Artist Development

Take a look at:  Get Involved  |  Activities and Workshops  |  Resources  |  Young People  |  Exhibitions  |  Talks and Tours  |  Photographic Sessions

Supporting Artist Development

Blackpool Grand is committed to supporting artists’ development through providing platforms to perform on, training and commissioning work. We value working with other cultural partners to co-commission new work.

Artist Development Commissioning

Most recently, we have been proud to co-commission work by James Wilton Dance Company, Gary Clarke Dance Company and Joss Arnott Dance. We have worked with Sadlers Wells and Jonzi D on Breakin’ Convention on tour which provides performance platforms for local artists alongside national and international artists. Since 2013 we have worked to support the local hip hop scene through this programme.

We have a well-established curtain raiser programme, which provides a pre-show onstage platform for dancers to perform. Often this work is made with the Artistic Director who is presenting a main work. These performances have been presented by mostly young and emerging dance artists including  Edge Forward (Edge Hill University) Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company, Newman College Preston, UClan Dance, Ludus Youth Dance Company, House of Wingz.

Artist Development Opportunities

It is important for Blackpool’s Grand Theatre to create opportunities for local and regional artists to connect and network with artists and performers from touring companies that perform on our stage or studio. Therefore, we programme a range of pre-show talks called Artist Insight. This has a focus around the artistic practices and  processes of the artist and there are always critical debates which contribute to thinking about current and new work and its social context.

Guest artists have included: Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director (The RSC), Gary Clarke, Joss Arnott, James Wilton, Anthony Briggs, Giles Croft, Jonzi D Artistic Director (Breakin’ Convention), Robin Belfield (The RSC).

We work with local artists and contract them for a range of projects; these regular artists are our The Grand Associate Artists.

We are always interested in working with new artists on Artist Development and welcome any CVs.

To discuss call us on 01253 290 111; alternatively email us at creativelearning@blackpoolgrand.co.uk.