2022 Bursary Guidance and Info

You can download an audio file of this guidance here

If you have any access requirements, queries or need support please contact Sally on: producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk

In 2022 Producer Gathering will offer 3 bursaries for independent producers based in the South East (ACE boundary region below), to support their independent practice.

Arts Council England area region boundary map here

Producer Gathering was co-founded by Xavier de Sousa and Sally Rose and is currently led by Sally Rose, independent producer of this programme, and David Sheppeard, Executive Director of Marlborough Productions. We are thinking, listening and trying to respond to the specific circumstances that producers are facing right now, and want these bursaries to be a way of: supporting Producers, recognising and supporting people who have been excluded and underrepresented in the current arts systems and structures, and to support people to develop their own pathways in this role.

It’s always a challenge for producers to find financial support for their professional development, or to cover unpaid work or rest/wellbeing time – so that is where our bursaries come in.

The last few years have been really tough for many, and in response to this and how overstretched arts workers are we have updated these bursaries to be ‘no strings’, or wholly self-directed. They can be used for whatever the recipient feels is most useful for them at this time, and in so doing support this project in helping us define a bursary programme that is responsive to producers at all stages of their career.

What is the offer?

£1000 x 3 Bursaries available
1 bursary for an early career producer (0-10years experience) – this might be to support you starting out, or with getting some training or mentoring to nurture your practice, to make taking the leap as a producer more accessible
1 bursary for a more experienced producer (10+ years experience) – this might allow you to plan for a project that you’ve been dreaming up, to reconsider the direction of your work, or to take a risk or a rest to think and dream
1 bursary for a producer of any level of experience who identifies as (multiply) marginalised, and underrepresented in this role – PG are aiming to acknowledge and address systemic under-representation and support of people who experience (multiple)marginalisation in the world and our arts sector. This gives an additional chance for a bursary in the random selection process, by being in two pools (career experience, and this one)

The bursary is for £1000 per person – and can be viewed as a lump sum, or equivalent to approx 4 days of time paid at ITC/BECTU Producer agreement rate of £250 per day guide.

The 3 bursary recipients will receive the £1000 in one payment at the start of the period on receipt of an invoice, and the period can last as long as you choose.

You might choose to use this bursary to:

Access training courses and development opportunities
Cover mentoring time
Allow you to plan your work in the coming year/s
Pay for overheads
Put towards Dreaming up a new project
Or… anything else you need – you can tell us what this is!

You can request 2 x mentoring or advisory sessions with Sally Rose from Producer Gathering, and a member of the Marlborough Productions team.

We’ll arrange for the bursary recipients to meet one another online at the start of the process, and to have a closing reflection session.

To apply, there is a 2-stage process:

Send a completed Expression of Interest via our google form . This is a simple tick box application process. PG will randomly select 12 applicants from this pool (4 for each bursary) using an online number generator

Complete a full application – we’ll pay a £40 honorarium and send you the application form to complete if you are selected from Stage 1

Stage 1 Expression of Interest google form here

Further Information & FAQ’s

Why is this a 2 stage process?

We have reviewed the application process and selection method, with reference to the dialogue across the sector regarding unpaid labour time for applications, and have created a 2 Stage process, inspired by others such as Unlimited. Last year saw over 100 applications, and it feels as though these 2 stages are a gentle way of shifting the application structures we have all been through so many times. This is an experiment and we’re fully open to receiving feedback! We hope it creates space for a more responsive application process, and something that can grow and change.

What is involved in Stage 1?

Stage 1 – Expression of interest – simple tick boxes and contact information to put yourself into the running.

We want to see a change in support for producers that recognises the challenges, emotional and financial risks that we take on, and so have designed this first round as a simple case of putting yourself forward – the form requires you to submit your name, location, contact details and select your level of experience in years. It should be a quick process that we estimate will take no more than around 15mins.

Stage 1 Expression of Interest google form here

Deadline for Stage 1 is 10am on Thursday 1st September. We will let you know by Friday 2nd September if you have been selected to go onto Stage 2.

Why is Stage 1 a random selection?

We have experience from the perspective of an applicant and the organisation of selection processes. We wanted to think carefully about creative ways to reduce unpaid time and emotional labour in this instance, and gently test the ways we can do things differently and by using a two stage process improve the chances of selection. By randomly selecting 12 applicants from the Stage 1 pool (4 for each bursary) this means a 1 in 4 chance of success! If you also identify as (multiply) marginalised and experiencing under representation in the arts/this role, you are put forward for an additional bursary opportunity.

We have then factored in an honorarium of £40 per applicant for Stage 2, to allow for time to respond to the questions. We have left space in the form to tell us anything else, to ask questions or open up a conversation with Producer Gathering – so even if you are not randomly selected there is a chance to stay in touch, and hopefully build a network from putting yourself forward.

Deadline for Stage 1 – submit using Google Form by 10am Thursday 1 September 2022
You’ll be notified by Friday 2 September if you’ve been randomly selected to make the full application

** We are open to feedback on this experiment! **

We also took inspiration from respected colleagues The Uncultured and their reflections on random selection for their bursaries in 2021, taking into account the context of that offer.

What is involved in Stage 2

Stage 2 Application form with 6 questions

An application form of 6 questions asking you to respond to why the bursary will help you, and how. You’ll be paid an honorarium of £40. This honorarium is designed to give you some paid time to really think about what would be most useful to you.

