Greater Manchester LGBT Arts + Culture Network is an LGBT Foundation project, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The Network aims to provide support, training + awareness for cultural organisations in delivering events and projects in all boroughs with LGBT+ artists, participants, staff, and audiences.

Thirteen cultural organisations from across Greater Manchester are taking part in the pilot scheme throughout 2019-20: Contact, HOME, Islington Mill, Manchester International Festival, Manchester Metropolitan University, Octagon Theatre, Oldham Coliseum, People’s History Museum, The Lowry, The Met, The Royal Exchange Theatre, The University of Manchester, and Waterside.

Greater Manchester LGBT Arts + Culture Network is seeking submissions from artists/creatives, performers and makers based in Greater Manchester, to develop and present new performance works at a conference event at HOME on 22 January 2020, as part of PUSH Festival. Work that is seen as more innovative and experimental, or has traditional/mainstream appeal will be considered. Bursaries are open to early career artists and companies as well as those more established, who are based in Greater Manchester.

Criteria: 

• Explores lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) and/or gender themes.
• Is of interest to an LGBTQ+ audience.
• Is created or presented by LGBTQ+ artists.
• Is a clear development opportunity for the artist or company.
• They are particularly interested to hear about work from queer artists of colour, deaf and disabled artists, artists who identify as female, and artists who identify as trans or non-binary.
• The work presented can vary in art form but must consist of a live performance and be 15-20 minutes in duration and suitable for presentation within the conference set-up.
• The conference will take place in HOME’s T2 theatre space. It is a black box studio with a capacity of 130 in raked seating. Work will be performed within the conference timetable and set-up/ technical elements will need to be designed with this in mind.
• Successful candidates will be selected by a panel of Network representatives.
• Network members will support successful candidates with rehearsal space to develop your work. Mentoring support will also be offered as part of this package.

New Performance Bursaries

There are two new performance bursaries available of up to £1000 each. They encourage bursaries to be used as match funding alongside other project supporters.

Further guidance: If you need any support or guidance, or just want to chat over a few things, they’re holding an informal ‘Queer Arts Cafe’ on Mon 9 September, 7pm-9pm at Waterside in Sale, for artists to find out more about the opportunity, get guidance on what they’re looking for from these questions and a chance to meet some of the network partners. This event is not mandatory and is for guidance only, attending or not attending this session will not affect the outcome of your submission.

Deadline 

Wed 18 September 2019.
Shortlisted applicants will be informed on Fri 27 September 2019.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to talk about their proposal with the selection panel on Thu 3 October 2019.
Successful candidates will be informed on Fri 4 October 2019.

https://lgbt.foundation/news/apply-for-new-performance-bursaries-from-the-greater-manchester-lgbt-arts-culture-network/332