you through a particular issue, period or focus. These are particularly useful if you are trying to think about long-term career development, strategic planning, infrastructure formation, organisational development or financial planning.
We offer these sessions at different prices depending on whether you are working during a funded or unfunded period, but this might be something to include in a funding application, such as a DYCP or Project Grant you are working on. “You were both amazingly helpful. Thank you so much." "You are relaxed and friendly and experienced and genuinely interested in people. All of which adds value to the wisdom and problem solving you offer.” |
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Workshops We are both experienced facilitators and workshop designers. Laura has many years of practice with groups of different ages, needs and abilities and Ash has a higher level teaching degree and a research background in radical and alternative education. |
WORK WITH OTHERS
We have recently created and facilitated workshops for Rose Bruford College, In Good Company, Artsdepot, University of Salford, The Old Courts, Somerset House, Creative Newhaven, Axis, Two Queens, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, People Dancing, Birmingham Dance, The University of East London, East Sussex Arts Partnership, London Studio Centre, The Place and Middlesex University. As well as one-off engagements, we enjoy working with groups over a longer period of time to enact and realise change. Here are a few self-initiated projects or longer-term programmes we've done that focused on deeply invigorating learning and talent development.
invite US IN
Due to our access needs and caring commitments, most of the workshops we deliver are online or in the South East of England. We can create bespoke workshops for your group, class or network of any length, and for any number of people, based on our overall skills, experience and knowledge. We have experience in designing bespoke one-hour to three-day workshops, as well as entire University modules. If you have an idea that you’d like us to bring to life in a workshop, please be in touch for us to provide a quote. We also have pre-designed workshops that aim to provide participants with concrete resources and usable knowledge, delivered in our plain English and practical style. They cover topics such as: -Fundraising 101 -Arts Council England overview -Arts Council England NLPG deep dive -Arts Council England DYCP deep dive -Producing: The basics -Touring -Budgeting -Getting paid when you work in the arts -How to talk or write about your work for different audiences |
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Fundraising We have an excellent track record of supporting individuals and organisations in a variety of ways to get the funding they need to make work happen. We provide no-nonsense advice, strategic thinking and bespoke support. |
access support for application writing
This is something we have a great deal of experience in, particularly for Arts Council England Project Grants and DYCP applications.
If you are neurodiverse/disabled and want to apply, ACE will pay us to support you - at no cost to you. Many other funders or opportunity suppliers will offer this as well so if they do not shout about it, it could be worth asking. If you'd like to work with us in this capacity, please drop us an email. Please note, we are often working through a waiting list for this type of work. "Huge thank you for making the process so positive, simple, responsive and calm and empowering. It's been a completely different experience to trying navigate it without support, which I just found utterly dismal and impossible. I'm so grateful for all your support, for your enthusiasm and for your dedication to really digging into the project and understanding what I want to do and why." "Thank you! I really, really appreciated all your work on this. I definitely think I wouldn't have got it in this round without your help. And whether it works out or not I'm glad to have submitted for this." "I’ve recommended you to literally everybody." FUNDRAISING WITH ORGANISATIONS
We have worked with a number of organisations on one-off or long term strategic and developmental fundraising. This has included working on applications to trusts and foundations, multiple public funders, research grants, community-focused awards and international time-limited funds. Most recently we've worked with The Barns Lamledra, F*Choir, Duckie and The Posh Club. If you’d also be interested in working with us, drop us an email. APPLICATION SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS
We offer advisories for pre-application advice and for draft application read-throughs with feedback. These are priced based on whether you are looking for support during a funded or unfunded period.
“Such a super helpful and informative session.” "I’m certain that that short session with you, and your time before was central to us getting that funding and therefore in making this important event happen for the people involved and for our community." A note on application writing: As freelancers, we are committed to never undercutting other arts workers by providing services for free, and therefore all the support we offer is paid for, unless subsidised by funding or a host organisation. Fundraising is particularly difficult right now, and although we won’t work for free we also don’t think it is appropriate to take money directly from artists meaning they have to pay-to-play at the game of fundraising. However, we know this isn’t always helpful so we’ve started to offer a light-touch intervention which is more cost effective than hiring us as fundraisers to complete your whole application. If this is of interest, please get in touch. |