The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) is exploring new ways of developing creative ideas to engage audiences across its five historic sites; in particular, through collaborations with artists working in different disciplines.
In April 2018 the Trust was granted Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) for the first time, enabling new creative and outreach programmes with a particular focus on communities which are currently less engaged in arts, culture and heritage. NPO funding will enable them to build on their annual winter event at Shakespeare’s New Place. Previous work has included the Garden of Curious A-Musements by the Bureau of Silly Ideas in 2016 and Midwinter Magic by Motionhouse in 2017.
As part of this initiative, SBT wishes to commission a stimulating immersive experience utilising the New Place site, which provides a versatile venue for innovative performances and installations.
The aims of the project are to:
- Produce a high quality artistic experience for the all ages, which is creative, unexpected, delightful, engaging and participatory and utilises the New Place site.
- Be site responsive to New Place and the history of the site.
- Contribute to transforming perceptions of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, locally, regionally and nationally; presenting Shakespeare as relevant, contemporary and accessible.
- Increase visitor numbers and attract new audiences to the site developing on previous years’ work.
It is envisaged that the New Place site will be transformed by light/sound and/or performances creating a magical interactive experience. This event will create an evocative and arresting journey, offering a fresh, contemporary perspective linked, in some way, to Shakespeare. It must be site responsive, although the interpretation is left to the artist as to how this can be created.
How apply; for a full copy of the brief please email Chloe Malendewicz at commissioning@shakespeare.org.uk or visit the website.