BRADFORD arts centre Kala Sangam has launched a new scheme to provide dance and physical theatre artists with studio time and living expenses so they can restart following lockdown.

The Back to the Studio Packages, made possible by the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, will give 20 artists a week of studio time along with £1,000 to pay for living expenses. Artists will also benefit from development support during, and after, their time at the city centre venue.

Creative director Alex Croft said, ‘Since we started to reopen our studio spaces, we’ve been listening to artists coming through our doors, and it’s clear that just being in a dance studio again is a significant, emotional, and often overwhelming experience for many people. We want to make sure that when artists finally get that Project Grant or DYCP funding, they’re able to hit the ground running - so we’ve created Back to the Studio. When we say no pressure, we mean it. We want to give artists the time and space needed to find and nurture their creativity’

Ten of the packages are going to artists that Kala Sangam already has a working relationship with, but they are making an open call for the other 10. Anyone is welcome to apply but they will be prioritising supporting dancers and physical theatre performers from the Bradford district and/or professional South Asian dance practitioners.

Studio space is available between November and the end of March, 2021.

Applicants should send a short video explaining who they are, what they would like to do and how their work aligns with at least one of Kala Sangam’s three programming strands (found at kalasangam.org/about-us/mission-and-vision/ )

To apply, WeTransfer videos to a.corwin@kalsangam.org. The closing date is Friday, November 5.