Without Walls 2013

Without Walls invites artists and companies from any discipline to propose ideas for the development of new outdoor work for presentation in 2013. Without Walls is a consortium of 8 UK arts festivals who work together to deliver an annual programme of new outdoor arts by British artists. Since 2007 we have supported 45 companies and delivered 31 new commissions, reaching an audience of over 1.3 million people. With support of Arts Council England through Grants for the Arts we are continuing our programme into 2012 and 2013 with a new programme of commissions and research and development support for artists.

We have a limited budget to invest in Research and Development support for artists. We recognise that ambitious new work takes time to bring to fruition and that artists can benefit from the opportunity to explore new ideas as part of the development process, before committing to a production. We also know that this type of planning process can assist with fundraising for a new project and that it can be a useful way of engaging commissioners, supporters and partners in new work.

Without Walls exists to support the development of new and ambitious work by UK artists; we can support projects that are developed in association with International Artists but the lead partner on the project must be based in the UK. Please do read our request for ambitious work as a reference to the quality of your ideas and the development of your artistic practice rather than as a reference to scale. We encourage proposals from culturally diverse and deaf and disabled artists. We are looking for work from all disciplines and genre. We are looking for work that is innovative and ambitious and challenges the idea of what outdoor arts can be. We are looking for work from all scales from small to large scale work.

The work must be suitable for touring. The pieces we support need to be suitable for both civic, urban spaces and park sites/ suburban locations. The festivals take place in a range of locations across the UK, so the ideas proposed must be suitable for touring to a minimum of 4 consortium members and other festivals in addition to the Without Walls partners. We are keen to ensure that the work we support will have a touring life after it has been presented at Without Walls festivals. If your idea is based around a specific site, community, targeted age group or geographical location, please give details. Proposals for work could be adaptable in scale, be suitable for daytime and/or evening presentation and may also include promenade or processional based elements.

We expect to invest between £2000 – £5000 in each research and development award. We hope that several of the projects we support with an R+D award will be supported by Without Walls in the next stage of its development for production and presentation in 2013. Deadline for submission of proposals is: Wednesday 4th April 2012, 5pm. For more information on how to apply, please visit the Without Walls website.

For more information visit http://www.withoutwalls.uk.com/