Nuffield Southampton Theatre Trust has been awarded £145,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to support Nuffield’s artist development department, Nuffield Laboratory, for the next 3 years. This grant will enable Nuffield to develop 5 early-career artists each year and a brand new training scheme to support local producers and entrepreneurs to develop arts projects in Southampton.
Sam Hodges, Director at Nuffield said, ‘To receive this grant is an important validation of the growth of Nuffield Laboratory since we launched it 18 months ago. Ultimately, one of our ambitions for the city is a thriving ecology of cultural entrepreneurs and artists who are generating new artistic work and initiatives in the city. We also want to be a national platform for the best emerging talent in the country to meet and form lifelong working relationships. This grant allows us to achieve both.’
The grant will fund the Laboratory Associate scheme and a new training scheme Self-Starters. The Laboratory Associate scheme provides opportunities early-career directors and theatre designers to undertake a one-year attachment with the Nuffield, during which they can develop their skills, hone their craft through a collaborative project and as part of the Laboratory team.
Hannah Bevan, Nuffield Laboratory Producer said, “With the Esmée funding we are now able to add the role of a Trainee Producer to the Laboratory Associate scheme, enriching the peer-to-peer collaboration experience. Over the year, the scheme aims to equip the artists with the tools and relationships that will be have a lasting impact on their career.”
Self-Starters is a brand new scheme which will be launched in time for the opening of Southampton’s new arts complex, Studio 144, in 2017.
Hannah Bevan said, “In recognition of the need to develop a thriving, multi-faceted performing arts scene in the city, the Self-Starters programme will support local producers and entrepreneurs by offering some seed funding and training opportunities for arts projects which engage the artists and audiences in Southampton.”
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. They do this by funding the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change.
Nuffield Laboratory is the company’s artistic development programme, a creative engine room at the heart of the organisation, through which the Nuffield team and its community of artists can explore creative new ideas and develop their work.