The honorarium will be paid as soon as you submit an invoice and your application.

You will be able to make your application via audio, video or written response.

You will be sent the application form if you are selected to make a full application but you can access the Stage 2 questions in the FAQ’s section in this guidance and also in this audio file link – recorded in a more ‘conversational manner’ to help prompt you if you will respond by audio or video file.

Deadline for Stage 2 – 10am Thursday 15 September 2022

We’ll ask for some reflections at the end of the year to see what happened – in writing, recorded conversation or other means of gathering how it went for you that we can share on the PG website (in part or in full).

What is the selection criteria for Stage 2?

The selection panel will be:

Sally Rose – independent producer and Producer Gathering

Kayza Rose – Founding Director of BLM Fest and Producer Gathering Critical Friend

Eligibility

Location – applicants need to be based in the South East region (Arts Council England area boundary map here) or list of places included: Bedfordshire, Cambrigeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock, Bracknell Forest, Brighton & Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham
Freelance producer – if you are full time, part time or trainee independent – but not in full time education

We’ll take into account

If you have identified as (multiply) marginalised and experiencing under representation in this role. PG is aiming to facilitate a range of voices to thrive and so ensuring a range of representation in the bursary recipients will be taken into account

We will assess each Stage 2 application based on how you respond to the questions and are considering using the bursary. We’ll take into consideration things like:

How you will use the bursary. Your agency over the bursary and what you’d like to do with it is really interesting here, and will help us identify what producer’s need right now
What difference will it make to your practice at this time, what are you responding to right now?
How will it help you forge your own career pathway (in any small way!) or the pathways of others to come
How it could support your sustainability in this role as an independent producer and/or ways it could support you personally or professionally in the short term
How your bursary might support you to respond to issues and inequalities in the sector
What your thoughts are about how our sector and this role can improve and grow
Will it unlock something or a project for you, and if so what?
Does this feel like it is coming at just the right time for you?

We understand that we are making subjective judgements in this instance, but hope by it being a fairly small pool we can give clear and personal feedback on why the decision was taken one way or another and be really transparent. We hope this Stage 2 process will open up a whole range of relationships and conversations, so the process of applying will have felt useful in itself, and allow us to advocate for more support for Producers from funders and organisations for the things that they need.

What will happen if I am successful?

If selected you’ll be asked for: a photograph (with alt text description) of yourself to use in the announcement. You will be paid £1000 on receipt of an invoice after selection. You’ll be invited to an online gathering with the other bursary recipients to introduce you to each other.

We will ask for some written or recorded (audio/film) reflections on the bursary period (before the end of 2022) – to be shared publicly if you consent to this.

When does the bursary need to take place?

Anytime from September, the duration is up to you.

What support can I expect to receive?

You can request 2 x mentoring or advisory sessions with Sally Rose from Producer Gathering, and a member of the Marlborough Productions team.

We’ll arrange for the bursary recipients to meet one another at the start of the process, and to have a closing reflection session.

If you need any support with completing the application/s please contact Sally Rose on: producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk

You can request access support for participating – whether this be the application process or in completing your bursary (for example in your reflections) – please discuss your requirements with Sally Rose: producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk

Bursary Deadlines:

Stage 1 application submitted by 10am Thursday 1 September 2022

Stage 1 notification by end of Friday 2 September if you’ve been randomly selected to make the full application

Stage 2 application submitted by 10am Tuesday 19 September 2022

Stage 2 application notification Tuesday 27 September
Bursaries paid as soon as you invoice
Bursary to take place from September onwards – reflections to be shared in writing or other format by end of 2022

What are the questions for the Stage 2 application?

We will ask you these 6 questions about your practice and your plans for the bursary.

You can respond with written ideas, in bullet form, or via audio or video file. The questions have been recorded in a ‘conversational manner’ to help prompt your responses – in this audio file link

Tell us about your independent producing practice. Are there 2 examples about your practice you can briefly share – this could be past or current projects that you are proud of, or collaboration or idea you have had. (no more than 200 words, 2 min audio or video)
What specifically will you use the bursary for? (time and space, or training, anything else!) Are there ways it will sustain you as an independent producer? (no more than 200 words, 2 min audio or video)
How will the bursary impact your practice now, and where will it set you on the road to next? What areas of your practice would you focus on through the bursary? (no more than 200 words, 2 min audio or video)
Why is this the right time for you to undertake a period of professional development? What difference will it make to your working life? (no more than 200 words, 2 min audio or video)
Where are you based or where do you work from? Please refer to towns/cities, counties and regions when filling in this section (e.g. Brighton, Sussex, South East England, )
Anything else you would like to tell us about – ideas, hopes, dreams, concerns, feedback, oe anything else you need (no more than 200 words, 2 min audio or video)

Further information

Producer Gathering is aiming to create non-hierarchical and bespoke opportunities for development that enable multiple voices to thrive in the sector. We want to:

Support
Develop
Nurture
Sustain

We want Producer Gathering to become an ongoing project to support independent producers in the arts.

Last year two bursaries were offered to Dais Hale and Daljinder Johal.

If you need any support with completing the application/s please contact Sally Rose on: producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk

Downloads

Word Doc – Guidance and Stage 2 Questions here

PG BURSARY Guidance and Info

Producer Gathering Bursary Stage 2 application questions